RUNNING AFTERDARK 3.2 SCREENSAVER UNDER MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP

INTRODUCTION

If you are reading this page, you quite likely remember the AfterDark series of screensavers put out by Berkeley Systems when Windows 3.1 (and screensavers themselves) were "new".  Most well known modules were the Aquarium, Marbles, Bad Dog, Flying Toasters, etc.

Below is a screenshot of the After Dark menu screen running under Windows XP:

If you liked the nostalgia, and miss having these programs running, this page is for you .

BTW, this page deals primarily with the 3.2 (and previous modules) version of AfterDark.  AfterDark released a 4.0 Deluxe and a 10th Anniversary Version based on the 4.x engine.  Information on using AfterDark 4.x on WinXp is available from http://www.geocities.com/thypentacle/afterdark4.html or http://www.uneasysilence.com/archive/2005/11/4694/.  Also see the FAQ's below.

Also, while this page is created to address the ways to get AfterDark working under WindowsXP, the files should also work as well (maybe better) under Win98.  Note also, that while I have access to Win98SE and WinXP SP2, I would expect Win95, Win98, Win98SE, WinME (and maybe Win3.1 ???) to behave similarly and WinNT, Win2K, WinXP, and WinServer2K3 to behave similarly.

BACKGROUND

Around November of 2005, I was re-visiting some of my first computer games using DOSBOX and remembered AfterDark and decided to try to get it running under WindowsXP.  I had limited success, but then ThyPentacle announced that he had a new site up with a way to get it running under WinXP.  He and I compared notes, I lucked onto a few things, and he got the program running fairly well.

For background, here are the significant problems that we avoided:

• AfterDark's installation programs were always problematic.  Often newer files would be over-written by old files, and you would have to re-install the last version of the program to get it to work.
• Newer modules (Looney Tunes, Totally Twisted) would not install on Windows XP series OS's.  The solution was to install the files under Win98, and then copy the extracted and installed files over to XP.
• Older modules (More After Dark, Star Trek TOS) have a bug where they would only install once or twice from the same drive and then would fail.  The solution for this (if you have the original modules) was to burn the original files to a CD or copy to a different floppy or a different directory on a USB drive and install from there; however, the files on this site bypass the installer program altogether.
• Earlier versions AfterDark were always running as an open application in the taskbar.  This was not a problem in the Windows 3.1 days when you did not have a taskbar, but is annoying on modern OS's.  ThyPentacle found a very recent version of AfterDark (above) that enables the "Hide when Minimized" option.  With this option, AfterDark works like a conventional screensaver - well, almost!
• This has a secondary effect in that many modules also run better.  For example, I know that Marbles! from AfterDark 2.0 looks better when run under AfterDark 3.0 in WinXP than it does in the original 2.0 engine, so using the latest version of the 3.x engine gives improved results.

KNOWN MAJOR BUGS

• AfterDark is really more of an entertainment package than a true screensaver.  Let me explain - a modern .scr application doesn't do anything until the OS is idle, at which time the OS calls it and it activated.  AfterDark is always running (in the background at least), making it somewhat of a resource hog.  This is not much of an issue with faster modern processors, but it is something to consider.  Also, I the EcoLogic feature doesn't work, but even if it did, third party applications like AutoShutdown or other background applications will think the computer is doing some serious processing when AfterDark is active, so your computer will run the screensaver continuously without shutting down.  In addition, many of the modules (Marbles, for instance) are fairly static, so you aren't really preventing screen burn-in, although modern monitors are much less susceptible to this anyway, so it really doesn't matter.
• Many of the modules run too fast on modern hardware.  AfterDark was developed when 80486 machines running at 66 MHz were fast (and expensive!).  Some of the modules took all of the available processing power at the time to run at a reasonable speed.  For that reason, no type of speed throttle was built into the program.  The result is that modules that were originally slow (Marbles!) tend to run about 30% faster than desired, and many modules (Magic, Stained Glass) run too fast to be usable (on a XP 2800+ Barton, but I think WinXP's speed throttling takes effect at some point).  This is a subjective issue, but in the descriptions below, I will denote modules that run much faster than desired in green, and modules that are basically too fast to be useful in yellow.  (Also, speed descriptions are based on running the modules at the lowest selectable speed.) 
• Many other modules run only in 256-color mode.  These modules will work (provided you use a utility like MultiRes to enable 8-bit color in WinXP or set the compatibility tab to 256-color mode on AD30.exe), except that nobody wants to run their desktop in this mode, and you can't enable 256-color mode only when these modules are active, so these modules are basically unusable.  I have denoted modules that only work in 256-color mode in red in the descriptions below.

INSTALLATION

Perform the following steps to install the software:

• Clean Installation - As with any new software program, it is a good idea to create a system restore point prior to installation.  If you don't have AfterDark currently installed, you can just follow the instructions in the readme.txt file included with the main afterdarkxp.zip file provided by ThyPentacle and available in the files section below.  After this, you would just add any of the modules desired over the existing installation.  
• Installing Over a Current Installation -  As above, I recommend you backup your current AfterDark directory and create a system restore point prior to installation.  If you have AfterDark already installed on your system, you should be able to just run the update.exe file from the afterdarkxp.zip file provided by ThyPentacle and available in the files section below.  (You may need to reinstall the AD 3.0 module after you run this, though. 
• Adding Modules From This Site - Instructions are provided below.  Most files are straightforward.  The two exceptions are The Disney Collection and the AfterDark 3.0 files.  I recommend installing Disney first (if desired) as it is fairly tricky, and installing AD 3.0 last, as running ThyPentacle's update.exe removes these files.
• Installing Original Modules -  Except as noted for The Disney Collection, I highly recommend installing the XP modules instead of the original modules.  I believe I have most of them available except for the The Simpsons module.  If anyone has one that I am missing and wants to share it with me, I will gladly try to make an XP version of it and host both on this site.  As far as any original module, it may work fine, but see the FAQ's for common problems.
• Uninstalling Components -  As far as I can tell, AfterDark 3.2 and prior has no Uninstallation option, and I believe it does make changes to the registry and also adds files outside of the C:\afterdrk directory, but I don't know what these are.  If you created a restore point and haven't installed any additional programs since installing AfterDark, you can roll your system back that way and delete your C:\afterdrk directory.  Otherwise, you can delete all shortcuts (particularly the Startup folder ones) and delete your C:Afterdrk directory and your system will run fine.  It might be a good idea to run a registry cleaner as well.
  

FILES

Main Program

This is the main AfterDark program file.  It was provided by ThyPentacle and based on the latest version of the 3.2 AfterDark engine file:

• AfterDark 3.2 XP
  File: afterdarkxp.zip (1,673 Kb)
  Approximate Date: File Created 1 Jan 06, included files created 11 Jul 94.
  Modules Included:  Starry Night
  Multi-Modules Included: None
  Installation Instructions:  See included Readme.txt file
  Original Module:  Not Applicable.

Additional Modules

Modules below are listed chronologically by file date.  Included modules are color coded as follows:  Runs fine (or slightly fast), Runs faster than desired, but still enjoyable, ridiculously fast and unusable, requires 256-color mode, Locks up system - Avoid.

• AfterDark 2.0 The Ultimate Screen Saver Collection
  File:  AfterDark_20_XP.zip (648 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  2 Mar 92
  Modules Included:  Aquatic Realm, Can of Worms, Clocks,  Down the Drain, Fade Away, Flying Toasters, GeoBounce, Globe, GraphStat, Gravity, Hall of Mirrors, Hard Rain, Lasers, Magic, Marbles, Mondrian, Mountains, Nocturnes, Penrose, Punch Out, Rainstorm, Shapes, Sounder, Spiral Gyra, Stained Glass, String Theory, Swan Lake, Vertigo, Wrap Around, Zot!
  Multi-Modules Included: Creepy Night, Kaleidoscope, Planetside, Psychomotor, Times Up
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module:  AfterDark20.zip (1,061 Kb) Provided by GraveDigger.
• More After Dark
  File:  AfterDark_More_After_Dark_XP.zip (966 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  26 Jun 93
  Modules Included:  Bogglins, Boris, Bulge, Confetti Factory, Dominoes, Einstein, Flocks, Fractal Forest, Hallucinations (occasionally locks up, re-installation of More After Dark should fix - should either work or fail, not intermittent),  Lunatic Fringe (won't run on WinXP, even in 256-color mode), Mandelbrot, Meadow, Modern Art, Mosaic, Mowin' Man, Om Appliances, Origami, Pearls, Rain, Say What?, Snake, Spin Brush, Strange Attract, Spin Brush, Tunnel
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module:  madw.zip (1,330 Kb) Provided by GraveDigger.
• Star Trek The Screen Saver
  File:  AfterDark_Star_Trek_XP.zip (1,897 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  9 Jul 93
  Modules Included:  Brain Cells, Communications, Final Exam, Final Frontier, Horta, Ion Storm, Planetary Atlas (See Support Files Below), Scotty's Files, Ship Panels, Sickbay, Sounder, Space, Spock, The Mission, Tholian Web,  Tribbles
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module: Available at http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=1057 (And elsewhere, I will post here if this link stops working.)
  

• The Disney Collection Screen Saver
  Files:  AfterDark_Disney_XP.zip (2,536 Kb) Win98_Disney_Files.zip (156 Kb) Original Module: addisney.zip (3,389 Kb) Provided by GraveDigger
  Approximate Date:  6 Oct 93
  Modules Included:  101 Dalmations, Beauty, Captain Hook, Cheshire Cat, Digital Ink, Disney Clocks, Donald Paints, Falling Flower, Haunted, Jungle Book, Little Mermaid, Magic Kingdom, Pinocchio, Scrooge, The Sorcerer
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  Installation of The Disney Collection is trickier than the other modules.  I recommend installing it first.  For this module only, I recommend installing the original module first.  (It should install fine, either use the provided serial number or the one from AfterDarkXP.).  This either makes registry changes or installs required files outside of the C:\afterdrk directory, or both, but I don't know what they are.  I recommend NOT letting it modify your system files, but going ahead and re-booting when prompted.  At this point the modules should work, but they will all be in your main AfterDark directory.  If you want them installed properly, you have two options:  The cleanest method (less non-required files) is to delete your entire C:\afterdrk directory, run ThyPentacle's update.exe file and then extract the AD_DisneyXP files to the C:afterdrk directory (and for Win98 users, the Win98_Disney_Files).  Then re-install your other modules.  This is preferred and is why I recommend installing The Disney Collection first.  If you already have a lot of other modules installed, or particularly, if you have a lot of customizations (preferred settings, custom randomizers), you can use this alternate method:  Sort your C:\afterdrk folder by file type and delete all the *.AD files.  Then run ThyPentacle's update.exe file and then extract the AD_DisneyXP files to the C:afterdrk directory (and for Win98 users, the Win98_Disney_Files).  This method should work fine, but you will have some non-required files in your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module:  See above.
• Marvel Comics Screen Posters
  File:  AfterDark_Marvel_XP.zip (1,513 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  13 Dec 93
  Module Included:  Marvel Comics
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module:  Available at http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?name=Marvel+Screen+Posters (I will post here if this link stops working.)
  

• AfterDark 3.0 The World's Most Popular Screen Saver
  File:  AfterDark_30_XP.zip (1,955 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  11 Jul 94
  Modules Included:  Artist, Bad Dog!, Bugs, Clocks 3.0, Daredevil Dan, DOS Shell, Draw Morph, Fish Pro, Flying Toasters Pro, Frost and Fire, Guts, Logo, Messages (Cannot change message), Nirvana, Nonsense, Photon, Puzzle, Rat Race, Ray, Rebound, Rose, Satori, Slideshow (can't select new directories), Spheres, Spotlight, Warp!, You Bet Your Head, Zooommm!
  Multi-Modules Included:  Clock Attack, Make Sense, Mind Warp
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.  (NOTE: AfterDark3.2XP's update.exe program deletes this module, so you might want to install it last.)
  Original Module:  Available at http://www.abandoneer.com/games.php?gameid=31 (I will post here if this link stops working.)
  
• Star Trek: The Next Generation® Screen Saver
  File:  Star_Trek_-_TNG_for_After_Dark.zip (1,645 Kb) (Provided by ThyPentacle)
  Approximate Date:  13 Oct 94
  Modules Included:  Counselor Troi, Data Dances, Encounters, Nanites, Officer's Review, Personnel Files, Science Stations, StarBase, Starfleet Messages, Tachyon Particle Field, The Borg, Warp Effect, Worf's Weapons
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module: Not Available.
• The Looney Tunes Screen Saver
  File:  AfterDark_Looney_Tunes_XP.zip (2,055 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  11 Apr 95
  Modules Included:  ACME Home Shopping, Cartoons 101, Conducktor, Desquetoppe D'amour, Marvin's Invasion, Messages (Can't select Custom message), Michigan J. Frog, Putty Tat Splat!,  Rabbitron, Taz Desktop, Wockets Wed Gware, Yosemite Sam
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module:  After_Dark_Looney_Tunes_Screensaver_+Serial.zip (2,833 Kb) (Provided by Undiggy) 
• The Totally Twisted After Dark Screen Saver
  File:  AfterDark_Totally_Twisted_XP.zip (1,971 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  8 Aug 95
  Modules Included:  Bungee Roulette, Chameleon, Coming Soon!, Flying Toilets, FrankenScreen, Message Mayhem, Mike's So-Called Life, Mime Hunt, Mowin' Boris, Phlegm Boy, Shock Clocks, Toxic Swamp, Voyeur
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  First install AfterDark 3.2 XP, then extract the Modules.zip file to your C:\afterdrk folder.
  Original Module: adtwis.zip (2,905 Kb) (Provided by GraveDigger)

Support Files

This is my attempt to get the Planetary Atlas module from Star Trek The Screen Saver working in more than 256-colors.  The files use the SlideShow Module from After Dark 3.0.  I took screenshots of the Planetary Atlas running at 800x600 pixels and saved them as .JPG images.  I also upsized them to 1024x768 using IrfanView.  The 800x600 files look more in keeping with AfterDark in my opinion.  

NOTE:  You can only use one set of files at a time, but you could use IrfanView to batch convert them to a different size, keeping the same name.

• Planetary Atlas for XP
  Files:  Planets_800_XP.zip (7,282 Kb) Planets_1024_XP.zip  (4,933 Kb)
  Approximate Date:  8 Mar 06
  Modules Included:  Planetary Atlas files for the Slideshow Module
  Multi-Modules Included:  None
  Installation Instructions:  See included ReadMe.txt file
  Original Module:  Not Applicable.

After Dark 4.0 Modules

Here you will find all the current modules that are verified working on version 4+ 1.0!

ThyPentacle made many of these available on his site, but he ran out of server space, so I added the missing ones here.  (I included the entire list just for completeness). None of the 4.0 modules will work on the 3.2xp version.

Download/install info:

Download and then extract the file of choice below to your AD 4+ 1.0 program folder at 'C:\After Dark'. Now they should show up next time you open the 'After Dark' tab.

MINOR QUIRKS

I would occasionally get the "Starry Night" module and an Out-of-Memory message when I tried to demo a module.  I don't think I've seen it happen when running a module normally.  The odd thing is I have 640 Meg of RAM.  The really odd thing is:  I could get the error, end the module display, click Demo again (without doing anything else) and it would work fine!  Update:  I have decided this is probably a problem with my system configuration and not AfterDark.  I recently got the same type of error when launching CardFile (yes, I still use that also from Windows 3.1 days).

As previously mentioned, ThyPentacle's update.exe program overwrites the 3.0 modules and you must re-install them.

I made a randomizer to show only the Disney modules.  When I tried to use the randomizer as my screensaver, AfterDark said that the randomizer didn't contain any modules.  The fix was to go to AfterDark Setup - Advanced and click "Update Module List At Startup" (even though no new modules were added).  (However, I later noticed that AfterDark was able to run this randomizer without this box checked, so I am not sure what the problem was).

The Disney Collection module installation is problematic due to files being installed outside of the C:\afterdrk folder.

On certain modules (Pinocchio, for instance), interactive mode only works when the module is run directly, not when it is run as part of a Randomizer (might be an original problem with AfterDark, not XP related).

In AfterDark 3.2, when you are editing a Randomizer module (and certain other times) AfterDark will take 100% of your CPU usage and max it out, even if you aren't doing anything with the program.  AfterDark 4.0 also maxes out CPU usage at times, although I am not sure when it occurs with this program.

Many versions of AfterDark are overly sensitive to mouse movement.  AfterDark 2.0 was very sensitive to this - just bumping the desk would kill the screensaver.  ThyPentacle's AfterDark 3.2 seems to be better at this than any other version, followed by the 4.x versions, followed by the older versions.

Hallucinations from More After Dark sometimes causes a system crash.  I thought I left out some needed files and tried the install again and it worked before I could fix anything.  But on another PC, re-installation did not make it work.  

Lunatic Fringe from More After Dark did not run for me under WinXP.  The module says it requires 256-color mode, but even when I switched the display to that mode, it still didn't run.

The Messages modules from both AfterDark 3.0 and Looney Tunes do not allow you to select your own text and therefore aren't very useful.  The module from the 4.x series works fine.

Slideshow (from AfterDark 3.0) works but you cannot make new slideshows unless you create them under Win98 and copy the created files over, as I do for my Planetary Atlas files.

False Activations - This typically happens if you have AfterDark's main menu activated, but are doing something else.  If you have AfterDark set to activate after 4 minutes, it will activate after this time, even if you are in the middle of typing a web page or something else.  Also, once this happens, it is difficult to turn off other than doing a Ctrl-Alt-Delete and end-tasking on AD 3.0.  I have never seen this happen when AfterDark was minimized, so I recommend leaving it in this mode except when you are actively changing settings.

Systray icon avoidance - I had a problem where AfterDark would load to the Systray but remain deactivated.  Since I didn't like having a Systray icon for it anyway, I devised the following solution:

• Go to the Startup Folder and delete the "After Dark Tray Starter" shortcut.
• Go to the c:\afterdrk folder, right-click on AD30.exe and select "Create Shortcut."
• Right-click on the new shortcut and under Properties, select Run: Minimized.
• Drag the new shortcut to the startup folder.

EcoLogic doesn't work under WinXP.

This is a gripe with the original program (not WinXP related), but most of the modules time out and restart after two hours.  For example, I would expect Marbles to fill up the screen and only restart when a new marble couldn't fall (like Tetris) but it restarts after two hours (often with the screen still not covered.  Also, in Donald Paints from The Disney Collection, you would expect to be able to leave the program up for five hours and come back to Donald painting a solid patterned screen.  But instead, it blacks out the screen and starts over before he finishes.

Easter Eggs - AfterDark has several nice hidden features that you might not know about if you haven't used the program before.  Most modules have custom settings that you can change in the right-hand pane.  Clicking on the banner for the module will display the credits for that module.  Clicking on the credits will return to the module list.  Clicking on the author name at the bottom of the Module List, will bring up the info screen for that module.  Many modules have interactive as well as passive modes.  Clicking the question mark brings up the help screen.

FAQ's

• Q1 - I know you like 3.2 better than 4.x, but I don't see a lot of details on the 4.x files, could you help me decide which one to install?
• Sure, there are basically only three files that I know of, AfterDark 4.0 Deluxe Version, AfterDark 10th Anniversary Edition, (both available from www.uneasysilence.com, and AfterDark 4 Plus 1.0 from ThyPentacle.  Here are my comments on each file:
• AfterDark 4.0 Deluxe Version:  I recommend avoiding this file altogether.  It is quirky to install (requires modifying the setup.inf file in the ADE folder), and after installation, I didn't have the After Dark tab on the Display Properties form, so I couldn't use it anyway.  (I think I had it working one time by copying the files over after installing AfterDark 10th Anniversary, but many modules did not run.)  Furthermore, when I uninstalled it, it messed up my AfterDark 3.2 installation, and I had to reinstall that to get it working again.
• AfterDark 10th Anniversary Edition:  This file installed and uninstalled without a hitch and without any modifications.  However, the file installs the 4.0 modules but also installs a lot of the previous AfterDark modules which don't run under WinXP.  So you end up with a list of about 30 modules, but only about half of them will actually work.
• AfterDark 4 Plus 1.0:  This is the one I recommend.  Installation and Uninstallation are totally smooth.  (You are restricted to only installing to C:\After Dark, but otherwise . . .)  This file only installs the Starry Night module, but other modules from ThyPentacle's site or above can be added, and none of the other modules will run under WinXP anyway, so there is not point crowding your hard drive with them.
• Update:  The above covers the installation.  As far as the differences,  Deluxe includes about six modules that are not part of 10th Anniversary.  Deluxe installs it's files to After Dark 4.0 and Deluxe Classics sub-folders.  All of the 4.0 modules work and none of the Deluxe Classics do.  10th Anniversary duplicates all but six of the 4.0 Deluxe Modules and adds two new ones (Hall of Fame, and Toaster 2K).  It installs these and a bunch of older After Dark files (that don't work), in the After Dark 10th Anniversary folder.  I had good luck installing 10th Anniversary first and then installing only the modules for 4.0 Deluxe using the instructions on www.uneasysilence.com; however, I strongly recommend just installing AfterDark 4 Plus 1.0 and manually adding the modules from ThyPentacle's site and above.
• NOTE:  The above comments assume you are using WinXP.  Any of the files should install more smoothly and run better under Win98.  In addition, they will run the 3.2 modules under Win98.
• Q2 - What are the main differences between AfterDark 4.x and AfterDark 3.2?
• Okay, well first off, let's answer some compatibility issues:

• You cannot run any 4.x modules (listed above) in AfterDark 3.2 under any OS.
• Under WinXP, you can only run the modules listed above under AfterDark 4.x.  None of the earlier modules work.  NOTE:  This includes the previous version modules that are supplied with the AfterDark 4.x modules.
• Under Win98, I believe any previous modules will run under AfterDark 4.x, but I have not verified this.

• Now, as far as the differences between the two versions:  Generally, IMHO, the 4.x modules are a little more polished and professional, and the earlier modules are a little more "cutesy".  The 4.x engine integrates better with the screensaver tab, but under WindowsXP, only the modules based on that version will run (under Win98, all modules will run under the 4.x engine).  Also, the Randomizer is less flexible under the 4.x versions, so you effectively end up with about 15 screensavers (24 total, but some of these I would never use) and much less configuration control as opposed to approximately 120 or so savers under 3.2.  You can however, install 4.x and 3.2 on the same system and use them independently.  

• Q3 - Can I install AfterDark 4.x and 3.2 together on the same computer and run them independently?  What are the considerations in doing so?
• Yes, you can.  ThyPentacle highly recommends installing 4.x to C:\After Dark and 3.2 to C:\afterdrk and I have no reason to argue against this.  The only caution I would have is if you are not sure whether or not you want the 4.x saver permanently installed, I would install it first as uninstalling it messes up your 3.2 installation.
• CAUTION:  Just to clarify - The reason for installing AD 4.x first is because uninstalling certain versions (4.0 Deluxe, especially), could mess up your AfterDark 3.2 installation.  So, if you want to test both versions out, the sequence of events would be: Install 4.x.  Try 4.x and decide if you like it.  If you are not sure, uninstall 4.x (you can add it back later).  Then, install 3.2 and decide if you like it.  BTW, in a worst-case scenario, if you had both versions installed and then uninstalled 4.0 Deluxe, you simply need to run update.exe from ThyPentacle's AfterDark 3.2xp file (overwrite your current installation), re-install the 3.0 modules, and then have run Setup - Update Module List and also reset your AfterDark timers and hotkeys.
• Q4 - Why do you prefer AfterDark 3.2 over 4.x?
• Well, in a nutshell - it would be the following things:  Partly, it's the challenge of getting something working under WinXP that wasn't even supposed to run on Win95.  Partly it's that I have about 120 (134 working, approx 150 total) modules that work and I enjoy under 3.2 as opposed to 15 (24 total working) under 4.x.  Partly it's the better randomizer.  Mainly it's the nostalgia that 3.2 is what I remember running on my computers back in the pre-Pentium days, so that's what I wanted to re-create.
  
• Q5 - You have mentioned several times the 4.x randomizer not being as good as the 3.2 version.  Care to elaborate?
• Sure - Let's just look at the features of each:
• 4.x - I can click on Randomizer and click on any module and the modules will randomly launch and run for between 1 to 99 minutes, user-selectable in 1-minute increments.
• Sounds okay until you compare it to 3.2:
• 3.2 - See list below:
• Default randomizer time limit can be set to one module (recommended).  This means that the initial module (if set to default) will run continuously until the next time the screensaver is started.  (Even if it is longer than 99 minutes).
• Modules can be run sequentially or randomly.
• Individual modules can run for either the default time limit or a shorter time limit.  Each module in the Randomizer can have it's own time limit.  This is important with older versions b/c some modules - Fade Away, for example - end very quickly, so you wouldn't want it to run much more than 30 seconds.  OTOH, 30 seconds of Marbles would not fill up the bottom row of the screen.
• It is possible to change the order that modules are run in the randomizer by moving it up or down in the list order.
• Individual modules can be added multiple times.  There are three situations where this might be desirable:

• I may want to run the same module with different settings.  For example, I may want to sometimes run Marbles with small pins, but lots of them, and sometimes with large pins but not as many.  Or I may not want to switch colors randomly on Donald Paints, but I might want blue squares sometimes and red circles other times.  Adding both allows me to have both configurations without calling up and modifying the software.
• I may want to run the a particular module more frequently.  For example, let's say I want to see Marbles half the time and some other module the other times.  I can create a randomizer and add Marbles between each entry and then have the entries run in order.  Problem solved.
• I may want to run a particular module less frequently.  For example, let's say I like the Marbles module occasionally, but it gets on my nerves if it runs too often.  I just add every OTHER module to the list twice and now Marbles runs half as often.
  

• Finally, 3.2 has the ability to create and save multiple randomizers.  I use and like this feature b/c it allows me to have one Randomizer for classic AfterDark modules, one for Disney, one for Looney Tunes, one for Star Trek, etc.
  

• Q6 - When I try to install one of the original older modules (Star Trek - The Screensaver, More After Dark, etc.) I get past the serial number screens and then a window titled Setup Message pops us saying "Could not open the file named <file varies>.ad_"  Installation Failure "Setup Failed!  Your setup files may be corrupted, please contact Berkeley Systems Technical Support".  Is there a known workaround for this?
• I have personally seen this occur with the modules above, and have heard reports of it happening with The Simpsons module.  I have never heard of it happening with the "official" modules such as AfterDark 2.0 or AfterDark 3.0.  I know some workarounds, but not the root cause.  I can tell the following:
• The problem typically occurs after you have installed the module two or three times previously on the same computer.
• It is not truly "corrupt" files, because it happens if you delete the setup files and re-extract them.  It also happens if you re-download the files and extract the new file to the same hard drive.  However, if you extract that same archive to a computer that has never had the module installed, it will work just fine.
• It is not some anti-piracy measure, because I have heard numerous reports of it happening with the original software on the original media.
• Extracting the archive to a different folder on the same hard drive will not eliminate it.  I think extracting it to a different hard drive on the same computer also will not fix it.  I don't know of a registry key or file modification to fix it.  I suspect a delete, re-format, and re-install would eliminate it, but that's rather drastic.
• I have no idea if it is something intentionally added to the software, or just a coding glitch.  If it is intentional, I have no idea why the software coders thought it was a good idea to limit the number of times you can install their software to the same PC.
• I suspect the following solutions will work, although I have only tested the first two of them:

• Use my "XP" files instead.  This should work, and is one of the reason I created my files.
• Extract the archive to a USB jump drive.  This works one or two times, then fails again.  However, unlike the hard drive problem, you can re-extract the files to a different folder, and they should re-install.
• Copy the files to a 3.5-inch floppy drive or move them to a different floppy.  This worked once for me, but I can't say it will always work.
• Burn the archive to a CD-R or CD-RW (or DVD-R, DVD-RW).  This method was reported by RedSpy, but I have not personally verified it.
• Extract the files to an external hard drive.  I am assuming WinXP and AfterDark treat this the same way as a USB jump drive, but don't know this for sure.

• Q7 - When I try to install one of the original newer modules (Totally Twisted, Looney Tunes) under WinXP, the initial splash screen displays and then a window titled Contact Technical Support pops up saying "After Dark requires Windows 3.1 or Workgroups for Windows.  Installation can not be completed on your system.  If you have questions, please contact Berkeley Systems' Technical Support."  Is there a known workaround for this?
• These modules typically will install fine on Win98, but not on WinXP.  Other than using my files, the only solution I know of is the same process I originally used to create my files, which I will explain below.  I currently have a dual-boot system, but it can be done without this, provided you have access to both operating systems in one form or another.  Proceed as follows:
  

• Boot into Win98 or locate a Win98 system.
• Install ThyPentacle's AfterDark 3.2 XP files and start and close AfterDark one time.
• Shift-Drag (copy) the C:\afterdrk folder to a new folder C:\Copy of afterdrk.
• Install the new module to C:\afterdrk and run AfterDark one time.  Update the module list if required.
• Use a folder comparison program (Beyond Compare works well, but has a 30-day evaluation limit.  I have used ExamDiff which is Freeware for a different application but don't remember if it compares folders or only files) to look for files which were added to C:\afterdrk and are not in C:\Copy of afterdrk.  Pay particular attention to .ad, .afi, .wav, and .dll files.
• Save the added files to a .zip archive, preserving the folder structure.
• Extract the .zip file contents to your WinXP C:\afterdrk folder.
• Hope for the best!!!

• Q8 - What are the differences between installing your "XP" files and the original modules?
• Well, both are slightly buggy but for entirely different reasons.
• The original modules really needed to be installed in the order that they were released.  They were developed to be installed regardless of what (if any) version of AfterDark you had installed.  Let's say a module was based on AfterDark 3.2.  It would check for earlier versions and update them as necessary, and everything would be fine.  But if you later install a module based and AfterDark 2.0, it has no way to know that AfterDark 3.2 that you previously installed is a later version, and will likely overwrite it with the older version.  The original software also used serial numbers to prevent piracy of the software.
• OTOH, my modules are based on ThyPentacle's AfterDark 3.2 and assume you will be installing that first.  Berkeley Systems will not be coming out with a new version of AfterDark (unfortunately), and if a third-party does, I will have to update my files to take that into account.  However, I have no formal knowledge of the software, so my versions were made by simply seeing what files were required when the software was installed under Win98 and installing these files to the same directories under WinXP.  Also, since the software is no longer available for purchase, I am not trying to copy-protect it.

• Q9 - When I install an original module, AfterDark wants to modify my system files.  Should I let it?
• ThyPentacle recommends this; however, if you aren't running WinXP, these files don't even exist, so I don't think it gains you anything.  If you are running Win98, it probably doesn't hurt anything to let it modify them, although I don't know that it is required.
  

• Q10 - Can I delete the Music, ADXPL40.dll, and TTsound.dll files that get installed with AfterDark 3.2XP?
• I believe these files are needed if you later plan to install one of the 4.x versions of AfterDark.  Otherwise, you can delete them, although they don't hurt anything other than disk usage.
  
• Q11 - Do I have to install to C:\afterdrk for AfterDark 3.2?
• No, but this is recommended.  I do believe the program is old enough that it needs to be installed to a ten-character-name or less folder that does not contain spaces in the name.
  
• Q12 - Can I have multiple copies of AfterDark 3.2 in different folders?
• Yes, you can.  I believe the system will by default launch from the last folder that you used an installation program to install it to, but you can copy all the files to a different directory and run it from there, if you wanted to experiment with other configurations, for example.
  
• Q13 - Are there any customizations or tweaks that you can recommend?
• Well, most of them I have already covered above but I will re-cap and add a little bit more below:

• First, you can either add shortcuts to adtray.exe to your startmenu (making AfterDark accessible from the Systray), or you can replace this with a shortcut to AD30.exe (making AfterDark load and run minimized and hidden like a conventional screensaver.
• Next, you can create custom randomizers for each particular module or similar themed modules.
• Finally, you can't really run AfterDark from the Properties tab like a traditional screensaver, but you can get it close through a little trickery.  For example, let's say you change screen savers once a month and one month you want to run "After Dark Disney" and next month you want to run "After Dark Star Trek".  You can start by going to the Winroot\System32\ folder and copying and renaming one of the existing .scr files like scrnsave.scr to "After Dark Disney.scr".  This will make the file show up in the drop-down list.  Now you can go back and delete or change the extension of the default screensavers to keep them from showing up in the list.  NOTE:  You still want to set your screensaver to NONE on the properties tab, but this is a handy way to prompt you so you know which AfterDark modules are available.  NOTE:  For some of the default screensavers, you will need to first delete the screensaver from the Winroot\System32\dllcache\ folder to keep Windows File Protection from re-installing it each time.

• Q14 - Okay, now I'm hooked on AfterDark.  What additional AD files are available?
• There are several modules which I have been unable to locate (read obtain for free).  Most notable would be The Simpsons Module and the Star Trek Posters Module, although I think there was also a Snoopy module and a Flintstones module.  If anyone wants to provide me with these, I will try to decipher them and make them available here on the site.
• There were also a few home-brew or 3rd-party modules which I have not downloaded and have basically decided not to host on the site, although if anyone really has an interest in one of them and wants me to host it, I could possibly make an exception.
• Finally, Berkeley Systems also released a Software Developer's Kit (SDK) for AfterDark.  I found bits and pieces of it on several websites and am making what I found available here:  AfterDark_SDK.zip (190 Kb).  I didn't spend much time with it, but I did spend enough time to see that it will only allow you to create new modules, not to edit or modify the existing AfterDark ones.
  

• Q15 - Any chance of fixing errors?
• Not much.  There are basically three current problems with AfterDark:  1)  Some modules require 256-color mode.  2)  Some modules run way too fast.  3)  Doesn't integrate onto the Properties tab like a standard screensaver.
• From time to time, I have heard people talk about trying to write a new version of the AfterDark engine to fix these errors, but it never seems to happen, and it is way above my level of coding skill.

CONCLUSION

I especially want to thank ThyPentacle and GraveDigger for their help with this.  GraveDigger provided me with AfterDark 2.0 which contained the original Marbles module which was my main reason in wanting this.  And I would have abandoned the project as interesting but non-workable if I hadn't found ThyPentacle's version for Windows XP.  Thanks to everyone else that provided original files to me and everyone at The Daily Ping for information and support.

Finally, this page is not about the Macintosh version of AfterDark, but I found the Macintosh Simpsons module here, if anyone is interested. 

Hopefully this was helpful.  Contact me if you have any questions.

STATUS

Last Update to After Dark Applications: 1Jan06

Page Update 3May06 - Added a Caution following FAQ Q3 explaining the order for installing AD 3.2 and 4.x.  Thanks to Anne Miller for pointing out how this required clarification.

Initial Launch of Site: 20Apr06