PowerToys Fun Pack

Free Microsoft Windows/XP Version 1 Full Specs

Editors' Rating:

Excellent

Average User Rating:

18 User Votes

3.3

out of 18 votes

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Editors' Review

by Download.com staff / February 27, 2009

This application hands out some rather sagacious desktop enhancements free of charge, though it's only for XP users. PowerToys Fun Pack has two installers, one that allows you to play your favorite videos as a screensaver and another that automatically changes your wallpaper images. The video screensaver's practical interface is configurable via the Windows display properties window. You'll simply go to the screensaver options and select XP Video PowerToy to access its features. You can set your video file to play continuously, mute the sound, and determine the screen size and playback speed. The wallpaper changer's customary interface allows you to select various image files to randomly shift from one wallpaper to the next as often as every 15 minutes or as sparingly as once a week. It also can be set to display full-screen slide shows from the system-tray icon. Anyone keen on propagating a little desktop variety will enjoy PowerToys Fun Pack.

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Editors' Review

by Download.com staff / February 27, 2009

Publisher's Description

From Microsoft:

PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released to manufacturing. They add fun and functionality to your amazing Windows experiences. Included in the PowerToys Fun Pack:

The Windows XP Screen Saver PowerToy makes it easy to play any Windows Media Video or series of videos (such as home movies created with Windows Movie Maker 2) as your Windows XP screen saver.

Windows XP Desktop Wallpaper Changer PowerToy Make your computer desktop more dynamic, interactive, useful, and fun. The Wallpaper Changer PowerToy allows your desktop wallpaper to change automatically. It also lets you choose which images to display. Select the folder of images to display as a slide show and set the display interval to change wallpaper every few minutes, hours, or days. The simple intuitive interface is easily available from the system tray.

User Reviews

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3.3
out of 18 votes
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1 stars

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"Very Poor...Only works with Windows Media Player 9"

chajonshim February 24, 2010 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2010-02-24 13:06:20 | By chajonshim

Pros

None. There are no Pros.

Cons

Only works with Windows Media Player 9. When I click the link to download, only WMP 11 is available from Microsoft. Booo! Couldn't even get it to work.

1 stars

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"Needs to be updated"

x-15a2 August 27, 2009 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2009-08-27 05:25:04 | By x-15a2

Pros

The screen saver configuration is very nice.

Cons

1. Requires WMP version 9. My workstations have WMP version 11, but I'm constently nagged to get version 9.

2. Requires you to also select a background image. I like the screensaver options, but would rather just have a blank desktop background.

Summary

Installed, tried, uninstalled. Too bad.

1 stars

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"Useless"

Rusty19 May 05, 2008 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2008-05-05 05:41:09 | By Rusty19

Pros

Nothing

Cons

Freezes display panel,asks for media player nine. I could not even get my pictures in as wallpaper. A complete waste of time and I installed it.....still looking

2 stars

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"does what I wanted BUT"

Jack Levin September 23, 2007 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2007-09-23 14:23:49 | By Jack Levin

Pros

Does what I wanted. Changes my wall paper automatically based on a given folder and selected time.

Cons

Keeps asking me to install windows media player 9.

4 stars

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"i just downloaded it"

Red1965 March 05, 2007 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2007-03-05 17:49:04 | By Red1965

Pros

i just downloaded it

Cons

i just downloaded it

4 stars

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"Simple and stable"

BarnacleKB September 22, 2006 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2006-09-22 09:08:07 | By BarnacleKB

Pros

Easy-to-use, never crashed over several months of use.

Cons

Won't randomly choose wallpapers, but rather selects them in alphebetical order of wallpapers' file names.

3 stars

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"Good but..."

mike_kolb February 15, 2006 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2006-02-15 14:32:31 | By mike_kolb

Pros

I really like the program, have been looking for something that could change my desktop but I had to put all my pictures into one folder, program doesnt read sub folders. I get the same problem with the screensaver and since I have windows xp I dont know why its asking to install windows media player 9 since that version isnt for windows xp. The desktop changer is a little limited but it was what I was looking for. Other than that Im happy I downloaded the program and also like that its free! Good bang for your no buck:)

Cons

Screensaver asks to download windows media player 9 and the display properties box freezes, eventhough to my knowledge this version is not supported with windows xp.

The desktop changer program can not read sub folders so you will have to put all your backgrounds into one folder unorganized.

2 stars

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"Its good But its "f"ing w/ the display properties"

Nerd 101 December 31, 2005 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2005-12-31 08:36:13 | By Nerd 101

Pros

good stuff for free

Cons

freezes the Display Properties Panel, all it says is windows media player 9. Won't take any commands from me.

4 stars

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"Very good."

allanbowdensmith February 13, 2005 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2005-02-13 03:41:32 | By allanbowdensmith

Pros

This program is really easy to install, use, and the results are pretty good. I'd rather use this than a normal screensaver, since I have a lot of vids on my computer. The wallpaper utility just makes your desktop that little bit more interesting.

Cons

A little too simplistic for my liking, a randomisation control would've been nice.

5 stars

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"no clue"

December 19, 2004 / Version: PowerToys Fun Pack 1

2004-12-19 12:39:59

Summary

no clue

Results 1–10 of 13

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Full Specifications

General
Publisher	Microsoft
Publisher web site	http://www.microsoft.com/
Release Date	March 29, 2004
Date Added	March 29, 2004
Version	1

Category
Category	Desktop Enhancements
Subcategory	Desktop Customization

Operating Systems
Operating Systems	Windows/XP
Additional Requirements	None

Download Information
File Size	1.58MB
File Name	PowerToys_Full.exe

Popularity
Total Downloads	76,580
Downloads Last Week	1

Pricing
License Model	Free
Limitations	Not available
Price	Free

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Full Specifications

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