First off let me welcome you to the community mjkny.  Once you learn how to get around I'm sure you will like it.

Okay lets see if we can't provide some help here.

Very first thing you need to do is if you have any of the trail versions of programs installed is to uninstall them, run a clean up program like CCleaner, clean the registry and then reboot.

Did you download Impulse and make sure your Object Desktop Utlimate subscription is registered?  If not here is a link to get Impulse.  http://www.impulsedriven.com/

Once you do that you should be able to open the My Desktop Tab in Impulse and see a bunch of programs ready for you to download.  These are the programs that come with ObjectDesktop Ultimate.  Start downloading, but I would suggest you do it one at a time starting with WindowBlinds.  Once you open a program try it out and see what it does, then move on to another untill you have them all downloaded.  No need to rush through this either, take your time.

Hope this helps, especially if you haven't done this. 

Maybe try disabling any security software before trying again. I don't know if that'll work, but it might.

Thank you all so much for your responses and efforts. I have uninstalled and cleaned up the trial versions before downloading the programs via Impulse.

The biggest trouble I am having is that when I apply a skin, theme, or suite, all that happens is my graphics(ie: start button, task bar, title bars, etc) revert to Windows Classic from Windows Vista Aero, and, with some the wallpaper changes and with some it doesn't. When I look at the skins, themes, and suites online, they appear to change how the task bar and title bars as well as other graphic items display and make them look more modern, futuristic, or whatever the author designed to look like but when I click "apply my change" or "apply theme" or anything else all that happens is what I just described with the reverting to Windows Classic and it doesn't look anything like the screenshots from WinCustomize.com.

Also, I have taken a look, though not quite a thorough one, at the WinCustomize Wiki and while it has a lot of great infomation, I struggled finding an answer to my particular question. This may be because the answer is not there, which I doubt, or it might be because I just couldn't find the answer I was looking for (most likely).

Thanks again for everything. This truly is a great community and I appreciate everything that you are doing. I hope to one day, probably not too soon, be able to provide some help to someone in need like all of you are doing today.

Like all programs there are some settings that you need to look at.  Open up WindowBlinds configuration and click the Setting tab.  Make sure everything is set up to use the current WindowBlinds skin for the Taskbar etc.  If you change something then reapply the current skin.

Not all WindowBlinds come with a Wallpaper, for those that do they should apply when you apply the WB.  It will normally say in the description of the WB download page if a wall is included or give a link to the wall used.

after reading all of the instructions and hoops that this poor guy has to go through (download this, download that, clean this, delete that, do this, don't do that) it shouldn't be a wonder why the cynicism in me sometime comes out to play. At least no one suggested that he/she reformat their hard drive.

mjkny, welcome to the community.

All of you are such kind and helpful people. For my experience with this forum alone, I am glad I bought the programs. I have tried everything that everyone so graciously reccomended but, unfortunately, to no avail. I have checked all the settings on Window Blinds and Theme Manager(the two programs I decided to try first, thus the two programs I have yet to figure out) as well as the settings on my security applications but I still haven't had any luck. At this point, I think it is about time I stop bothering all of you and start bothering Stardock's support.  downloaded the program highlander put forth and will definitely include its results in my email to Stardock. I am sure there is just some detail somewhere that I am missing or ignoring and therefore not reporting here which is probably why I don't have an answer as of yet. In other words, I have no doubt it is all my fault.

I can't say enough about how impressed I am with the caliber of people on this forum. The generosity, kindness, and intelligence you have shown is absolutely oustanding and I will forever be in your debt. Once again, THANK YOU!

My Sincerely Best Regards,

Michael King

Welcome mjkny, it's a nice place indeed.