[How To] Install Themes and Flash Skins

[Judge]

This is a tutorial for installing Themes and Flash Skins in a simple FAQ form.


Q: What is a Theme?

A: A Theme is a user-created file which changes all the icons of the D2. You can find finished Themes and screenshots of what they look like in the thread 'Only finished Themes - no other posts please'. A Theme is actually a modified portion of the firmware you are using.

Q: What is a Flash Skin?

A: A Flash Skin is a user-created file which changes the appearance of the now playing screen of the D2. It is a Flash based file (.swf, to be exact), so it is very customisable. You can find finished Flash Skins and screenshots of what they look like in the thread 'Finished Flash Skins Only - No Other Posts'. A Flash Skin will not change any part of your firmware, it is an official feature Cowon added to certain firmwares (see below for the firmware versions which are capable of using Flash Skins).

Q: How do I install the Theme or the Flash Skin? I downloaded a .zip or .rar file, but when I copy it to my D2, it does nothing?

A: I will go into the specifics of installing the Themes and Flash Skins below, but you need to do the following part first (very important). Most of the downloads available in the threads I mentioned above are .zip or .rar files. These are compressed files containing the actual files you need. Therefore, you need to decompress them. Programs such as WinRAR and 7-Zip can decompress both .zip and .rar files. WinZip is always able to decompress .zip files, and version 11 and later of WinZip can also decompress .rar files. After decompression of the .zip or .rar file, you will find the files needed to install the Theme or Flash Skin you downloaded.

Q: Are Themes and Flash Skins completely removable?

A: Yes, Themes and Flash Skins are completely removable. Uninstallation is covered below. After uninstalling Themes and Flash Skins, you will not notice that you had them installed.

Q: Can I install a Theme and a Flash Skin at the same time?

A: Yes, you can install both a Theme and a Flash Skin at the same time. As I said above, a Theme alters the general appearance of the D2, including buttons for example, and a Flash Skin gives you a new now playing screen.


THEMES

Q: Which version of a Theme do I need?

A: Always download the Theme version that is the same as your firmware version. Your firmware version is displayed during startup of your D2, and can be found in the Information option of the main menu of your D2. Other versions will not always be compatible with your D2 and will not display correctly. Make sure you download the correct version.

Q: How do I install a Theme?

A: After downloading the correct version of a Theme and decompressing the .zip or .rar file, you will see a file called 'D2N_rs.bin'. Put this file in the root folder of your D2. The root folder is the top directory of your D2, where you see the folders Music, Video, Record, System, etc. For example, if your D2 is recognised as the F: drive on your computer, put the D2N_rs.bin file in F:. Do not put it in the System folder, that will do nothing. After placing the D2N_rs.bin file on your D2, safely disconnect it from the computer and start it up. You should see a resource upgrade taking place for a while and it will shut itself off. If you turn it on again the theme is installed!

Q: How do I uninstall a Theme?

A: To uninstall a Theme, download the original firmware you have on your D2. If you have firmware 2.51, for example, download 2.51 from Cowon's website. Copy the D2N_rs.bin file from folder 2 of the original firmware to the root folder of the D2. Safely disconnect it and turn it on. The Theme will now be uninstalled and the D2 will turn itself off. Turn it back on and the Theme is uninstalled.

Q: Do I need to uninstall a Theme before updating to a different firmware version or before changing to a different Theme?

A: No, that is not necessary. Keep in mind that if you update to a different firmware, the Theme will be uninstalled. To reinstall the Theme, remember to download the Theme version equivalent to your new firmware version, and repeat the Theme installation process outlined above.

Q: Will installing a Theme erase the files on my D2, just like a firmware upgrade?

A: No, installing a Theme will not erase any of the files on your D2. This is because it is not like a full firmware upgrade, it only updates some of the D2's resources, effectively updating the looks of the user interface.

Q: Some Themes come with a wallpaper. How do I install it?

A: Put the wallpaper in the Pictures folder. Start the D2, go to Pictures, select the wallpaper you want, click on View and click on Wallpaper. The wallpaper will change to the wallpaper you selected.

Q: Some Themes come with a start-up logo. How do I install it?

A: The logo is a .ilb file. It should be named logo.ilb, otherwise rename it to that. Put it in the System folder of the D2. A logo will not replace the Cowon loading screen with the circling dots, it will play after the Cowon loading screen.


FLASH SKINS

Q: Which firmware version do I need to be able to use Flash Skins?

A: Currently (10 June 2008), only firmwares 1.53 onward and 3.53 onward support Flash Skins (2.xx and 4.xx do not support Flash Skins). So, as it is now only the recent 3.xx firmwares support Flash Skins and the 2.xx and 4.xx do not. Maybe Cowon will add support for Flash Skins in the 2.xx and 4.xx firmwares in the future, nobody knows. Keep checking the firmware stickies in the firmware sub-forum for more information.

I recommend using the latest firmware for your D2, since it should be the most stable one with the latest bugfixes. If you have a DAB D2, use 1.xx, if you have a normal D2, use 3.xx (1.xx and 4.xx are interchangeable; 2.xx and 3.xx are also interchangeable; read the thread 'Latest D2 Firmware Listed and Explained' for a list and explanation of different firmware versions).

Q: How do I install a Flash Skin?

A: After downloading the Flash Skin of your choice and decompressing the .zip or .rar file, you will find an .swf file. This might be named all sorts of ways, in most cases its named after the Flash Skin (for example Vertigo.swf). You need to rename the .swf file to music.swf. Otherwise it will not work. Copy the music.swf file to the System folder of your D2. Safely disconnect it and turn it on. Go to Settings -> Display and make sure that the Flash Skin option is checked. The Flash Skin is installed!

Sometimes a Flash Skin download comes with tons of .swf files. The Utopia Flash Skin, for instance, comes with 26 .swf files. These are essentially exactly the same Flash Skin, but with different backgrounds. You can preview them in your internet browser or a flash application. Then choose one to install to your D2.

Note on renaming the .swf file: Windows hides known file type extensions. So if you see a file called music, it might actually be called music.swf, because Windows hides the .swf extension. Don't rename the music part to music.swf, because the result will be a file called music.swf.swf (because Windows hides the last .swf). To check the full name of your files: in a folder window, do the following. Tools -> Folder Options... -> View tab -> uncheck Hide extensions for known file types -> OK. Now you can see the full names, including extensions, of files. To change it back, check the Hide extensions for known file types option again.

Q: How do I uninstall a Flash Skin?

A: Just uncheck the Flash Skin option in the Settings -> Display menu. There is no need to delete the music.swf file, but you can do that if you want to.

Q: How do I install a different Flash Skin?

A: Just copy the new music.swf file over the existing music.swf file in the System folder, that's it.



I hope this Theme and Flash Skin installation FAQ was useful for some of you. If I missed anything or if you have any suggestions about what I should add to this FAQ, please say so. Any input is appreciated. Of course, we owe our thanks to the creators of all those magnificent Themes and Flash Skins out there.

[Zanzabar]

when i try to move the theme, i don't see a root or system folder. i just see the music, video, record, etc. i moved it to the internal storage and it worked fine. but i am wondering where the root folder is, just in case i want to get a flash skin

[Mr. Black]

where you see music, video, record, etc... is the root of the d2

[Judge]

Originally Posted by Zanzabar

when i try to move the theme, i don't see a root or system folder. i just see the music, video, record, etc. i moved it to the internal storage and it worked fine. but i am wondering where the root folder is, just in case i want to get a flash skin

As Dominic said, the root folder is the starting point for navigating your D2, it's the folder in which you see the folders Music, Video, Record, System, etc. I edited my tutorial to make it even clearer what the root folder is. But remember, if you install a Flash Skin, you need to put it in the System folder, like it says in the tutorial.

[Marikuze]

Just a quick question here.
I have firmware version 3.54 installed on it and i could only find themes that supports version 3.53?

I use
iAudio D2 (4gb) - V 3.54

Here's the themes i plan to use/try.

The Legacy - v3.53

OLED 2 - v3.53

Do i simply need to downgrade the Firmware? Ooorr just go for it?

[Judge]

No, Themes for 3.53 will work without any problems with 3.54. Go for it.

[Rigobert]

Thank you for your great job Judge.

With it, you are worth becoming an international star !

So I translated your FAQ tutoriel in french, it is here.

[ProuduserofD2]

thx man u made ma day! =D

[Leafy]

can i delete the D2N_rs.bin file after the theme has been installed?

[tirim4]

NO, If you want to change back to default theme, just download orginal firmware and copy D2N_rd.bin from folder 2 in firmware folder.

[Leafy]

actually, i found out that D2 auto-deletes the D2N_rs.bin after the theme was installed. i guess if it doesn't do that, it would re-install the theme every time it sees it when it starts up.

[Steve~237]

What happens if I install one of the new themes/skins to my D2 but it is the DAB version?

There are some absolutely stunning ones on the topic mentioned above, however they all show 'FM Radio' on the main menu but no DAB

If I add one of these themes to my D2, will it still show a DAB icon on the main menu?

[ngothien]

For some reason when I install a theme no matter which one, the bottom is blurred and messed up. The firmware is 2.57 and I followed the steps but it hates me

Edit:Scratch that, I was just stupid and didn't put in the correct one. Sorry for wasting your time.

[tirim4]

Remember to install the right theme for right firmware, are you sure the themes was made for 2.XX firmware?

If just the bottom is blurred up it can be firmware problem maybe? Try reinstall firmware.

[tuf luk]

hi,
i just installed a theme and now i cant open up videos or games.
everything else is fine and the folders are there but the video and game files arnt showing up. does any one know whats going on?

also when i try to install a flask skin, i save the flash file as music.swf in the system folder but it does nothing. what am i doing wrong?

im a total noob when it comes to files,formats,converting ect so you will have to excuse me.

thanks allot