This is a collection of color coordinated 3D Red Animated Cursors for Windows 95/98 or NT. They replace all the standard Windows mouse pointers with animated versions, with many optional versions to choose from. It will also replace all the standard browser cursors if you have Windows 98 and IE4.01. Some of these cursors are identifed as 256 color cursors and will not display properly without the right video card and settings (see discussion on 256 Color Cursor Requirements for details). If possible, 16 Color alternatives have been provided, but the 256 Color ones look better. These cursors lend some variety to the desktop and compliment the many themes available for Windows 95/98. These cursors are also usable with NT. For installation see the "Instructions" below.
The installation file is designed to work with all normal default Windows installations. If you have a non-standard installation you can copy the cursors to your cursor folder after unzipping them and install them from Control Panel individually. If you are installing this over an old installation of 3D Red Animated Cursors, you will need to delete the old folder "\Windows\Cursors\3DRed" when you are done. If you are not familiar with the terms used in these directions, get help from someone who is to do this installation.
Installation
1. Unzip the 3DRCur20.zip file into a temporary folder using an unzip utility such as WinZip. It is preferable to keep the default folder of "\Temp\3DRed2", otherwise type in the folder used when prompted during installation for the "downloaded files". In Windows Explorer, go to the temporary folder you just made and right click on "Instal3G.inf". Select (double click) "Install". You should see a message that the cursor files are being copied to your computer.
2. In Control Panel, double click on "Mouse" for Mouse Properties. Click on "Pointers" in Mouse Properties.
3. Under "Scheme", click on the arrow for the drop down menu and double click on the "3D Red Animated Cursors" entry. You should now see the 3D Red Animated Cursors for each default mouse pointer.
4. To keep the set shown, just click on "Apply" and go to step 5. To change any of the cursors, select that cursor and click on "Browse", double click on the "3DRed2" folder, then select the new cursor desired from those listed. Highlight the desired cursor and click "Open." You should now see the new cursor shown for that event. Continue this until you have all the cursors the way you want. At this time you may want to save this as a custom scheme. Type in a scheme name and click on "Save As". To initiate the new cursors, click on "Apply".
5. Exit Mouse Properties and Control Panel. Delete your temporary folder. You're done!
Note: The "application in background" cursors have "app" in their name and the "busy" cursors have "bus" in their name. All "app" cursors can also be used as the normal cursor. Cursors ending in "L" are larger cursors designed for laptop computers. Cursors ending in "C" are 256 color cursors (see special instructions below for their use). Cursors with "link" are able to be used as the browser cursor for IE4 if you have Windows 98. Cursor 3drbusy8.ani is a 60 second timer and can be used to measure waiting time for your applications.
To uninstall:
1. Select new cursors that are not in the "\Cursors\3DRed2" directory for your default cursors using Steps 2-5 under Installation. When done, go to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel, select "3D Red Animated Cursors", and select "Add/Remove". This removes all the cursors and registry entries that were installed.
2. In Windows Explorer, delete empty folder "\Cursors\3DRed2" in your default windows folder. Do NOT delete your "\Cursors" folder!
For those cursors in this set identifed as 256 color cursors, you must have a true or high color video card set higher than 256 colors and Windows 95 "Plus!" or Windows 98 or an equivalent second party software installed to take advantage of the intended colors. If you don't, they will display but look "muddy." You enable 256 color icons and cursors by going to Control Panel, then Display Properties, then "Plus!" in Win95 or "Effects" in Windows 98 and seleting the box for "Show icons using all possible colors". If you do not have "Plus!" or Windows 98, you can use "Microangelo Engineer" (shareware) or "MULEVEL" (freeware). "MULEVEL" is available from the 3D Red Animated Cursors home page.
These files are copyrighted and being released as freeware for personal and non-profit use only. If you wish to use ANY of these cursors for ANY OTHER USE than the ones stated above, send a request for permission via email to joeslinks@geocities.com.
These cursor files are "AS IS" and come WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. Because of the various hardware and software environments into which these cursors may be put, NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS OFFERED. You take full responsibility for their use, suitability, and consequences. They are not guaranteed to work on your computer or your application. You should perform your own virus screenings and perform your own tests for suitability. The user must assume the entire risk of using these files, including their installation. If your computer crashes, I am NOT responsible, nor am I responsible for any collateral damages or consequences of any kind. YOU are the ONLY one responsible for their use. (Remember you got this for free!)
The original animations for the standard cursors used in the 3D Green Animated Cursor set were modeled after a freeware blue 3D animated and static cursor set developed by Chris Prescott. I wish to thank him for permission to use his ideas. His cursor set is available at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/4467.
The animated color star and atom were made by me based on animated gifs by Matt Brown. (As this was done frame by frame without a conversion program, it was not an easy task.) They are used with his permission. The internet address I had for Matt is no longer valid.
The animated clock cursors were based on a clock cursor I saw by Juan C. Pradas-Bergnes.
A few "application in background" cursors have animations similar to Windows theme cursors to allow substitution of this cursor set into themes. For the cursor with a Windows flag, the copyright for the flag belongs to Microsoft.
