Hello,
I've been an Xtreme subscriber for many years, and while issues here and there with function, never a registration issue.
After the upgrade to 26.1 (both Xtreme and Nexus) I recently noticed in the about tab of Nexus that now there is a button stating to upgrade to Nexus Ultimate, which was not there prior.
Needing to renew my subscription on 2/3/26, figured I'd wait to see if the new wsxkey would resolve it, but it did not.
Screenshots attached of Xtreme and Nexus about tabs, not sure what other info may be needed for the support members here, so starting there.
Thank you in advance,
Bob

Bob, under Winstep Xtreme, WorkShelf *is* Nexus + desktop modules.

You should NOT be running the free version of Nexus at the same time as Winstep Xtreme.

On the original email with your Xtreme license key there were instructions on what to do when migrating from the free version of Nexus or upgrading from Nexus Ultimate to Winstep Xtreme.

Please read this Product Comparison Page to understand better what I am trying to explain.

Because the free version of Nexus and WorkShelf store their settings in a different place, the problem is that at this point I have no idea if the main dock you are using belongs to Nexus or to WorkShelf.

Normally the solution simply to exit Nexus and then delete Nexus.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\Winstep\ , but before you do that I want you to go into the Advanced tab of Nexus Preferences and make a Backup of the Nexus settings there.

If when you exit Nexus your main dock disappears, then you should go to the advanced tab of WorkShelf Preferences, make a Backup of WorkShelf settings FIRST and then Restore the backup of your Nexus settings into WorkShelf.

I hope this makes sense.

Hello Jorge,
Thanks for the reply and info.

I was never aware after all these years, that I was running the free version of Nexus lol.
Nexus was in the Winstep program group in the windows start menu from the get-go from what I remember (I have shortcuts on the desktop for NextStart, Workshelf, and Nexus, in case I need to kill and restart them for any misbehavior), and built my main dock from that. I purchased the Xtreme suite off the bat, never used any free or trial versions. Though I can't remember if after that, after not seeing Nexus within Xtreme, I downloaded it thinking I was missing an app, which is possible.

I believe I get what you are saying, which is within Xtreme, Nexus isn't an app that is part of the suite, and a "Nexus" dock should just be a dock created within Workshelf? And that Nexus Ultimate is only for people who want a dock and not the rest of the apps?
Kind of a Doh moment just now, as my 4 non-main docks all have a Nexus icon in the dock, and I know they are part of the Workshelf docks.

I will try your steps in the morning, but I have had issues restoring backups (I make them regularly) of Workshelf and Nextstart with errors of something not being found though I can't remember what that something was, and manually rebuilt things.

One more question if I may - I have about 25 icons/shortcuts on my "free" Nexus main dock, and concerned I may get an error when restoring a backup. If I create a new main dock in Workshelf, can I drag my shortcuts from the existing free Nexus dock into the new Workshelf dock prior to deleting Nexus itself?

Appreciate the assistance
Bob

Yes... Under Winstep Xtreme, Nexus docks are handled by WorkShelf.

NextSTART was the first Winstep application to be developed, back in 98.

In 2002 the first beta of WorkShelf came out, with WorkShelf at the time being a single shelf plus the modules (iconic + desktop). Initially it did not support docks.

Docks were only added to WorkShelf around 2006 after much demand, and the free version of Nexus, featuring a single dock, only came out in 2009. It had to be extricated from WorkShelf with a forceps.

Nexus Ultimate was an interim version developed later for users who only wanted docks and shelves, but not the full blown Winstep Xtreme UI.



Yes, a bit confusing, even before the free stand alone version of Nexus, the docks within WorkShelf were already called "Nexus". Kind of a "two in one" package.



Yes, in that case it's best if you transfer the icons in the free version of Nexus via drag & drop to a dock in WorkShelf. Once you're finished exit the free version of Nexus to make sure you are not missing anything.

Once you are satisfied, just delete nexus.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\Winstep\

Hello Jorge,

All set!
Sincere thanks for the help with this

Also wanted to note -
1) Since the 26.1 update, docks, shelf, and drawers seem snappier to respond, especially docks when running a cursor across with the magnify effect on.

2) Liking the new disk meter module. Between internal and large full size external drives with a large workstation, I've got 10 drives in the module. Sometimes one of the externals will start going nuts when I am not accessing it (I can hear it, they are platter drives lol) and the module lets me easily see which one without me getting up and looking at them.

Just a comment (since fixing the Nexus stuff not really a question now) on what you had stated on backup and restore settings - "go into the Advanced tab of Nexus Preferences and make a Backup of the Nexus settings there", and "Restore the backup of your Nexus settings into WorkShelf" - When I went to create the Nexus backup, the file was going to be a ws Workshelf backup file (I had just made a Workshelf backup prior to changing things around and the Nexus backup was going to be the same name except for timestamp). That confused me as to how you would then restore the Nexus settings into Workshelf, and have that Nexus dock now become part of the dock list in Workshelf.

At some point I'll post questions about some odd app behaviors and see if any solutions, but for the moment, and since installing the 2nd 26.1xx, I'll hold for now

I do want to state my high appreciation not only for the Xtreme suite existing, but for continuing to develop and update it. So many OS customization and skinning apps have been left dead on the side of the road over the years. Even with Winstep, there seemed at times a while back that it might remain as it was. I know you are pretty much a one-man-band, and there is life and everything else lol, and you ain't getting rich off of this. So I am glad you are developing new things here, and still have the passion to keep up this sweet suite

The history details were interesting, and I hadn't known parts of this were around for that long. Prior to getting this suite 6 years-ish ago, I was a Stardock fanboy for a decade or so prior to that and still have a Object DT sub. But I got fed up with Object Dock not allowing me to use just any dimension PNG for an icon, it had to be a certain dimension or it would not even show in the image selection view. I had some cool workstation case PNG's I wanted to use for My Computer/This PC etc, that I found online for the dock but it wouldn't let me. Looked around for an alternative dock and found Nexus, but then saw what the rest of the suite could do, and that was that lol. And yes, Workshelf docks can accommodate those odd dimension PNG's (though it can squish them slightly).

Thanks again,
Bob

P.S. - Had to come back and edit, after making sure it wasn't a fluke. I literally learn new things the apps can do regularly that I had no idea. Something I hadn't seen before with dock folder shortcuts happened when I was moving shortcuts from Nexus to the new Workshelf dock. Long pressing on a folder shortcut brings up the contents, along with slide-outs for nested folders. Woah, lol.
I saw in your "What's next after 26.1" post about a Winstep User Guide. THAT would be awesome and very helpful to explore not only everything the apps can do, but how to make them do them Despite the many things I've setup already, I bet I really haven't scratched the surface of what the suite can really do when you dig into the (to me) more complex functions.

I didn't *intentionally* do anything that might have caused that, but I did change the code responsible for the timing control of animations so the timer only fires when strictly necessary (previously it fired continuously in the background, don't ask). Perhaps this had the unintended effect of making everything a bit snappier.



I'm really glad that you find the new disk meter module useful and I love these type of user testimonials.

Here by coincidence I also have 10 drives (7 internal and 3 external), two of the externals being used for automatic daily backups. When a backup is going on I like to glance at the disk meter from time to time, it allows me to see which drive is currently being backed up and also current through output of the backup.

The visuals of disk activity (be it the blinking led or the histogram graphs) are also useful, IMO, to alert you if something weird is going on system wide.



Amazing how much time has passed since I started this, and that I am actually still able to love and feel passion for what I do and this project. As you noticed, I do burn out from time to time, but I always come back with renewed strength, fortunately.



Yes, bringing back the User Guide is a must. There is so much "unsung" functionality buried deep in the application that even I forget about it from time to time (no joke lol).

Yes, the UG's absence really ought to have been rectified a good few years ago. When ready, a link should feature prominently in the forum, either as a 'sticky' or in the Announcements sub-forum. It might even eliminate some support Qs, if we're lucky.