HI,
I can't send email right now, I can only recieve it. Hope you happen to read this:
ok for 1, you have the "Link to" attribute enabled on all your buttons. This is used for mouseover effects and such, so if your minimize button is linked to your close button, it will be hidden when you apply the skin. To do a mouseover button, it's function must be "Do nothing just show an image" rather than "Closes window" or whatever. Remove the "Link-to button" attribute and they will show up. for 2, make sure you have a file called "shellstyles.xps" in your skin folder. If it is there then I'm not sure what's causing it. Hope that Helps!