WindowBlinds wont load

from WinCustomize Forums
i need help, i just installed the window blinds 5 and when i go to load the skins it changes my xp theme to the default windows 95 theme just the plane grey just wondering if someone could help me
windowblinds
13,235 views 44 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What version of Windows Operating System are you running?
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is this the trial version of WB5 and could you also post the System Information from the windowblinds configuration screen.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have the same problem.

For me It's the trial version. I have Windows XP as well.


WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+ TRAY+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(HP vs15 flat panel monitor) 1 is attached to ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 12:01:54
Wbsrv.dll 2005/11/28 11:50:22
Wbconfig.exe 2005/11/28 15:45:06
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/26 18:09:46
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I still need help with this. Can anyone please help, it's urgent!

I saw that someone had the same problem in the other thread but the way they had it was different. Since I don't have stardock central that means that their version was enhanced.. If I download stardock central it'll make me buy the program to update it, which is something I don't want to do since I'm fine with the free trial version.

Can anyone help me with the free trial version of windowblinds!!! PLEASE!!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not 100% certain, but I don't believe Stardock Central will "make" you do anything - I think it will install the shareware as well purchased apps. The shareware is time-limited now, however, and will expire - until version 5, I think the shareware was not time-limited.

Did you reboot before trying to apply a skin?. You have to do that for WB to work properly. You might try uninstalling the shareware via Control Panel and reinstalling from a fresh shareware download.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well.
Let's see. I didn't purchase anything yet and I have the free trial version.
I opened stardock central and went to object desktop and downloaded windowblind 4[shareware].

Since GT3(the skin I want to use) doesn't work on 4.5 I chose to update it so i right-clicked and clicked on application updates.
An icon appeared on my desktop and I installed it because it was windowblinds 5. I restarted my computer before applying any skin and now when I apply a skin it either changed my desktop to windows classic or it doesn't change anything at all.

Please help anyone
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Version 4 needs to be completely uninstalled before installing version 5 so that may have been a factor in the recent "update" going south. SDC should protect you a little better from that, but there ya go. Best bet is to completely uninstall WindowBlinds again.

Then, in SDC, down at the bottom of the Object Desktop window (the one that shows applications available for download), there is a checkbox for "Show pre-release versions" - be sure that is UNchecked. Then go into "View/Show\Hide Applications..." and be sure WindowBlinds 5 is UNchecked. Re-start SDC & install the version 4.x shareware again.

What about GT3 doesn't "work" under the 4.x shareware release version, anyway?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But if what you want is version 5, just leave WindowBlinds 5 checked in the Show\Hide Applications list and use the version 5 shareware. Any per-pixel alpha transparency features of GT3 will be non-functional using the shareware, however. Only the skins included with the version 5 download will have functional per-pixel transparency.

Again, be sure to wipe your rig clean of version 4 before installing the version 5 shareware, and remember it will be time-limited. You can't get to an unlimited version 5 by way of updating version 4.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I too am having a similar (exact) problem. When applying dreamland it turns to that boring 95ish or safe mode looking. (I am sure it is just a coincidence my stardock membership expires next week.) I believe that the problem is with my radeon 9250 drivers and display settings and not within windowblinds.  after messing with the multiple display settings, and updating the radeon driver, i got mine to skin right. BUT, after doing some other apps updates, (non display related) I had to reboot but lost the skin again. so, check for anything that may have changed your driver or other diplay settings. I am still trying to get mine fixed so let us know how you turn out. btw are you getting any pxe errors on boot. or "exception occurred" messages?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
weird. I just loaded the skin through theme manager and it worked. But I did get the "desk.cpl" error. Now I'm just afraid to reboot again. It's not fixed, I'm sure, but I am getting somewhere.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just as I presumed, after reboot it converted back to classic mode. I've tried looking at my settings, tried changing themes is Theme Manager, windowblinds and through Appearance and Themes, and display. Nothin doin. So here's my windowblinds info. I hope to get help soon! This is so ugly to look at!
WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+ TRAY+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON 9250

Wblind.dll 2006/02/10 19:33:34
Wbsrv.dll 2006/02/05 12:58:22
Wbconfig.exe 2005/12/05 18:42:52
Wbload.exe 2006/01/19 16:19:18
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26

The previously mentioned error message "exception...desk.cpl @ settings" fix info from windows was only found for 98 and me. nothing for xpsp2.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK, after uninstalling/reinstalling the Radeon driver and setting theme to XP Style (standard settings) I can then reload WB settings. BUT, when rebooting, it always goes back to Windows Classic Style. Am I missing a check somewhere? I just don't see what I can do!
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

if you're running the trial version: it runs out after 60 days - reinstalling it won't make it work again...not sure what happens if you uninstall prior to the 60 days and then reinstall...but I don't think it knows how many days = it just knows you had it and maybe assumes the 60 is up.


if you're running XP64 the 5.00.001 released version should work, I believe I read the beta after doesn't.


if you're updating drivers: sometimes updating the drivers works...sometimes a rollback is what's needed.

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
The problem won't go away!.  Every time I reboot it converts back to windows classic or XP standard blue. I've tried everything I can find throughout the web. (reinstalling, drivers, etc) Windowblinds isn't loading on startup. Wallpaper stays. Icons and cursorxp loads.  I go through windowblinds, theme manager, display settings through xp, it always converts to classic. Eventually, I can load windowblinds (or at least the theme I want) but after reboot, I have to do it all again! Somebody, Please!
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

I too am having this same problem. My trial version expired about 2 days ago, and then all of a sudden every skin/theme i try to apply, reverts back to the Windows Classic 95 skin. I uninstalled the program and tried to redownload it, but it is still not working for some reason.


I simply want to use the Noire skin i was previously using, and am perfectly happy with the trail/free version of the program. 

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm sure Stardock is happy you were happy with it.

The trial is just that... a 60 day trial. Reinstalling it won't make it work again.

Now you have to decide if the amount of happiness you had is worth purchasing it.

If you start leaning towards the purchase...you might consider the full ODNT package. The price is worth 3 of the programs alone & you get a lot more than that.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have the exact same problem. Bought the complete object desktop package a few days ago. Installed it after formatting my harddrive reinstalling XP, so it can't possibly be conflicting with previous trial versions.
As I try to apply a skin (any skin), the wallpaper changes, but my startbar, borders etc all revert to the Windows Classic skin.

Noone knows why this happens? What can i do to fix it? I'd hate to have wasted my money on software that doesn't work on my system

I tried unchecking the "show pre-release version" box, and reinstalling Windowblinds, booting, etc to no avail..

Please?


WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+ TRAY+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 (Omega 3.8.221)

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 13:57:10
Wbsrv.dll 2005/11/28 15:52:00
Wbconfig.exe 2005/11/28 16:19:00
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/20 12:23:40
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Abbad

do you have any antivirus or antispy stuff running that may not allow the wbload.exe to run unless authorized?
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Currently, no. This is a pretty clean XP, I haven't gotten around to installing all bells and whistles yet. Was trying to get windowblinds to work first. Tried uninstalling everything i was playing around with in object desktop, still the same problem. Also tried WB 4, with the same result sadly..

Any other ideas as to what might be causing this?
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
firewall?

I've seen some posts concerning firewalls blocking the activation.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Still no luck, sadly. Made sure everything i had that even slightly resembled a firewall was turned off, but alas, no change..

Getting desperate..