Jason Oertell Jason Oertell

WB5 Causing Icons to be spaced WAY too far apart

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WB5 Causing Icons to be spaced WAY too far apart

from Stardock Forums
So I bought WB5 soon after it came out, and have loved it really.  But most recently, I've noticed that after each reboot that the spacing on the desktop icons, AND the icons within Explorer (ie folder icons, etc...) have gotten spaced farther apart.  This didn't bother me at first, but after rebooting tons of times, it's gotten to the point of just ridiculous.  Now I have even uninstalled, reinstalled (after reboot of course) and the issue still does not go away.  I have updated to the latest build of 5.01 but it actually happens with the original 5.0 build.  I have even formatted Windows a few times, and the problem didn't start until I installed WB5.  I have even installed x64 to see if the problem persists, and indeed it does.  This is just getting WAY too frustrating to deal with now, and I NEED this fixed.  Please see the screenshot below to see how bad it is (and it keeps growing with each reboot).
 
 
Below are the notes from WB5:
 
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 2 monitors. 

(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT by www.TweaksRUs.com
(Default Monitor) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT by www.TweaksRUs.com
 
Wblind.dll      2006/03/21 13:33:46
Wbsrv.dll      2006/03/17 11:16:44
Wbconfig.exe       2006/03/19 14:33:44
Wbload.exe      2006/03/13 17:54:12
Wbhelp.dll      2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll      2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll      2005/11/02 13:28:26
14,657 views 50 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How would disabling my second monitor magically fix this problem?


It eliminates one more variable. Basic troubleshooting.

How would you feel if you bought a piece of software (and didn't download a crack for it) and it started causing you problems, then when you actually report the issue, you get ignored, or they tell you basic crap that you have already done


If i spent less than a pizza for a application I would expect a low level of service. The service that Stardock provides is excellent on average.

If I could fix this issue, I would in a heartbeat


But you won't take the basic step suggested

wait 10 or so years for someone to come up with a permanant fix (which I find highly unlikely).


So why post here?

completely disappointed with the support that I've received


Did you check the site to see if your cases were logged?

I understand your dissappointment. I think it's over-the-top for a application that you spent $20 for and skins your computer. If you spent $500 to run your pacemaker . . . I'd be upset too. Stardock can't test on every config. Work with them (and us) to figure out what's up with YOUR system. WB works on more than systems than it doesn't. The problem is most likely on YOUR specific config. Once it's identified SD can look at a fix.

Do the basic troubleshooting crap. Verify that SD has your case. Install the default drivers for your card maybe. Chill.

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Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top
Oi Vey, I HAVE installed the default drivers, and it's NOT an issue with the "modified" drivers I'm using at the moment.  As I said, if it was an issue with dual monitor setups (two CRT's), don't you think that SD should have coded for that?  I mean, dual monitor setups aren't that uncommon now a days.  I know that $20 is not a lot, but you expect to get at least some sort of good service, or else I could have easily just downloaded a crack and saved myself $20; but I didn't.  Yes SD got my e-mail, 4 days late though; though I expect them to give me answers off a sheet, and aren't really going to help me.  The Devs are my best bet, but it's up to them if they really want to fix this issue, or just sweep it under the rug.
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WB works with lots of dual monitor setups. It was tested.

Your config is unique in some way. Eliminating variables is a good first step.

Remove the 2nd monitor. Reboot. Did the icons move? Yes - not a dual monitor issue; No - Dual monitor issue. Repeat. Problem identified or variable eliminated. Test time: probably under 10 minutes.

Next variable.

How hard is that?

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Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
But seriously, why would it be an issue with dual monitors?  there's nothing special or unique about my system, and here's the specs:

 

Asus A8N SLI Premium
AMD Athlon64 X2 4400+ 2.2Ghz Dual Core

2GB Corsair DDR400 RAM
256MB XFX GeForce 7900GT
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM, WD 200GB, WD 320GB
HDA Digital X-Plosion 7.1 DTS Connect
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 THX
CoolerMaster CM Stacker w/420W Enermax PSU
Lite-On SOHW-1653S 16x DVD Writer
2 19" CRT Monitors

Windows XP MCE2005

 

So unless you see something special in there, it's a top of the line system that I have had no problems with what-so-ever.
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So unless you see something special in there, it's a top of the line system that I have had no problems with what-so-ever.


Except with WB, which you won't troubleshoot because you already know it can't be those things that you would troubleshoot.

-=sigh=-

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Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top
The icon issue is the only major issue I have with WB.  And I still find it hard to believe that even though I've mentioned at least a dozen or so times now, that this issue did not happen until I installed WB5, usually points to the fact that, it's a WB's issue.  And since I'm not the only one who has this problem, don't you think that's something then?  The only thing in common we have, is an nVidia card, which is exactly what I have said in the past, interaction with nVidia drivers....

 

Plus, I even switched hardware recently, so the exact same issue happened on my old hardware.
Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The only thing in common we have, is an nVidia card, which is exactly what I have said in the past, interaction with nVidia drivers....


Maybe I missed something then. You are saying that the card you have is interacting with Wb to insert space between icons everytime you reboot. Have you created a case with nVidia?

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Reply #33 from Stardock Forums Top
While that would be a good idea, I really think that nVidia would say "go contact SD, as this isn't our problem".  It's not the card I have that's the issue, I believe it's the drivers from nVidia that's interacting with WB5 (or shall I say, WB5 interacting with the nVidia drivers).
Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top

WindowBlinds has been tested on Dual monitor setups, in fact a large number of staff use them.

The only reports I have ever seen of anything like this is in this thread and both reports are coming from people with nvidia graphics cards.  This strongly suggests its somehow linked to that.  The lack of more posts about it also suggests its not a widespread problem.

The logical thing to be doing it would be nview, but you have said thats disabled, so what else does msconfig show starting up at startup?

I assume you have tried other skins just in case some metrics being set by the skin are confusing things?

Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top
I've tried plenty of skins actually, but I'm more partial to the Vista ones.  The only real thing I have in my msconfig is the nvidia cp app (which is the little icon that sits on the taskbar/clock), plus a few apps that I want to load on startup (MSN Messenger, GAIM, Ad Muncher).

 

*edit*

Neil, if you can truly solve this, I would definitely take back all the comments I made about the poor support, and be truly appreciative about it.
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it could be your shell style.
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IP changes the size of my icon's each reboot. the size is like 33, 35, and 31.
Reply #38 from Stardock Forums Top
And yet, I don't have IP installed.  I don't think it's the shell style really, as people with the same skin as I'm using, would be having the same problem.
Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IP changes the size of my icon's each reboot. the size is like 33, 35, and 31.

Honestly no, I do not have IP installed at all.- jason

It could be your shell style

I've tried plenty of skins actually - jason


???

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Reply #41 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, so i'm noticing something else that's bugging the hell out of me.  For some strange reason, my icons keep reverting back to small icons, even though I have "Use Large Icons" enabled.  And sometimes if I check that box and hit apply, it doesn't always apply...
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Interesting thread.
Jason, as a check go to the Windowblinds Settings panel choose Basic Settings and make sure "Apply Any Iconpackages Supplied" is unchecked

under effects leave the "Use Large Icons" checked

then look under
Display Properties/Appearance/Advanced/Other Advanced Commands/ under Item: choose Icon, set size to say 48 then choose Icon Spacing Vertical set to 48 then choose Icon Spacing Horiz set to 48 choose apply then close Display Properties and reboot. Do the new settings apply or are they the same or worse than they already were?

I have a fairly new Quadro FX 4500 running dual DVI monitors and I have the supplied NVidia drivers installed and I have no issues with Windowblinds at all. It would seem if it was a driver issue ther'd be more than just 2 people suffering from it. I wonder if maybe some other program you already had installed (not necessarily a driver) that uses advanced features of your card is causing a conflict and it "resumes" errors after each run of that program. Just some thoughts that might help....
Reply #43 from Stardock Forums Top
Sorry Lantec, but that did not work, same thing as usual.  It wont get as worse as before, but it's still annoying as to have to keep changing each setting each time.
Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top
Well I switch to a single Dell 2405FPW LCD and the issue continues.  THAT in itself should point to a WB5 problem.
Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top
THAT in itself should point to a WB5 problem.


THAT eliminates one factor.

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Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I think I know what's causing the problem now, apparently it's enabling Large Icons in the effects menu; however, it's caused by WB continuously making the icons small, and each time I enabled Large Icons, that's when it grows.  But how to fix it, that's another story...
Reply #47 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds does not affect icon sizes.
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Dude, do you have IconX installed?
Reply #49 from Stardock Forums Top
No, this is the ONLY Stardock product I have installed.

 

And apparently I'm magically thinking this up, huh?
Reply #50 from Stardock Forums Top
Sweet a month after the first post and still no resolution!!  Awesome support Stardock, I'll make it so all my friends buy your products and recieve the exact same level of support I've gotten!