Explorer does not shutdown during shutdown after running WindowsFX

Since installing WindowsFX 3.0 I have noticed the explorer.exe gets stuck during shutdown of the computer with an explorer not responding error end now dialog box. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this problem, and if so is there a solution. Its not a serious issue, just an annoyance. Thanks for anyone's response on this issue.  
48,565 views 51 replies
Reply #1 Top
Yes, I have been having the same problem! Sometimes it is just one explorer.exe message, sometimes its two or three, with a WB5(something) message. I'm forced to click "End Now" for each one.

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Reply #3 Top
Same problem here. WinXP Pro SP2 fully patched, ATI Radeon 9800 with Catalyst 6.6, most recent beta versions of WindowFX and WB5.
Reply #4 Top
I have never had this fault with WindowFX 3 , lets see everyones specs it could be a series of G-card or something

AMD Athlon 3000+(754)
Gigabyte NForce3 Mobo
SATA/PATA
Nvidia 6600GT
Audigy SE
1GB Kingston 3200 (1 stick)
Windows Media Center 2005 (Rollup2+fully up to date)
Reply #5 Top
I'm running Pentium M 760 2.0 ghz, ATi Mobility Radeon x700 128mb RAM w/ most current 6.6 Catalyst drivers, 1gb DDR2 533mhz RAM, Windows XP Pro SP2 - all current updates, and current versions (including betas) of all Object Desktop apps.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #6 Top
I should note that there was one (and only one) instance that I did not encounter this problem when shutting down, but I have failed to figure out what made the difference, or to be able to duplicate the circumstances.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #7 Top
Someone asked about specs
I am runnin a 3.2 GHz Processor
2 Gig Ram
ATI Radeon 9800 Card with 256 Meg
Creative Audio 2ZS Sound Card
Netcell 5000 IDE Raid Controller with 360 Gigs of space

I've found if I unload WindowsFX before shutting down this resolves the issue, so it has definitely got something to do with the Windows FX software. I am also running WindowBlinds 5 too.


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Reply #8 Top
Got the same problem.
WindowsXp SP2 all newest updates,
Pentium 4 HT 3.6GHz
1 Gig Ram (1 stick)
Nvidia Geforce 6800
SB Audigy 2 ZS
Donnu bout HD brand.. two 120GB-ers tho.

Also running WindowBlinds 5.01.

Its defenatly WindowFX that causes the problem since if you unload it it wont appear, mostly its juts explorer that doesnt respond, but everynow and then some other apps aswell.
Reply #9 Top
I see this problem occasionally too. And I also see a "dwatson failed to initialize because Windows is shutting down" error as well. Unloading WindowsFX resolves the issue.

Win XP SP-2 (fully patched)
AMD Atholong 1.8
1 gig SDRAM
ATI Radeon 9550 (latest basic drivers)
Reply #10 Top
Same problem here. Running XP SP2 (2x Xeon, ATI, 3GB RAM...) and need almost every time shut down WindowsFX. When is FX running, it fails on closing on explorer several times and sometimes is required to close drwatson from processes too. When disabling WindowsFX is all OK and restart is without break.


Tomas

Reply #11 Top
Same problem here HP dv8000, T2600 duo (2.16) 2Gig of ram, Nvidia Gforce Go 7400 with up to date drives. If I unload WindowsFX before shutdown no problem. I also have noticed a problem with CNN pipeline, will not start 9 times out of 10, but if I unload WindowsFX its starts 9 times out of 10?


Also running Windows Media 11 and IE7 (which does not work with WB yet, so I had to stop running WB)


HTH

And thanks in advance for a fix, I have to say this has become my fav Stardock product now that I have a computer that can handle it with NO impact to any of my running apps.

Scott

Reply #13 Top
Tabs to not appear. I was told a few months back that this was a known issue and would not be fixed until IE came out of beta? I hope you guys are working on it, I miss my WB!!

Thanks for the help
Reply #17 Top
Im running IE7 beta 3 and it works super fine with WB5.01, worked great with Beta 2 also.

Tho back to the problem at hand, Stardock looking at a solution? I like the new WinFX but i had to turn it of permenantly cause its to damn annoying to press (quit now) a everytime i try to turn the computer off.
Reply #18 Top
Im running IE7 beta 3 and it works super fine with WB5.01, worked great with Beta 2 also.

Tho back to the problem at hand, Stardock looking at a solution? I like the new WinFX but i had to turn it of permenantly cause its to damn annoying to press (quit now) a everytime i try to turn the computer off.


I'm happy WB works for you, but I have seen more than person complain here,so there is a problem. (I Will start another thread as to not confuse the issues.)

And I agree,I WinFX needs to be fixed also (even more than WB!) I keep my computer on most of the time so it's a once a day thing, not a big deal but I hate having to baby sit a reboot. And I do wonder what other problems it might be causing, if any?
Reply #19 Top
I have the same issue with Windows Explorer and Dr. Watson appearing on shutdown. This is a great product otherwise.

Asrock Dual SATA 2 939 mobo
Geforce 6800 GT AGP
Athlon X2 3800
2 GB RAM
2 SATA 1 drives
X-Fi Extreme Music

Rick
Reply #20 Top

Same problem here. It has been the case for all versions of WinFX I have tried over the past year, with both WB4 and WB5.

* It almost never happens when WinFX is not enabled.

* It is exacerbated by multiple user accounts logged in with FUS.

* It is usually Windows Explorer that is stuck, but sometimes other applications as well, especially hidden processes. Sometimes you have to kill 4 or so processes to log out.

Although I like the shadows because they help me when my eyes are tired to spot the edges of windows, these problems have put me off WinFX as I don't feel I can trust it. I don't believe this is merely a cosmetic issue because manually killing processes can cause settings to be lost, etc.

--//--

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.

(L768) 1 is attached to RADEON X800 PRO/GTO

Wblind.dll 2006/07/28 18:29:04
Wbsrv.dll 2006/07/14 17:22:54
Wbconfig.exe 2006/07/13 18:37:40
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 16:54:12
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 20:29:06
Tray.dll 2006/04/13 17:29:04
Reply #21 Top
Same problem here.

It is usually Windows Explorer that is stuck, but sometimes other applications as well, especially hidden processes. Sometimes you have to kill 4 or more processes to log out.

I have found that if I unload WindowsFX before shutting down this resolves the issue, so it has definitely got something to do with the Windows FX software. I am also running WindowBlinds 5 too.


Hardware:

Windows XP SP2
Dual Intel Xeon 3.67GHz
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500
2GB RAM


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 NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500

Wblind.dll 2006/03/21 13:33:46
Wbsrv.dll 2006/02/05 12:58:22
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
Reply #23 Top
same problem here, running the latest betas from stardock central for both windowblinds 5 and windowsfx.

recently though, i've also experienced freezeups when windows is starting up... explorer locks up completely whenever i start up, and I can't do anything unless I kill explorer.exe and run it again. (And no, its not because a process is loading/running, etc., cpu usage in the task manager is minimal when i check). I think this may be a conflict with panda platinum internet security 2006 doing a startup scan; when i prevent panda from loading on start, the problem seems to be fixed. The problem is also fixed when i prevent windowsfx from loading on startup.
Reply #24 Top
bump
Reply #25 Top
Alright Ill end the b bracket to make this not bold..

Better.