MichaelG MichaelG

Explorer does not shutdown during shutdown after running WindowsFX

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.  
48,545 views 51 replies
Reply #26 Top
Hmm still no word about a solution?
Reply #27 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.


Not sure if this is what happened to you or not . but i have had Explorer freeze up when I shut down windows fx many times. But it ususally happens if I have a bunch of things open in the sys tray. If I shut down each thing first before Win FX and make sure that win fx is set on " always show " in sys tray - then it didnt happen.

Everytime I had it set for " Always Hide " in sys tray - Explorer froze on shut down. I just learned to live with it. Its too bad cos I like win fx but its hard to run on older computers.
Reply #28 Top

I believe we may have tracked down the problem and it seems WindowFX is not at fault.

How many of you have the WB system tray icon enabled?  We have found with this disabled the problem does not happen.

Does anyone here have the WB system tray icon disabled and still have the problem? (having rebooted since disabling the icon)

Reply #29 Top
I still do!
Removed it from the systemtray and rebooted, ran WindowFX ran a few apps (IE, explorer) logged off and got the same "not responding".
Reply #30 Top
I also have this problem and it only occurs when I have WindowsFX loaded. My PC is a Pentium 4 HT 3.6 with 1GB memory and nVidia GeForce Go 6800.
Reply #32 Top
There should be an updated WFX on OD later today


Woo woo!
Reply #33 Top
I am also having this problem, I checked for updates with Stardock Central, but did not find any. Anyone know when will an updated version of WindowsFX will be released?
Reply #34 Top
FX trashes my system. ATI600 AMD 2.3mgz, 1 gig ram. Exploer Plus locks ups, windows won't shut down. Giving up. And this was so way cool

Dave
Reply #35 Top
I get the same problem myself. I'm running a Pentium Extreme 965 (3.73GHz) with GeForce 7950, 2GB RAM and Soundblaster X-Fi Elite. I initially had the entire object desktop package installed, but kept having problems with freezing and explorer.exe not responding on shutdown. I uninstalled the whole deal, as I wasn't sure which program was causing it, and everything worked fine afterward. After reading the other threads regarding WFX, I installed everything again except for WFX and now I get error messages about other things, which I hope Stardock is working on right now, but no more explorer.exe hangs. Must still be a problem with WFX.
Reply #36 Top

The current beta release of WindowFX on OD should resolve any explorer hangs on shutdown.  You will need to set Show Beta Releases to install it.

Reply #37 Top
I start using WinFX since 2.x version and all version have the same problem and I believer only one of the version does work fine in my system during last 2 years. I do create incident to Stardock but the problem never get solved.
I am starting to try all version that I have and hope I can get one works!
Reply #38 Top
I believe we may have tracked down the problem and it seems WindowFX is not at fault.
How many of you have the WB system tray icon enabled? We have found with this disabled the problem does not happen.
Does anyone here have the WB system tray icon disabled and still have the problem? (having rebooted since disabling the icon)


I'm sure I'm going to feel foolish but how does one disable the WB Tray Icon. I have WindowBlinds loading at startup and the icon is always in the tray. Thanks for anyone's time.
Reply #39 Top
WB Config/ User Overrides
Reply #40 Top
The latest beta build which can be downloaded via SDC for all customers should resolve this problem as I explained in September.
Reply #41 Top
Except it doesn't, Neil. I'm still getting the Explorer hang, sometimes twice, followed by the Hidden Fax Window hang on shutdown. Only intermittently, but as recently as 3 minutes ago.
Reply #42 Top
I have the same issue, but not just on shutdown. Explorer will crash randomly followed by Dr. Watson. I have to manually end all Dr. Watson tasks in order to get Explorer to close and reset itself. Totally not cool. Look forward to a fix. for now, I've disabled WindowFX to maintain stability.

WindowBlinds seems to be working great with no crashes.

The Silica Objects don't seem to remember their size and locations that I set them to when I restart my computer, but it doesn't bother me much. I rarely have to restart since I've disabled WindowFX.

Reply #43 Top
Timothy Robb: Please make sure you have the very latest beta release of WindowFX installed (download using SDC with show prereleases enabled)
Reply #44 Top
hello yeah i totally see the problem i had the same...first i thought it was my zonealarm then i thought it was a virus i reinstalled windows 4 times...how stupid i am untill i got to the conclusion that i was windowfx....you can imagine how stressed out i was since i have a rather new pc.
but i really dont understand how this can be and how many people have the exact problem and this is my first version but if it has been like this that is really a big pity...
i was so happy with the programm but i just cant use it at all...
i am shocked stardock is not doing anything about this...cause it is not a bug that just a few people have as we can read here there are many...too many...windowsblinds works great my pc looks super but as my pc cant handle windows vista i was ok with the stardock solution which is maybe even better ...cheaper etc...but uhm with an error like this we should get our money back...or fix it FAST...could we get some reactions from the stardock crew...i am really sad about it and i am not using windowfx although i would really like to...

WHAT CAN WE DO ....or rather what will stardock do....
Reply #45 Top

eezdva: Install Stardock Central, enter your details and enable show pre releases.

Then install the latest build of WindowFX.

I will find out why this has not been put out as a proper release version.

Reply #46 Top
uhm huh....pre releases...this is my first one...the other password i deleted but you might be able to find that in your date somewhere i guess..hope we can solve the problem....
Reply #47 Top
ok i got some pre release but for wb and ip not for wfx pity cause there i would have liked to get one...but honestly i am a bit affraid to use it cause before i would have installed all my icons into perfection and boem there was a freeze up and internet explorer had a problem and so on and all my work was for nothing....i now have it all fixed i want to be kinda 100% it works...i am just now super carefull cause i am loving the other two i am using ...but windowfx was also one of my fav but like i said now kinda scared of it really...my question is were you able to fix the problems of the poeple who wrote here above me or are they still not using windowfx....cause it aint cool fun to have everything freeze up and lets say messed up ...
Reply #48 Top
I have the latest releases of both WB and FX and I also have the same problems as the others. The only difference is that I didn't know the source of the problem before reading this thread. Until SD fixes this issue I will have to unload FX before shutting down. But, this won't solve the problem of explorer crashing while the computer is still on and FX is enabled. As Peter Green would say, "Oh Well."
Reply #49 Top
This is a real shame and a deal breaker for me. After almost a year of waiting for this to get fixed, it's just time to move to Vista and have the effects work correctly.

I was hoping SD will just try to fix it but it does not look like they care to even look at it.
Reply #50 Top
I think they are looking at it - not always easy to reproduce some of the less common problems encountered out "in the wild." Having another issue here with Windows Installer hanging on uninstalls via Add/Remove Programs with WFX loaded, which must not be common either. Hard to fix without being able to reproduce & debug it.