WB 5 vs Media Players

Choppy redraw when dragging movie programs

from Stardock Forums
I recently installed the latest WindowsBlinds 5, and I love it. It would be perfect except for one problem (annoyance really).

When I open a video from my harddrive (any player, WMP10, Media Player Classic, etc), and I try to drag the player around on my screen, it repaints really slowly, almost as if the system is being bogged down (it isnt, cpu cycles aren't affected in task manager). If I let go of the video player, and then grab it again to drag it, it moves fine!

I also notice if I minimize windows explorer before I first drag the video player, it doesn't bog down.

Also, I notice if I have more than one video playing, and I drag around any player other than the first one opened, the video stops playing as long as I have the video player grabbed to move (something to do with not using the overlay I'm sure). Why does this happens with WindowsBLinds, when it doesnt in the normal XP?

If this doesnt make sense, let me know. Below are my specs.


------------------
A64 - 4600+
Nforce 4 Ultra MOBO
XP SP2
Geforce 7800GT

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.

(Dell 2005FPW (Digital)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 13:57:10
Wbsrv.dll 2005/12/06 21:16:30
Wbconfig.exe 2005/12/03 03:03:36
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/20 12:23:40
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26
windowblinds
4,653 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Where did you obtain that version of WindowBlinds from?

The files do not match files released by Stardock.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
uh oh  
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes, that's from a version a friend downloaded for me from bittorrent to try because I was having issues with the trial.

Anyway, after a fresh install of XP, I've installed the trial and it works fine.
However, my problem noted above STILL exists with dragging video players under Window Blinds.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
given you have a pirated copy of WB, I wouldn't be expecting a lot of support. Flames yes, support no.   
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
No, i don't I now have the trial from stardock.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No, i don't I now have the trial from stardock.


To be honest, I highly doubt that .

About the video thing... it used to do that for me also. Only with WMP tho (11, never tried classic). WMP is an overly packed hunk of software that isn't really good for much of anything in my opinion. As soon as I got another stick of ram, this issue went away (as did quite a few others).

Not that it really matters, but I use DivX, and have never had this issue with DivX. 512 MB of ram, and DivX ran fine; WMP got all retarded on me. 1 GB of ram and both operate great.

Beef up your Ram is my suggestion... seemed to work for me .
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No, i don't I now have the trial from stardock.



then post the new system info
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Keikonium,

I don't think memory is the issue as I have 2GB of PC3200 ram. Also, the same thing happens with all media players (WMP10, Media Player 6.4, and Media Player Classic), and to divx, wmv, mpgs. All are the same.

Here are my specs...

A64 - 4600+
Nforce 4 Ultra MOBO
2GB Dual Channel PC3200 EL Memory
Geforce 7800GT (256MB)

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
then post the new system info



Here are my specs...

A64 - 4600+
Nforce 4 Ultra MOBO
2GB Dual Channel PC3200 EL Memory
Geforce 7800GT (256MB)


Your "specs" are not the System Info from the WindowBlinds Configuration screen. You may still have remnants of the previous install. Please post the System Info.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Nope, nothing from the previous install as I did a format and fresh install of XP before installing the latest windowblinds trial.

HOWEVER, I just discored that this problem only plagues some of the WindowBlinds skins! Unfortunately, it just so happens to be the skins I like most (the ones included and a few of the others I've tried).

Affected themes that I've tried so far: Simple Alpha, Blackcomb, Dogma, and few mac skins I really like.

My sister just installed the trial, and experienced the same problem with the same skins I mentioned above.

However, I've also tried Fresco, Retro, Noire, and they don't have this problem.

I'm THIS close to buying WindowBlinds, and it's just this little niggle that is stopping me I do a fair bit of video editing, and this is a problem that would drive me bonkers!

----------------------
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.

(Dell 2005FPW (Digital)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT

Wblind.dll 2006/03/20 11:56:04
Wbsrv.dll 2006/03/19 13:37:20
Wbconfig.exe 2006/03/19 15:32:58
Wbload.exe 2005/12/21 01:04:40
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/26 19:09:46
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 19:27:00

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Your dates and times are off
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
What exactly do you mean Bichur?
Which dates and times?

If you mean the ones on the dll files, I don't know what to tell you.
That is what WB gave me.
I downloaded the trial from the stardock.com link to cnet at
http://www.download.com/WindowBlinds/3000-2326_4-10516315.html?tag=lst-0-1

And, again, this is a fresh install of the stardock trial on a fresh install of XP, so no old verions would be conflicting.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've never used the trial, so I don't know what the difference in the files would be compared to the release version - afaik, the only diff is 'activate' - - but I have to wonder how you got a tray.dll dated a month later.

This is the only file I see that matches 5.01.006 release version:

Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00

Some of your files are a day +/- off the release version's
Some of your files are a month or more off the release version's

Some of your files are dated after the release version
Some of your files are dated prior to the release version

Maybe the trial is done differently, I don't know.
But seems to me, if/when Stardock updates the trial at cnet, then the 'date added' would change


only a rep or someone in the know can answer that

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, all i can say is that i downloaded and installed the "official" trial from cnet which is where i was sent by stardock.com when i clicked "download", on a nice new, spic and span install of XP Pro.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm running 5.01m{b}.017 from 9/21/06

Tray.dll 2006/04/13 17:29:23

this is from the 5.01.006 release (non beta)

Tray.dll 2005/11/02 14:28:26



from your post: Wbload.exe 2005/12/21 01:04:40
from 5.01.006: Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 18:54:12


Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Any idea where I can get those files since they are not in the official trial?
Will this help the issue caused by certain skins?
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Contact Support - link at bottom of page at Stardock

or go here: Help Serve which also has an option to submit a ticket
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
How long does it usually take for a reply from Help Serve. It's been over 1 week now.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How long does it usually take for a reply from Help Serve. It's been over 1 week now.


Have you checked the case at helpserve? Open? Closed? Notes?
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks, I figured I would get a reply by email...
Funny thing, it says I have no ticket submitted! I submitted the ticket on the 26th!
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, another week has passed, and no response. The ticket just says OPEN.