WB - Corrupt Display (transparency issues?)

from Stardock Forums
One of the problems I am having with this great product is that after a period of time my screen becomes corrupt and windows no longer seem able to properly redraw themselves.

Sections of windows will not be filled in - often the window will appear as an empty frame.

Minimizing and restoring the window will sometimes correct the issue, but the next time a different window receives focus, the problem reoccurs.

Typical Corruption:


any ideas?

windowblinds
5,006 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The first step in helping you is getting the system info from the WB app.
Open WB and click on the system info link on the far left. Paste the results here.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.1 (build 82 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

You have one monitor in total.

(Dell 1906FP (Analog)) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2006/11/18 14:47:20
Wblind64.dll 2006/10/09 11:51:37
Wbsrv.dll 2006/11/18 14:47:19
Wbconfig.exe 2006/11/15 19:39:02
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 17:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 18:26:49
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
That appears to be 5.49a.021

Try updating to .026
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Updated to:
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.5 (build 84 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

You have one monitor in total.

(Dell 1906FP (Analog)) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2006/12/12 16:40:20
Wblind64.dll 2006/10/09 11:51:37
Wbsrv.dll 2006/11/18 14:47:19
Wbconfig.exe 2006/12/20 13:35:02
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 17:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 18:26:49

/---
Still had the same problem, in fact, it got so nasty at one point that I couldn't even screenshot it and instead took a snapshot with my phone:




I've since changed skins from Simplealpha to DogmaX4, so we'll see if that helps.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I, i'm not sure it'll help you but is ctmon.exe is running when u get ur prob?he is a win prog which is "taking care of size and apparence of oppen windows and sometimes is corrupted the best is to diseable it. lArGo

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
can your chipset be updated?
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I'll check both those things Monday (that's my work pc). Thanks for the help thus far.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Switching skins didn't help - at least not to that skin. A corrupted screen was waiting for me Monday morning. I was in the office from ~0900 to ~1900 and the corruption happened again around 1800, forcing a reboot. I then switched over to the Win2K theme. No corruption yet this morning, but the Win2K theme is sehr stripped down.

Chipset is up to date - as far as I can tell via dell and windows auto updating systems.

ctfmon.exe is running (notice the 'f'). I'm taking the steps to disable it now, so we'll see if that helps.

I might see if I can talk some of my co-workers into installing the demo, we're all running identical hardware here, but software is up in the air - different IDEs, FTPs, etc...
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Updating to current video drivers (if you can) may also be a good idea.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Everything is up to date - according to Windows Update and Dell Update.

I had the issue again yesterday during the tail end of a ~12 hour development day even after switching to the 2K skin:





Though I wonder, is that really the stripped down MS 2K skin, or is it a windows blinds version of the 2K skin...

Today, I think I'm going to disable everything stardock and try reenabling things one at a time (I also run WindowsFX, ObjectBar) over the course of a few days.

I will note that I have not had this problem at home (totally different machine & setup).
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just re-checked your specs & noticed the integrated Intel graphics - missed it the first time. You may have no way around the problem as integrated Intel graphics chips are notorious for having issues with alpha-blending and with WB in general, as hardware acceleration is almost never an option. The "latest" Intel graphics drivers are probably proprietary Dell drivers and I doubt they'd overcome the limitations of the chip itself. Sorry to say you may not be able to find a workaround on this rig, short of adding a video card which will support WB.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm now back up to ObjectBar + WindowBlinds (DogmaX3) + Windows FX (only using taskbar preview - no other added visual effects) without any noticeable problems for 4 days.