Problems With UI and Sound - UI Black and No Active Devices

from Stardock Forums
Yes I read the thread at the top, but my problem is a little different.


I have a purchased copy of windows blinds. And yesterday my program went stupid and the UI started to go black, and I would have to reset it back every time I started my computer. It's a paint in the but

Let me remind you I DO have a purchased copy

I noticed another thing yesterday to, when I went to change my volume...the audio mixer...I get an error saying "No Active Mixer Devices Available" I didn't think these two were related, but I can't hear sound when i'm on myspace or watching youtube..ect...my Itunes sound still works however

I did however find out the two were related. When I start up my computer, I can open my audio mixer no problem adjust olume, hear sound on youtube, myspace ect. But then when my UI turns black, I get the "No Active Mixer" error

So I uninstalled it because It was pissing me off so much

but the freakin thing is still doing it, my UI is crashing, from the standard XP blue to the gray block one via Windows 98...and my sound is still giving me the same problems.

There is no doubt these things are related and windows blinds is the reason for them, but I don't understand why I still get this problem even after unintalling it.

Windows XP
Using the current Windows Blinds Version
Dell Dimension 8300
Sound Blaster Live!
Ati Radeon

please help, i really don't want to reformat my computer
windowblinds
8,110 views 67 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it would help if you would post the WB system information - left side in WB configuration
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds 5.1 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 1801FP (Analog)) 1 is attached to RADEON 9800 SERIES

Wblind.dll 2006/10/09 11:24:20
Wblind64.dll 2006/10/09 12:51:37
Wbsrv.dll 2005/12/06 20:16:13
Wbconfig.exe 2006/10/10 17:39:13
Wbload.exe 2005/12/21 01:04:47
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 14:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 22:29:06
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 12:28:23
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
how did you files get mixed?
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
also now for some reason...even with WB uninstalled...

the bar at the bottom of the screen...it wont turn blue for the regular XP theme..everything else is normal but the bar is still windows 98 style...and the actual start menu button is gone
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Some of your dates appear to be related to the trial version. Un-install WB and reboot, then install WB5 from Stardock Central and reboot again. Post your system information after completing this.

https://www.stardock.com/products/sdcentral/


Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.5 (build 91 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Dell 1801FP (Analog)) 1 is attached to RADEON 9800 SERIES

Wblind.dll 2007/02/14 17:15:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/02/07 17:31:19
Wbconfig.exe 2007/02/15 13:35:52
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
Wbload.dll 2005/01/22 18:05:07
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
alright guys, the only thing that changes really now is the toolbar
everything else stays the same, the toolbar just crashes
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
are your sound and graphics drivers updated?

you can also try unchecking 'show pre release' at the bottom of SDC, uninstall the beta you have installed now and install the release version of 5.1 the files should show different
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
all my drivers are up to date, i updated em all when this started happening

and the version i was using when all this mess started was the 5.1
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hold on
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
this is 5.01.006


Wblind.dll 2006/03/21 14:33:46
Wbsrv.dll 2006/02/05 13:58:22
Wbconfig.exe 2006/03/19 15:33:44
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 18:54:12
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 17:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 22:29:06
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 14:28:26


this is 5.1 trial and stand alone download version

Wblind.dll 2006/10/09 12:32:26
Wblind64.dll 2006/10/09 12:46:55
Wbsrv.dll 2006/10/10 17:53:58
Wbconfig.exe 2006/10/10 16:49:57
Wbload.exe 2005/12/21 01:04:47
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/11/26 19:09:25
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 19:27:49

this is 5.1 release via SDC


Wblind.dll 2006/10/09 10:24:20
Wblind64.dll 2006/10/09 11:51:37
Wbsrv.dll 2006/10/09 10:40:18
Wbconfig.exe 2006/10/10 16:39:13
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 2006/04/13 17:29:23


look at the dates and times and compare to what you originally posted - that's why I asked how your files got mixed
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
all my files seem to match 5.1 SDC besides the first 3
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
this is what everything looks like

WWW Link

it's all XP style except the taskbar...the star menu and program menus ect are all xp style..it's just the taskbar

and like i said, whenever the taskbar crashes, my audio mixer stops working
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
all my files seem to match 5.1 SDC besides the first 3


some appeared to be from 5.01

this one: Wbsrv.dll 2005/12/06 20:16:13

not sure about - have you been updating via SDC or through stand a lones? maybe the stand a lones update different.


I had issues with 'explore must close' back last january - don't think it was related to SD apps - it started about once an hour, then after a while, 45 min, then 30, then had to reformat.


while you wait for someone with actual working knowledge to stop by, you might consider putting in a ticket.

even though the thread is under Stardock Support and some do stop by once in while, even the Support page lists it as:

Stardock Support Forums (get help from other users - this is the fastest way!)

update WB, drivers - all I can think of... haven't found a similar post yet.
not tied into any recent Windows updates?
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
you also have no tabs?
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
thank you for your help
i really appreciate it

and i have tabs turned off i don't like them

hopefully we can get this worked out of I want my money back, i mean I just bought the freakin program

oh I am updated via SDC...and I have updated through the website stand alones as well
still no luck
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Troll . .  time for the zapper?
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
seems odd that it would just start happening

did you try the uninstall of beta, reboot, open SDC, uncheck show prerelease, new download install of 5.1, reboot?


I am updated via SDC...and I have updated through the website stand alones as well


I think the file dates/times are different on the stand alones, maybe that's where the mix came from

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Troll . . time for the zapper?


not sure Z = the one's posted in #7 are correct for 5.49t(b).051
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
just in case:

The Zapper

you will want to copy your WB skins you downloaded to someplace safe first

if you run it, be careful and only select WB

this should clean it all out (including registry I think) then after a reboot, try running for a while to see if any issues are still around without WB - if so, then maybe the problems aren't WB (have read that WB can cause flaws in others thing to appear which in turn make it appear it's WB causing it)
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
i ran the zapper but these files still remain

tray.dll
wbhelp.dll
wblind.dll
wbsrv.dll

i'm afraid to restart my computer again, who knows what will happen
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
why did i get called a troll?




not you.


look at my avatar

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ran the zapper but these files still remain


hold...