windows blinds no responding

from Stardock Forums
i recently downloaded windowsblinds along with a few of the other stardock programs and i've found a theme i really like.

tonight i was trying some other themes and windows blinds locked up and reverted me back to the old windows classic(not XP) style, i also got a BSOD not long after this. i tried to change it back and it just hangs when the screen fades and the "please wait" message comes up. i've waited and waited, even went away from the pc for a while and it was still there when i came back. i reinstalled it twice now and its doing the same with every theme i try.

anyone know what the problem is?

the system info from WB is:

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.51 (build 97 x86)) - Shareware

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON X1600 Series

Wblind.dll 2007/06/19 11:40:44
Wbsrv.dll 2007/02/07 17:31:19
Wbconfig.exe 2007/06/19 11:43:09
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 16:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/11/26 19:09:25
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 19:27:49

thanks,
chris
windowblinds
2,349 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How recently? After 60 days the program will no longer skin and will revert to the default theme. Uninstalling and reinstalling will not reset the 60 days, and it starts from when the program was first installed, so if you use it, don't use it for a while, then use it again, it will still be counting all those days.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Chris - check out a couple of the recently started threads. What you're describing others are seeing too. I think there's something funky with WB 5.51. Not everyone is having this problem, but a few of us are. It happens on both XP and Vista systems. Couldn't get through to Tech Support today. If I get anything concrete from them, I'll post here.

Sleep
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you had a prior version installed, that's the one that started the 60 days
installing a newer version won't help with extending the time
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What you're describing others are seeing too.

What is being described is exactly what happens when the trial version runs out. There is nothing "funky" with WB 5.51.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
It's happening to me and I assure you I'm not running the trial version.

There is problem with 5.51. I don't know if it's not accepting the activation properly or it's something with 5.51's code. I call that funky. You call it what you want. Have any idea what might be causing this besides an expired trial version? Or besides use SDC to install the program?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
MeSleeper, as has been explained in other postings where you have asked this same question on SDC vs stand-alone installation, SDC offers the latest updates to the Stardock programs. If you would like a 'technical' reason then please contact support@stardock.com who will be able to answer your questions.

The forums are mainly supported by users trying to assist other users and 'technical" questions of product design would be best handled by the Stardock personnel available at support@stardock.com.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
i had windowsblinds a long time ago to try it out but my pc has been formated since then and i took a notion for changing XP to look like vista so i went in search of it again. i downloaded the trial version a few days ago and i was getting the prompt to purchase it. no its just wont work even though i was only a few days into the trial
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
ok i got it working again. uninstalled, rebooted and reinstalled, works like a charm again. think i'll purchase it and get the enhanced version before it goes crazy again
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
think i'll purchase it and get the enhanced version


Wise move.   
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Hankers - spoke to the folks at Stardock TS today. I'm still unable to run WindowsBlinds 5.51 on this system. Here's what we tried:

1. Swtiched to Windows Classic mode manually
2. Uninstalled every trace of Stardock software that I could find including registry keys
3. Installed SDC
4. Installed WB 5.51 to the default directory
5. Rebooted

The WB configuration came up and I chose a skin from the installation skins. Everything looked good and I was all smiles

I then did a right click from the Desktop to check the display properties. I clicked the Appearance tab and my smiles instantly turned to frowns. I saw "Windows Classic style" in the Windows and Buttons selction When you see that you know something's wrong. It should show the name of the applied skin and skin's color scheme.

I rebooted. As expected, the system started in Windows classic style. WB did not start. It had to started manually. After a manual start I was able to chose any skin in my collection. That choice lasted until the next reboot.

Obviously there's something on my system preventing Windowblinds 5.51 from fully installing and starting. When I get time, I have a few things to try. If I learn anything worthwhile, I'll post it here in the hope it helps someone else. I'm back to 5.50 for now.

FYI I was impressed with SDC. When the next major WB upgrade comes out, I'll switch to SDC and upgrade that way. Thanks for your help.

Sleep
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
well i purchased the software and downloaded SDC, done as i was instructed to do withthe seriel and WB is still un-registered. i went into SDC again and found a reg part for WB only and it refuses my seriel.

when i tried the "lookup seriel number" option, i got sent the same seriel and WB still refuses it.

anyone know what i can do? these plain white scroll bars and doing my head in
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
anyone know what i can do? these plain white scroll bars and doing my head in

Please contact support@stardock.com as they will be able to assist you in resolving this issue.