Window Blinds 5.51 - Will not install correctly

from Stardock Forums
I have recently installed Window Blinds 5.51, trial version. However, when I restart my computer it says:

This machine MUST be rebooted after installing this version of WB5.

If you have rebooted and still get this message, you may need to disable any registry protection / anti spyware apps you have and reinstall WindowBlinds as they may be incorrectly preventing the install
"As and alternative, you can press the 'Use additional process'


I have restarted again, and it still comes up.
I also have pressed the 'Use addition process' button and it does nothing.

I have disabled all apps that would interfere with the installation (and reinstalled) and it still comes up.

I have installed Window Blinds trial version before which was a different version of WB 5 but uninstalled it awhile ago.
8,729 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I have installed Window Blinds trial version before which was a different version of WB 5 but uninstalled it awhile ago.


the earlier version started the countdown - after the times up, it's up - installing a new one won't help. if you like it, it's time to consider buying it.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That has nothing to do with it! I have purchased ObjectDesktop (the whole suite with WindowBlinds) and I have the EXACT same problem for which I have yet to find a solution. DO NOT buy WindowBlinds thinking that that will resolve your problem because it won't!

If and when I find a solution to my problem, I'll be sure to post it! Hopefully that will be soon, since I'm a long time user of WindowBlinds.

What OS are you running? I'm running Windows Vista Premium.

Jeff Ingram
ingramje@gmail.com
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have recently installed Window Blinds 5.51, trial version...

...I have installed Window Blinds trial version before

Maybe you misunderstood that?
Bichur is correct, once you have used your trial time, time is up   

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DO NOT buy WindowBlinds thinking that that will resolve your problem because it won't!


Did you uninstall the trial version before installing purchased version. This is a must do, installing purchased over trial always causes problems.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
DO NOT buy WindowBlinds thinking that that will resolve your problem because it won't!


I beg to differ - if the issue is WB won't install/run because the trial ran out and you want WB, then purchasing is the way to go

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm having the same problem, both the Windowblinds 5.51 and now with the v6 beta

I'm an Object Desktop subscriber, so I would have installed a trial version of WindowsBlinds on this originally clean Vista 32 Ultimate installation.

Object Dock, Multiplicity Professional, Desktop X, LogonVista, TweakVista all install and run correctly

UAC is off, but I've uninstalled and reinstalled with it on and off
Results repeatable from two different admin accounts

I've reinstalled and updated Stardock Central, and have tried to run the applications with "Run as Administrator" etc.

I've disabled NOD32 antivirus and Windows Defender service and application and reinstalled, etc.

All to no avail.

Every time the wbconfig tries to run, it comes up with this "you must reboot" error message.

These new versions work fine under XP on two different test systems, so I know how the installation is supposed to work, hehe.

I've done so many uninstallations and reinstallations (which all require a new activation for WB6 beta) that I had to have Stardock tech support reset my activation counter, haha.

I would appreciate some help as well, thanks.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Yup, same issue here too... I uninstalled version 5, rfebooted, installed version 6, rebooted. Now everytime I reboot I get the "You must Reboot.." screen..Some help would be nice.. How do I completely remove 5 and 6 from vista?..

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You should be able to uninstall both from Stardock Central, then delete the windowblinds directory in the Program Files/Stardock/Object Desktop directory. But that doesn't seem to make a difference with whatever the installation problem is, as I've reinstalled both after that with no luck. I still get "you must reboot" over and over again too.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If I had to guess, I'd say that some kind of UAC permissions issue isn't allowing WindowBlinds to install completely. But I've tried "Run as Administrator" and running with UAC on and off. I've seen weird permissions issues with programs installed before/after UAC was turned on/off, so perhaps there is a way for Windowblinds to check whether it has been properly installed and alert us to whether there is a manual way to enter a given registry entry, etc.?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
From PurrBall - Follow my instructions here:
https://forums.wincustomize.com/?forumid=167&aid=157557


PurrBall's instructions fixed this for me! I posted a BIG thank you in this thread, but I thought I'd let people know to try this here and in other threads with this problem.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
PurrBall's instructions did not work for me. I am running Windows XP with SP2 Build 2600.

Specs:
Athlon 3000 XP
Nvidea Geforce 4800
512mb ram

This is XP we are talking about! Why does Stardock's program not work on 2 OPERATING SYSTEMS!
This PurrBall's instructions definately DOES NOT WORK!

Please help! I have tried everything!
Thanks

Bob
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Bob: Could you please submit an email to support@stardock.com and reference this thread?

Thanks

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
make sure the Stardock WB service is started and set to auto.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windows could not start WindowBlinds service on local computer

ERROR 3: The system cannot find path specified


VERY...VERY...VERY... FRUSTRATING! PERHAPS STARDOCK COULD PROPOSE A FIX FOR THIS SO THAT PAID OBJECT DESKTOP SUBSCRIBERS COULD USE THEIR PAID FOR PRODUCT?
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
The registry fix described here only works if the Windowsblinds service fails to start. Why this occurs only for a few of us is unclear. For me this issue reared its head for the first time with version 5.51. I hope it does not coninue on into version 6.

What's curious is once I installed version 5.51 there was no turning back. It was impossible to install an older version of Windowblinds successfully once I installed 5.51. I even went to the extent of searching and removing all Windowblinds related folders and deleted all Windowblinds registry keys. Nothing worked, except for restoring from back-up.

Some posts leading up to the registry fix that is posted here suggested Bitdefender may be preventing the Windowsblinds service from starting. Are you by any chance using Bitdedender? If you're not, have you tried disabling your AV program before installing Windowblinds. I was told by SD Tech Support while working through my trials and tribulations that AV software is a common a culprit for preventing the WB installation from finsihing and the service to start.

I not only disabled Bitdefender, but I also manually shutdown all the Bitdefender services before applying the reg fix. The fix took when I rebooted and I've not had a Windowsblinds problem since.

This 5.51 problem is not real common so you're not going to get much help. My experience was trial and error until you find out what on your system is conlicting with the installation. When you do find it, I urge you to post it here. You will help someone else. I worry this will carry on through to version 6.

Good luck.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
LOL.

What silly programming. I had this same problem. The fix was to install Windowblinds to its default location during the install. You can't choose a different directory.


Fiddling around I forced it to work in my different directory, but it wouldn't work properly and would freeze the system and mess up the skins.

None of the fixes worked for me by default. I had to modify them to make them work.


https://forums.stardock.com/?forumid=167&aid=161172