WB6 doesn't skin WMP well

Window area is left blank (white), while title bar and borders appear normally

from Stardock Forums
Just applied the wonderful 'Black' skin and realized that while it skins the titlebar of Windows Media Player (WMP) in Vista, it also prevents WMP from displaying any content in the window. Basically, the central window is just a white box (although the title bar, borders and transparent area with controls all appear okay). I've tried other skins, too, but they all give the same problem.

I attempted to apply partial exclusions to the WMP app: You know, "only skin title bar" and "don't skin this or that" options. None of that helped.

If I exclude WMP completely from skinning, it works fine. Similarly, if the Aero theme is running, then WMP works fine.

I'm using the latest version of WindowBlinds. Here are my system specs:

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.4
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 5.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.0 (build 56 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600/9700 Series

Wblind.dll 2007/10/31 17:26:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/09/24 18:08:26
Wbconfig.exe 2007/10/31 17:26:09
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 16:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/24 09:21:07
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 16:58:21
Wbload.dll 2007/09/12 16:58:28
Screen.exe 2007/10/04 16:58:24


Any thoughts on how to run WindowBlinds but keep WMP skinned AND working well?

Thanks.

~ Alessandro
(cavalierex)
windowblinds
3,787 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
i ran into this problem with my logon in vista...but not on my sons logon in vista.... I would first creatate a new user logon like test for example and select your theme and see if WMP11 works... I have notified Stardock about the issue and they are aware of it.... it might just be something with your user profile i think since my sons profile it is fine. Or you could just tell wb6 not to skin that program too.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah this happens with a few things, the gadgets window also has an issue. There is also the volume control slider (to the right of the slider is just a black line) as well as the thumbnail previews/clock having no frame around them...
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Interesting. @DZ, I'll have to test out running from a different logon. But of course that's not the ideal solution. I wonder what the problem is.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Do you have any addins for WMP installed?

Astyanax0: What problems do you have with the gadgets window?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
No addins. But I do have k-lite codecs to enable mp4 and mov/qt playback.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Btw, ever since I enabled WindowBlinds skinning (instead of Aero), I've been getting intermittent errors: "Explorer has stopped working" and then it re-starts.

This should probably go in a different thread....