Sometimes title bar is completely transparent - Vista

Can you post the information from the WB System Information page here please.

experienced the same but only with firefox...

I have had this problem too. It got so bad sometimes, I had to uninstall window blinds altogether (If I still had it installed, I would report my system information page, will do this later). I was using what is currently, as of this date, still the latest version of WindowBlinds available on Stardock Central (6.02.024), on Windows Vista Home Premium (x86) on my HP Pavilion dv2500 (T7300 2.0Ghz Core 2 Duo Intel Processor, 2GB RAM), with a GeForce 8400M Graphics chip and the last released graphics driver update from HP for my computer (Forceware 156.65). I had checked, and it reported the installation ok, and reinstalled it once.

This and another bug have stopped me from using WindowBlinds at this time.

now with many applications. mainly system messages. Seems that system messages are now skinned with UIS2 windows (User Account Control)?! Sometimes skinned windows classic ?

System: Vista Home Premium

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.1
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.1

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 74 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(PnP-Monitor (Standard)) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2008/01/14 17:02:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/14 17:02:35
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/14 17:02:35
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 2008/01/14 17:02:18

HP Pavilion Laptop dv9410us

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.1

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 74 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 NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150

Wblind.dll 2008/01/14 17:02:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/14 17:02:35
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/14 17:02:35
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 17:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 11:54:07
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Wbload.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:28
Screen.exe 2008/01/14 17:02:18

I wonder if the problem is specific to HP laptops. I was going to install the latest Ubuntu on a third partition, but then discovered this forum post advising not to install on HP 6000 or 9000 series. Something specific about HP hardware. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=582220

We believe we may have tracked this down to a very slightly corrupted file when you installed WB from SDC.  We will be putting up an update to replace this file.

Did anyone here install WB from a standalone installer and has the same issue?

I installed from SDC. Will it recognize the change automatically as an update (now it didn´t) or do we have to do something manually (uninstall-reinstall)?

just wanted to mention that this problem is still heavily present even after reinstalling WB (via SDC)

isn´t anybody else experiencing that?

P.S. my laptop is fujitsu-siemens, not HP, btw...

I am also having this issue. It seems that this didn't start, at least for myself, until about a week or so ago. I am also having another issue with screen re-draws that seems to be related to WB, but I need to see if another topic has already been started for that.

Me, too. Using a Fujitsu tablet PC, running Vista Business 32-bit, and the latest WB (just checked it yesterday). Have noticed that some of the window frames, and now, even the task bar, are rendered using Windows Classic -- regardless of which skin I choose.

Thought it was my machine but reading this thread, see it's affecting others as well.

OK - this just gets more weird! Noticed that the Start panel was also being rendered in Windows Classic. Laptop went into hibernate. When I brought it back, it refreshed the display. Now, the Start Panel is rendered using the theme, as is the Windows Explorer window and other third-party tool windows. So, this "dropping into Windows Classic mode" is something that comes and goes dynamically.

I hope someone from Development is reading this.

I have this problem, too, mainly with Word and Excel 2007, even although I have them both set not to be skinned by WB.

I started getting this problem after updating to the lastest build available in SDC (build 75)....
Happens randomly on any app being skinned by WB.

WB info:

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 75 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Philips 220WS (22inch LCD MONITOR 220WS8)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT

Wblind.dll      2008/01/28 14:31:20
Wbsrv.dll      2008/01/28 14:31:35
Wbconfig.exe      2008/01/14 17:02:35
Wbload.exe      2007/09/27 17:47:44
Wbhelp.dll      2007/08/27 11:54:07
Tray.dll           2007/09/12 16:58:21
Wbload.dll           2007/09/12 16:58:28
Screen.exe      2008/01/14 17:02:18

DASym: Why have you excluded Word & Excel 2007?

This issue appears to be a problem with SDC corrupting a file rather than WB itself.  We are still looking into why the files are being damaged.

that´s why I asked for a direct download link at stardock support, but ObjectDesktop customers can only download using SDC

to be honest, I´m rather annoyed by this issue!

Not because there IS a bug (that happens), but because there would be a solution, but we customers of ObjectDesktop can´t use it: install without using StardockCentral, which causes the problem!

I really have to turn on my Laptop for three times until at least the taskbar is displayed propperly, not to mention several applications, I have to start again, just to SEE the close button, due to transparency.

From ObjectDesktop I´m only using IconPackager and Windowblinds, so I really think, next time I´ll only buy licences for them, just because it means to have an advantage...

There was a thread here, talking about the "demanding" scene now (I am skinning right now for WB so I´m not a dull demanding customer), just wanted to mention that my post here does not fit in there... all I ask is a fair behaviour from both sides!

So please interprete my post as a suggestion...

Has this issue been resolved yet?

for me yes, since SDC was updated... and updated WB correctly

I fixed it, but not because of the update, I have the 6.1 version, and it still happens to me, but since I went into settings>change the look of an app> and excluded some programs that might use the same background stuff like WB, (i.e. CubeDesktop). it only happens once every week for me.

That would be me. I am using WindowBlinds downloaded from this site (through Download.com). Don't have SDC installed. This problem is the reason I haven't bought WB 6.x. I used to be a WB 5.x customer back when I was using XP. I am now using Vista Ultimate x64. I downloaded the WB trial to check out version 6 in Vista before buying it, but ran into this problem. It's really, really annoying, especially when this happens to a application that takes more than a few seconds to load, like Photoshop CS3 or VMWare, as you have to close it and start it again. Not only the main window but all subsequent child windows of the effected application have the mangled interface.

This problem seems to be completely random, independent of application type or the way it's launched. Closing and re-opening the application fixes the problem. It generally happens approx. once every 10 times or so, but sometimes happens with every other application you open, which is so aggravating that you have no option but to uninstall.

I have been checking out every point release of WB (6.00, 6.01, 6.02) to see if this problem is fixed before purchasing it, but it's been there in all.

I am putting up 2 images to show the problem. They are screenshots of Windows Explorer, opened one after the other. You will notice that the one with the problem has more than a missing title bar. The 'Favourite Links' panel, the 'Folders' tree and the 'Details Pane' are all missing too.

Explorer with problem:



Explorer; as it should be:

I'm also experiencing this issue, I guess there isn't a solution for it as of this time?

Have any of you tried to disable the transparency - you know when you right click the desktop and changes colours and apperance?

I had the same issue as all you did, but disableing the transparency seems to have done the trick.

So far I haven't encountered any transparent borders, without the buttons... cross my fingers...

Give it a try

shit... I spoke too soon, it reappeared, sorry

Ugh...

Just tried WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 97 according to the about page). Same problem, still there. I was realling hoping it would have gotten fixed by now, given how long ago Stardock has been informed.

Uninstall time I guess, I am getting tired of the Vista default skin...

That problem has been fixed for the vast majority of users for quite awhile.Post your system info here, maybe someone can help. Have you contacted support? I'm running WB6.1 build 97X86 with no problems at all on 32bit Vista. It should be working for you. Good Luck.