windowsblinds screen refresh issues

from Stardock Forums
    I have lots of problems with windowblinds not repainting the screen.  For example, one of my tabbed objectdock panels has left behind a large white area after it minimized.  ALso,  every time i start internet explorer all the menu and toolbar backgrounds are black.  If I refresh it in some way, by opening/closing a toolbar, it all comes back normal.

Is there anything I can do, or is it a bug.  I'm all up to date on the versions.  It's only been installed a few days.

I'm on XP SP2 with all updates.  The system was only installed a week ago.  THe video drivers are up to date.
5,976 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Please post the sys info from the WB config.
Also, what version of OD+ are you using?
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 44 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.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
() 2 is attached to LogMeIn Mirror Driver

Wblind.dll 2008/01/16 06:53:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/08 14:01:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/11 13:36:35
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/05 20:20:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2008/01/08 14:01:18

OD+ version 1.9
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Could I get a response please?

Additional info; the screen painting issue is far wider spread than I originally thought. It can happen anywhere, Right now I have part of the properties box of the taskbar showing thru the transparent task bar after the Properties box was closed.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 49 x86)

could update to this version latest out to start off.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I downloaded and reinstalled. It's exactly the same one I got 8 days ago when I bought it.

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 44 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.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
() 2 is attached to LogMeIn Mirror Driver

Wblind.dll 2008/01/16 06:53:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/08 14:01:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/11 13:36:35
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/05 20:20:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2008/01/08 14:01:18
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
aqwpeoibdfn are your NVIDIA driver current or newest? Do have the NVIDIA Nview, I think it's call that, turned on? If so turn it off. It has caused problems for several folks. I also have an NVIDIA card in a XP Home SP2 system, no problems. Hope that helps. Come back and let us know.  :) 
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Another trick, though probably not the greatest, which works for me:

My machine has trouble with some skins which use a lot of transparency when they are loaded at system startup, but run fine if they are loaded after boot via WBConfig window. When I'm using one of those skins, I put a shortcut to WBConfig.exe into the Windows user Startup folder. The Configuration window then comes up at startup, and after the machine is done booting I just click on the "Apply my changes" button to reload the skin.

You might try re-loading the skin after boot and see if that helps. On my machine anyway, it seems that sometimes there's just too much going on all at once for it to deal with.

(I'm on an ATI card with WinXPHome.)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for all the tips. So far none has solved my problems.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is that a trial version or have you purchased it?

SGT :HOT: 
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is that a trial version or have you purchased it?
End of quote



psst...

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
End of quote


trial doesn't activate


aqwpeoibdfn

did you download and install from the same email sent you? if so, it will always be the same one as far as i know.

uninstall, reboot

then either:

get Stardock Central (aka SDC), register your serial and use SDC to download and install

or

go to the Support Page enter your serial and get a link to an updated version = latest release version came out 02/14/2008
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

I went thru it all AGAIN. I uninstalled, went to support, put in my email, got the email with the link, redownloaded, reinstalled, and get the exact same version!
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 44 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.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
() 2 is attached to LogMeIn Mirror Driver

Wblind.dll 2008/01/16 06:53:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/08 14:01:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/11 13:36:35
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/05 20:20:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2008/01/08 14:01:18
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
try the Stardock Central option
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Once again, that did nothing for the build number. The dates on a few dll's changed a bit. But the problems are the same.

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.02 (build 44 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.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700
() 2 is attached to LogMeIn Mirror Driver

Wblind.dll 2008/01/16 12:42:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/01/14 17:02:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/01/14 17:02:35
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 17:47:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/08/27 11:54:07
Wbui.dll 2007/11/06 10:13:05
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Screen.exe 2008/01/14 17:02:18
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The dates on a few dll's changed a bit.
End of quote


those are all correct for that version via sdc





#6
aqwpeoibdfn are your NVIDIA driver current or newest? Do have the NVIDIA Nview, I think it's call that, turned on? If so turn it off. It has caused problems for several folks. I also have an NVIDIA card in a XP Home SP2 system, no problems. Hope that helps. Come back and let us know.   
End of quote


which drivers?

nview is off?

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
rickjp above showed build 49 so that's what I was expecting.

nview is off, unless I'm missing something. It's not in the system tray. THe Nvidia display driver service is running. In display properties Desktop Manager is disables.

Forceware release 169.21
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ickjp above showed build 49 so that's what I was expecting.
End of quote


it's also a beta - do you have show pre release checked at the bottom of SDC?

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
No, I don't want to get into beta stuff.

Here is a link to a screen shot. Notice the garbled text the bask bar and the messed up menu and button bar in the window. These happen all the time.

http://www.cts-norwalk.com/images/capture.jpg
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No, I don't want to get into beta stuff.
End of quote


it won't kill you


but if you want to have an easy out....


open sdc, right click on WB and choose: archive application > selected archive - that will make a backup of the current running verison

then check show pre release

if the beta is available to you - (used to be only for ODNT subscribers... don't know if you are or if that still applies) then right click on WB again and choose: archive application > download and archive = that will download the beta and archive it

you can do the above in the reverse order if desired


once both are archived, then unload and uninstall WB > reboot

once back in, open SDC, then file > restore archive - when the window finally opens choose the beta version to restore

if the beta doesn't help or doesn't work for you, then unload, uninstall, reboot, restore back the other
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
no change with the beta.

And a new problem (with and without the beta). I have a shortcut to the program menu on one of my docks. It was working fine, now all the icons next to the folders and programs are gone.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't want to be accused of cross posting, but I have had the same experiences. I have even reverted to older ATI drivers that came with the system.

Not sure what WindowBlinds does but defnitely have issues where 5 did not, transparency and per-pixel related maybe.

Wondering if some either At Stardock or an expert Skinner create a Skin that, 1 completely validates via SkinStudio 6 (no error messages on analysis). Maybe with a so called "control" skin the issue could be narrowed down.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wondering if some either At Stardock or an expert Skinner create a Skin that, 1 completely validates via SkinStudio 6 (no error messages on analysis). Maybe with a so called "control" skin the issue could be narrowed down.
End of quote


Sks6 doesn't have an "error check" function as far as I know.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
I've determined the source of one problem - the garbled text in the task bar. It happens when I change a windows color via the normal display properties. If I go back to WB and re-apply the skin the problem disappears. Of course the screwed up color in the skin comes back.
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
It appears that 90% of these issues were the skin itself; Vista Plus V3. I'd like to use it but it's very buggy.