pumkin54 pumkin54

WB not applying correctly

▼

WB not applying correctly

No titlebar, unloading/reloading doesn't help

from Stardock Forums
I can install WB fine and 25% of the time, it's fine.  If I have to reboot my computer for any reason, there's a very high chance that WB will be messed up when it reloads.  Here are the problems:

1. Half the windows will have no titlebar or buttons.  These windows cannot be moved around or anything since there's no titlebar to grab onto.
(Screenshot: http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/pumkin54/no-titlebar-2.jpg)

2. Dialog boxes will be blank with no buttons, titlebar, or text. In this screenshot, the black box in the center is a dialog box.  You can also see that my Firefox has no titlebar and half of the menu bar is gone with my wallpaper showing through.
(Screenshot: http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/pumkin54/no-titlebar.jpg)

3. If I reboot my computer, a random theme will often be applied.  This is most often the skin called Diamond.  If I delete Diamond, a different skin will be randomly applied.  No, I do not have the option to randomly apply a skin selected in WB.  In this screenshot, the skin I have applied is called Organic.  For some reason, my taskbar and other random windows have Diamond applied. 
(Screenshot: http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/pumkin54/not-applying.jpg)

Unloading WB does not help.  The theme will still be applied.  Applying a new theme doesn't help.  The old borked theme will still be applied.  Rebooting my computer only helps about 25% of the time.  I've installed and re-installed about a dozen times.

I am using the latest Nvidia drivers (175.19), as suggested by their automatic driver download.  This problem occurs whether I use old drivers or new drivers.  This problem occurs whether I use one monitor or two.

Here is my system information:
Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.2
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 5.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 97 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(SyncMaster 2253BW/2253LW,SyncMaster Magic CX2253BW/CX2253LW(Digital)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT
(SyncMaster 204T/204Ts/204B,SyncMaster Magic CX201Ts(Analog)) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT

Wblind.dll         2008/05/06 15:25:20
Wbsrv.dll         2008/06/13 11:24:12
Wbconfig.exe         2008/04/29 21:02:32
Wbload.exe         2008/04/28 11:35:14
Wbhelp.dll         2008/04/28 11:35:07
Tray.dll              2008/04/28 11:35:21
Wbload.dll              2008/04/28 11:34:28
 
Thanks very much for your help.  I've had this problem for about 6 months now and finally grew fed up enough that I uninstalled WB for a month.  That's the longest I've gone without it in about 5 years...  I can't stand it!
windowblinds
17,611 views 38 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

When AVG [free] made it to version 8 ....along with the push to get people to purchase the full ver....something changed...to the point it caused massive slow-downs in the functioning of a few programs [not particularly relevant here] but indicative of becoming a 'problem child'...and issues with WB and AVG8 are mentioned in other threads here.

Apparently the solution is to set AVG to ignore the WB install folder/s.

My solution coincidentally was to avoid AVG8...;)

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My solution coincidentally was to avoid AVG8...
End of quote


In my post about the change from AVG7.5 to AVG 8.0,I mentioned that things were not running smoothly,my system did not like the changes AVG made.WWW Link See reply #55 for results.

I switched to Avast soon after.I have had no problems with it so far and have NOT had to disable any providers in order to update my software,from any company, and without configuring anything on Avast to allow it.

Avast is less intrusive ,updates much faster,uses less resources and is skinnable.
Those having to disable AVG may want to consider switching to something that will play nice with Impulse and other Stardock software.Avast was my choice,but there are others worth trying.AVG shot themselves in the foot with this "Upgraded version"

Wizard 2
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Patrick24,There is no complacency or laziness involved. Support has been a bit backed up with Obj. Desktop issues and we're working hard as possible to get current. A lot of the issue is when e-mailing Support, we can't know all the details unless you state them. If you had said you had AVG in the beginning, we'd have advised you to try disabling it, and see if WB works for you.Now, this is not your fault, but neither is it ours, and when you called in, we found the issue. You got your resolution, it's fixed, yet your still bashing Support?Bad form.
End of quote



Hey, I'm not trying to bash stardock support. I didn't know you guys were backed up with a lot of OD issues. I would have nice to know that sooner though. When I email, I think I definitely supplied all the necessary details about my problem. I didn't say I was using AVG because I didn't think it had anything to do with my problem, which was wrong of course. When I called in, he immediately ask if I was running any anti-virus, and told me to disable it. I didn't give any more info, then what was in my previous email. He knew the problem immediately and was very helpful. I was suprised the email response didn't tell me that. All I got was to try refreshing XML data in Impulse.
I'm not trying to bash stardock here, but from my point of view, it seemed like I was being ignored. Maybe that wasn't the case, but it would have been at least nice to know that you working on the problem. I think when you're too busy to help your customer at the moment, it is at least good to let them know.
Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, so I installed WB with my newly reset activations. I didn't install AVG. (I am using the 60 day trial of Norton). Now instead of goofing up like before, WB simply isn't skinning at all. My windows revert to a basic Windows 95 look. (Screenshot)


Here is my new system information:
Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.2
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 5.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.2 (build 102 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 7950 GT
(Generic Non-PnP Monitor) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT

Wblind.dll 2008/07/22 10:08:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/07/22 10:11:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/07/22 10:10:32
Wbload.exe 2008/04/28 11:35:14
Wbhelp.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:07
Tray.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:21
Wbload.dll 2008/04/28 11:34:28
Screen.exe 2008/07/22 10:10:09


EDIT: Is this a new issue? Should I open a new thread/ticket? I'm so exasperated, frustrated, disgruntled, disappointed.
EDIT 2: Wizard 1956, thanks for the recommendation. I will try Avast next.
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Definitely wouldn't recommend Norton. >_<
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Six months....different AV/Firewall's....I don't think this is a security app problem (although Norton IS ugly under the best of circumstances)......

Stop the installing/re-installing cycle and start with the basics.

Start, All Programs, Accessories, right-click Command Prompt and click Run as Administrator.

Type:

sfc /scannow

Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top
I installed a new hard drive 3 days ago, so this latest WB installation is on a clean, brand new hard drive. Norton came pre-installed with my Windows Vista recovery disks. I didn't install anything except Firefox, Skype and Trillian (which I need for work). And WB is still borked.
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I installed a new hard drive 3 days ago, so this latest WB installation is on a clean, brand new hard drive. Norton came pre-installed with my Windows Vista recovery disks. I didn't install anything except Firefox, Skype and Trillian (which I need for work). And WB is still borked.
End of quote


I can only assume from that answer (and the others) that you don't want help or you're simply oblivious to when help is being offered...so be it.

...I wish you good luck.
Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top
I can only assume from that answer (and the others) that you don't want help or you're simply oblivious to when help is being offered...so be it....I wish you good luck.
End of quote


What does that mean? I'm not allowed to provide additional information that I think might clarify the situation? Of course I don't want help. That's why I'm here for the past two weeks providing updates and new information. That's why I opened a ticket and am constantly back on these forums looking for answers. Excuse me.
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What does that mean?
End of quote


I believe it means since your post was 30 min after Yrag's and you make no mention of his, it gives the impression you totally ignored what he posted


most here listen to Yrag, he's methodical and he's helped multitudes
Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top
Correct me if I'm wrong, a system file check is used to find missing or corrupt system files like dll's, etc. If I just installed a brand new hard drive and did a fresh install of Windows, what is the likelihood of having corrupted system files within the 30 minutes between starting Windows for the first time and installing Window Blinds?

Yrag's response, I'm fairly certain, was based on the assumption that I have an old installation in which system files are likely to be corrupted, in which case his advice would be applicable and I would have gladly done a system file check (even though I already did one prior to making my initial post in this thread). Since he didn't know that I had just freshly installed Vista on my computer, I provided this information because I thought it might be useful to him and the other people trying to help me, in deciding if it was still necessary to do a system file check.

Rather than ignore his post, as you seem to be assuming, it actually alerted me to additional information that I could provide to clarify the specifics of my situation.
Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top

pumpkin54...

Last time I can remember yrag failing to solve a computer issue was....um....never.

If yrag has suggested/requested you do a sfc ....it's very likely that he wants you to do one NOW, not back whenever you installed the OS...a harddrive...WB or whatever.

He does this helping out of sheer curiosity/problem-solving....I know I give him plenty of opportunity on my own.  I actually think he has a house-full of semi-fubarred computers all smoldering wrecks after replicating others' disasters.

If you follow his lead he'll likely solve it...;)

Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
pumkin54,

It may be that the WindowBlinds Service is not running, try the following;

ADDING WB SERVICE TO WINDOWS

Copy and paste the following into a Notepad document and save it as wbservice.reg and then open it and say yes to putting it into the registry.

(begin copying at line below)
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WindowBlinds]
"Type"=dword:00000010
"Start"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):43,00,3a,00,5c,00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,47,00,52,00,41,00,7e,00,\
31,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,00,64,00,6f,00,63,00,6b,00,5c,00,4f,00,42,\
00,4a,00,45,00,43,00,54,00,7e,00,31,00,5c,00,57,00,49,00,4e,00,44,00,4f,00,\
57,00,7e,00,31,00,5c,00,56,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,61,00,53,00,72,00,76,00,2e,\
00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00
"DisplayName"="Stardock WindowBlinds"
"Group"="UIGroup"
"ObjectName"="LocalSystem"
"Description"="Stardock WindowBlinds Service"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WindowBlinds\Enum]
"0"="Root\\LEGACY_WINDOWBLINDS\\0000"
"Count"=dword:00000001
"NextInstance"=dword:00000001
(end copying at line above)