safe off-line upgrade?

from Stardock Forums

start with a bunch a silly nitpickin' things

1st, in the first activation email i recieved, it says that my account info is with "stardock.net", NOT stardock.com.  when i try to access the .net site, it kicks me here.

2nd, everywhere i go, i see the windowblinds homepage referred to at "windowblinds.net", as a matter of fact, i could of sworn that i was on such a separate site just a cupla days ago.

3rd, i am a registered user of WB5.01, I got it working on two different P.C's, but the one that I wanted it working on was a complete no-go.  I discovered today that the probable culprit was an H.P. tray app...  shoulda guessed something like that bcuz x64 is acknowledged to have tray problems, and HP'z printer software is as bad as Windows...  too late for THAT P.C. :(

4th, one of the forum messages mentioned an IRC for (WB? SD?) that hinted that it might be an official support chat.  I've bounced around for quite a while, and so far found nuttin.  somebody care to clue-me-in?

5th, my new P.C. is running XP AMD X64, and from reading these forums and bouncing around the net, it appears that the only compatable version in the '5' series is 5.51.  As according to Stardock licencing I am not entitled to an upgrade into the '6' series, I googled and the general advice is to get it from windowblinds.net.  see 2nd above.

So heres the nitty-gritty.  I do NOT want to use impulse or stardockcentral, I DO want a direct link.  Here's why.  The 5.51 series mentioned above seems to come in various builds, NONE of which is the enhanced version.  As I "own' an enhanced version, I want to keep it.  The HP thingy may NOT have been the issue with 5.01, WXP 64 may have been the cause.  I had s*loads of headaches last time, thinking I had upgraded wrong etc, installing/uninstalling, setting up old '98 pcs, retesting, getting a 2nd activation patch, etc.  I wasted weeks.  If I install 5.01 and it doesn't work right, chanced are the upgrade won't either because thats what happened before.  and finally, i have a slipstream cd for my pc that's just aching to be completed.  without a standalone installer but with normal but constant changes to stardock's procedures and policies, I have no guaranteed method to correctly install WB, at least I can't find a tut.  who knows?  maybe v5.999999999999 is available?

lastly, I manually patch.  at present, i'm still at sp1.  as sp2 changes things like winlogon dep uac wfp ad nauseum, I'ld like to know WHEN to install WB.  b4 or after the newest dot net? b4 or after sp2?  what is the mostest safest simplest?

feel free to edjukayt me!

windowblinds
2,830 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

try sending an email to support@stardock.com and they should be able to steer you in the right direction. Good luck :)

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

two more beefs, these are about my account...

 

in Images it states:

Macromedia Flash v9.0.28 or greater is required

I have file Flash10a.ocx v10.0.12.26 correctly installed.  in FOUR browsers.  the iCoke website works just fine and it is ALL flash... but stardock says i don't...

 

second, just took a look at the back of my WB sleeve, and it also says windowblinds.net, which is funny because I've been activated twice, off of a legitimate retail purchase and my account in Registration says that I have never purchased ANY stardock produckt.  which means i guess that stardock magazine and wincustomize magazine keep appearing in my email by magic, and i musta either stole somebody elses activations or just tossed off a coupla my own, and the serial on this sleeve must be fake,

gimmee a brake!

no, I mean it!

quak 

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

1st, in the first activation email i recieved, it says that my account info is with "stardock.net", NOT stardock.com. when i try to access the .net site, it kicks me here.
End of quote
Yep.  They are one and the same.
2nd, everywhere i go, i see the windowblinds homepage referred to at "windowblinds.net", as a matter of fact, i could of sworn that i was on such a separate site just a cupla days ago.
End of quote
Nope.  It's always redirected to the Stardock product page.
3rd, i am a registered user of WB5.01, I got it working on two different P.C's, but the one that I wanted it working on was a complete no-go. I discovered today that the probable culprit was an H.P. tray app... shoulda guessed something like that bcuz x64 is acknowledged to have tray problems, and HP'z printer software is as bad as Windows... too late for THAT P.C.
End of quote
Not sure how or what this relates to.
4th, one of the forum messages mentioned an IRC for (WB? SD?) that hinted that it might be an official support chat. I've bounced around for quite a while, and so far found nuttin. somebody care to clue-me-in?
End of quote
Internet relay chat does work and someone is usually around to help.  YOu can use the following link to connect http://widget.mibbit.com/?settings=c53bc9893f64ee7a3b5c9172868e7d73&server=irc.stardock.com&channel=%23stardock
5th, my new P.C. is running XP AMD X64, and from reading these forums and bouncing around the net, it appears that the only compatable version in the '5' series is 5.51. As according to Stardock licencing I am not entitled to an upgrade into the '6' series, I googled and the general advice is to get it from windowblinds.net.
End of quote
Likely that is the last version you are entitled to.  But it's not available anyplace but through support.
I'ld like to know WHEN to install WB. b4 or after the newest dot net? b4 or after sp2? what is the mostest safest simplest?
End of quote
Doesn't matter.
Macromedia Flash v9.0.28 or greater is required

I have file Flash10a.ocx v10.0.12.26 correctly installed. in FOUR browsers. the iCoke website works just fine and it is ALL flash... but stardock says i don't...
End of quote
The 10 version changed enough to break things.  Blame adobe.  You need a 9.xversion
second, just took a look at the back of my WB sleeve, and it also says windowblinds.net, which is funny because I've been activated twice, off of a legitimate retail purchase and my account in Registration says that I have never purchased ANY stardock produckt. which means i guess that stardock magazine and wincustomize magazine keep appearing in my email by magic, and i musta either stole somebody elses activations or just tossed off a coupla my own, and the serial on this sleeve must be fake,
End of quote
Support can likely help here too.

If you use an ancient build on a practically unsupported OS (by its vendor) you have to expect some issues.

Thankfully, Stardock suppor rocks and should be able to help you out.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

LLayr,

Checked your account with us, you have no software listed at all, least of all WindowBlinds. Perhaps you have an older account, under a different e-mail addy?

 

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

...b4 you think I'm just an ignoranus, I wanna tk everyone. TkS!

to-the-point- got my ticket, will eMail 2nd eMail addee along with sn to support.  Suspect fm text of reply Highlander is support.  Still want/need WXP AMD(x64) link and activation.  Pse eliminate web mags to second acct, as I am using This one for support issues.  Pse swing ownership reg to this acct as well, so I can manage it fm here.  Tks, so sorry to be a bother.

* note:  I may continue to experience issues, as this is also an ASUS board, however I managed to customize the boot screen and patch uxtheme, so Im hoping not.  I will NOT give up!
**P.S.  Does any one know specifically what v of flash begins the problems?

Zubaz- great reply, can't think why I couldn't just find that link///will prob use it extensively in future when developing skinz.
...just to confirm; so the WB changes to the UI are NOT a problem when MS updates it's UI or UI management/security S/W?  cool.

Highlander- I think ur right, but bassawkwards.  I was having trouble accessing the mail acct that <I>this</I> acct is registered with just after I got the 1st activation working on a 9x box, but still couldn't get it working on XP.  So I switched to another acct with a different, ummm, webmail provider, That's where I got my second activation.  unfortunately, I don't have an eMail stored there with acct info for this site.  Possibly I used the same P/W, but I doubt if I was allowed the same handle.  I got the second activation to work on a 2nd nine-x box, but not on the xp32 box at-all.  The possible cause that I came up with back then was a hurricane issue between ASUS and MS, I just gave up.  I am ALSO rxing web-zine mail from you at the second addee.

clutter- the flash issue wuz me shootin off my mouff, see, I WUZ usin a 9.x ver newer than '0.28 when I 1st had the prob, and upgraded b4 I posted.  This install is fairly recent so apparently I fell thru the (9.x/10.x) crax.  In the past 24, I bin chekin inta it, and when the flash banners load in hotmail, 1 of three things occur.
1. a temporary page freeze, all four browsers are still active, new tabs can be opened.  After an indeterminite time (cupla minz?), the frozzzn, thawz.
2. a complete browser freeze, the x button doesn't work. can close the browser fm rt-klik on taskbar or C-A-D.
3. things work normally.
Since I understand how MS works when it leans on large (paying) corporations (MS Expression)
http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/overview.aspx?key=web (imagine having to pay MS an additional $699.00 USD JUST for a compliant browser!) and private (non-paying) individuals (the old 'let's make the free hotmail users pay by turning hotmail into trialware by shipping our new OS with an Outlook that isn't Outlook! (suckerz!)), it's a disgusting, but interesting stragedy.
Apparently, it's happening all-over
Silverlight vs. Flash fightclub?
   I unnerstan the '.net' thingy now, it's a BIZ issue.  If u guys could, I'm sure you'ld buy STARDOCK.mil, but that's sumbuddy elses stardock...:)
...or iz it?

suspicion/suggestions- as iCoke.ca work(s/ed) just fine wiv both flashes, (so do the flash fight sites I browse), bet it's NOT a flash issue, it's an <I>implementation</I> issue..."This is by design."  sumbody w/ more HTML/FLASH/ActiveX knowledge than <I>I</I>could just rip a functioning flash site then make a minor? mod here to fix the prob, or use sum udder see-cure NOT flash on those pages...mebe.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

and patch uxtheme,
End of quote

If you're having issues with WB this is likely one of the problems.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Reading that made my eyes hurt.  x_x

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Lantec, are you saying that patching uxtheme is a problem? or that not patching it is a problem.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Mixing theming engines can lead to problems.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Zubaz, good to know.  Had installed VTP which said preinstall uxtheme, style xp et al.  have since removed it as it's 3rd party aps were flaky.

SD sent me my link and the install went well.

But...I run my screen at 120 dpi.  The WB ap is 'cut off' at the right, and no scrollbar appears.  Aside from reverting my DPI settings, any fix?

The first skin I applied was Dragon.  <I>seems</I> to be working...But...upon applying a box saying "Resource__not found" pops up.  Any ideas?

 

Also, as I am canadian but not chinese or jewish, I run my screen rt-to-lt and top-to-down so the fire-breather on the start menu is half-off the top of the screen.  Any way to reposition him?

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

my registration info has been fixed and I WAS entitled to a 6.3 upgrade. YAY!

 

btw, is it possible to skin the quick launch bar? i have it divorced from the taskbar running down the left screen border.