IE9 Tabs Totally Messed Up in Windows Vista and Skins Loading as Windows Classic Problem

Hi LightStar, in looking at the requirements for IE 9 it requires Service Pact 2 be installed on Vista.  Do you have it installed?

Don't know what to say about your other WBs problem. 

Have you sent an email to support and started a trouble ticket?

I have same problem with Vista, SP2 installed. It's been that way for months, making IE9 very difficult to use. 

Very kind of Lightstar to go after this when he does not use IE9 himself.  

Yep, I always keep my OS's up to date, all 3 of them, and I also sent an email to support with this exact same information. But of course since their auto-responder system is flawed right now I did not receive and auto-reply with a case number. Who knows, they may not have even got my email at all.

Did you contact support about this?

Edit: ahh I see you did.

I am unsure how QA did not apparently notice any issues and I have not heard of this problem from support either.

If there is any info you need from me re the IE9 problem, just let me know.

Oh well Neil, you know what they say, things happen.  The IE9 problem was reported by another user to support a month ago, and he said he received some replies and he answered questions, but no resolution yet.

Does anyone else have the issue on Windows Vista 64-bit with almost all of the Aero and the Wall skin loading as windows classic?

I guess what we can take from this is that folks who are still using Vista 64 bit are not using IE 9 or there would be more conversation here. 

I do use IE 9 but with Windows 7 64 bit and have no problems.

Thanks John for the input.

im on windows 7 using IE9 and i have the same problem you described Lightstar, and I want it fixed too, its not easy to scroll when you the scroll bar is completley missing...........

Wow, a scroll bar issue too in IE9, and on Windows 7.  Thanks Kitty, looks like IE9 has a lot of issues with WB in both OS's.

Aren't computers fun.  It would be understandable if everyone was experiencing the same problems.  What's frustrating is when that doesn't happen.

OK, a little more troubleshooting info.  I completely uninstalled WB using ODNT Zapper, ran CCleaner and TuneUp Utilities and cleaned the registry.  After rebooting I ran the registry cleaners again to be sure and made sure the Windowblinds directory was gone.  Everything was fine and I reinstalled WB.  I applied a theme of mine and the tab issue and IE9 was not present, I tried a few more skins and the tabs were fine. However, after applying an Aero (all but Executive load as classic) skin in WB, it again applied the windows classic look, as did the Wall skin.  After doing that I applied one of my themes again, and lo and behold the tab issue is back. So evidently both issues have something to do with the Aero skins (except Executive) or the Wall skin.  The tab issue also occurs in the Metro skins, and virtually every other skin I have applied since applying an Aero skin and then going back to another skin.

Just for the heck of it I went over to Windows 7 64-bit also.  For me neither the tab issue nor the scroll bar issue Vampothika mentioned occurred in IE9, however the following skins loaded as windows classic:  Aero Colours, Aero Clay, Aero Metals, Aero Woods, Recycled and Wall.

Well it would appear that you may have found what the problem is then LightStar.  Now Neil just needs to come by again.

Close all copies of IE and all should be fine.

IE 9 can get upset about theme changes while it is open especially UIS0->UIS2.

I think you have installed something on your boxes which is breaking that.

I just double checked here on a Windows 7 64 bit box and applying one of the Aero UIS0 skins worked perfectly as I know it does on all the SD test boxes too.

Windows 7 64 bit is probably the most tested OS for WB at Stardock due to the number of people who use it.

Could be Neil, but if that is the case why is it doing some of the same things on two different OS's?  I will look into this further based on your suggestion, but I doubt if that is the issue. Thanks for replying though.

Thats why I think it is something you install on your boxes.  If it happens on two machines and yet isn't happening on others it instantly suggests the two must have something in common.

It is the same machine Neil, I triple boot (XP, Vista and 7) on the same PC.  The only common software is Microsoft Security Essentials and TuneUp Utilities 2012.  So I will be checking things out more and let you know.

LightStar, could this have something to do with the fact you triple boot and the version of WindowBlinds on the computer?  Wouldn't the version used need to be different for each OS? 

I'm asking the questions because I don't know.

I don't think that should matter Philly.

I did some more troubleshooting on both Windows Vista 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit. It appears that if I load a UIS0 skin, it loads as windows classic, but if I immediately reboot the skin loads properly. However, if I load a UIS1 or 2 skin after that and then apply a UIS0 skin, it again loads as windows classic.

Same with the tab issue in IE9 on Vista, after a reboot the issue does not happen until I apply another UIS 1 or 2 skin, then the issue reappears.

The windows classic loading issue occurs both in Vista and Windows 7, the tab issue is only in Vista.

I also made sure there was no common software on the OS's that could be causing the issue.  It has nothing to do with my PC, it has to do with IE9 and/or Windowblinds.

Obligatory Monday morning bump...

Just to jump in here and report that I too have the "Tabs" problem in Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP2. I submitted a ticket over a month ago. I have had a few sporadic replies from different individuals... now via e-mail with no indication that a resolution is forthcoming. To iterate what LightStar reported in order to confirm that at least the "Tabs" issue is apparently one and the same:

Applying any but the following skins, there are no visible Tabs in IE9, although they are there and function if you are fortunate enough to click on the right spot. Clicking on the invisible tab and moving the cursor either up or down, even slightly, causes the Tab to appear above the Title bar. Releasing the mouse button and the Tab disappears.

• Aero Colors
• Aero Clay
• Aero Metals
• Aero Woods
• Cideral
• Recycled
• Wall

ALL other skins, both new & old, created by a skinner or Stardock have this problem. All drivers are up to date, AV has been disabled (for testing purposes), system is virus/trojan/malware clean, registry is clean, etc., etc. I have totally uninstalled Windowblinds and re-installed. I have uninstalled IE9, reverting back to IE8 and the problem is non-existent. Installed a fresh copy of IE9 and the problem immediately appears. I have disabled all 'add-ons' (for testing purposes) with no change.

I also tri-boot (XP, Vista, Win7 - all 32-bit), but only have Windowblinds installed on the Vista system.

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.4
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 5.9

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.3 (build 310 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 Radeon HD 4600 Series

Wblind.dll      2011/10/17 10:18:20
Wbsrv.dll      2011/09/26 14:10:10
SevenConfig.exe      2011/10/13 16:33:52
Wbload.exe      2010/10/20 15:08:35
Wbhelp.dll      2011/10/04 09:01:37
Tray.dll           2009/10/23 19:12:19
Wbload.dll           2010/06/07 14:59:25
Screen.exe      2010/06/07 14:59:43

Addendum: Ticket #ZEC-522174

Bumpee!