Lots of UAC promts, explorer crashes, and finally Fences has stopped working completely

from Stardock Forums

Hey folks, having a ton of issues with Fences 2.

I upgraded from old Fences and at first things seemed fine. But when I played a videogame that changed my resolution, exiting out of it again caused my desktop (explorer.exe) to crash and restart constantly. Only disabling Fences stopped the cycle. I tried running Fences with admin privileges but that caused Fences to CONSTANTLY pop UAC prompts asking me to allow it to change my system. Even with Fences disabled, or when the resolution hasn't changed, I get frequent prompts.

Opened a ticket with support (EGY-250-37945) and sent in logs. Support sent me a bat to purge fences. This didn't fix my issue. Support then sent another bat file. This didn't work, and now I've lost the ability to create new fences, move icons to different fences, or change any of fence's settings. (I can open the config panel but nothing has any effect.)

I totally understand that support has to try a few things before they figure out what the problem is. I don't mind that my problem wasn't solved right away, But each update from support has taken more than a week. At this point it's been more than two weeks since I've heard anything and about a month and a half since I opened the ticket.

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling several times. Searched these forums. Used CCleaner to try to get rid of all remnants of Fences. Nothing has resolved the issue. ANY ideas would be helpful. I really love Fences, and I particularly like Fences 2's new features. I would love to figure out a solution.

Thanks!

fences
14,871 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

One of the things that always seems to mess with programs or software like Fences and other SD stuff are games that change your resolution.  Since you have a support ticket and have sent logs I would hold on and wait for a response.  They are more than likely trying to recreate the problem. 

As far as UAC I think you will find that most folks have it turned off.  Those folks are usually the experience user though, so unless you are comfortable having UAC turned off don't do it.

Of course the question comes to mind is there any chance another program is causing the problem?  Have you installed anything else recently?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the reply. I don't want to turn of UAC because I find it useful in some cases. I'd rather just be able to whitelist certain programs, but that's a whole separate issue. I haven't installed anything between the time of upgrading Fences and seeing the problems, no. But if there are any programs specifically known to cause conflicts I'd like to know about them.

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This may or may not help with the crashes, but using Add/Remove Programs to remove a program and then CCleaner to remove its traces is like sweeping your carpet with a broom.  If you want to effectively get rid of the worst of the dirt, you need more than that. 

Download and install Revo Uninstaller. Run it, let it scan on moderate and then delete only those items marked in bold type. Reboot, then install Fences. 

 It will create a restore point prior to removing anything, but I doubt you will need to use that. I've been using Revo for years and it has never let me down. It is a safe and highly effective means of uninstalling software. And no, I don't work for Revo.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Another good one. Advanced System Care 6 Uninstaller. Does all that revo does but a lot faster.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks guys. I actually have been using Revo for each uninstall. Uninstalled the Stardock Central app as well. Still no luck. The second bat file that support sent me has definitely caused some kind of lasting change because, like I said, I can't make new fences anymore. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling. Still getting UAC prompts as well.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Hexfield,

 

To stop the prompts you must go in the properties of Fences through the icon in start menu (or on your Desktop) where you changed the option to Administrator. Reinstalling does not remove the Administrator's privileges.

Like you I am waiting for a solution to the frequent Explorer crashes. I had had a rather long respite, but yesterday they restarted.

Good luck.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 4
Does all that revo does but a lot faster
End of Uvah's quote
No Uvah, it does not. I've used ASC Pro for almost as long as Revo. There is a huge difference.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Excellent point, jjbjolicoeur! I didn't realize that, nor did I think that giving Fences admin privileges could be causing any problems. I removed the privileges and then suddenly a different UAC prompt came up asking for permission for Stardock activation. I said yes and all of a sudden I can create Fences again. Very cool! Now all that's left is to see if the explorer crashes persist. Thanks a ton!

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

jjbjolicoeur, just curious, do you by chance have any shortcuts on your desktop to network shared folders? I noticed that I started getting more explorer lockups when I tried to move a network folder. At the time I wasn't signed into my company's VPN so those folders wouldn't be accessible (though I wasn't trying to open them). I signed into VPN and it seemed like the problems went away. Now I've deleted those shortcuts and am seeing better performance. Wonder if there's a pattern there at all.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting hexfield, reply 10
I noticed that I started getting more explorer lockups when I tried to move a network folder. At the time I wasn't signed into my company's VPN so those folders wouldn't be accessible (though I wasn't trying to open them). I signed into VPN and it seemed like the problems went away. Now I've deleted those shortcuts and am seeing better performance. Wonder if there's a pattern there at all.
End of hexfield's quote
Interesting.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting hexfield, reply 10
jjbjolicoeur, just curious, do you by chance have any shortcuts on your desktop to network shared folders? I noticed that I started getting more explorer lockups when I tried to move a network folder. At the time I wasn't signed into my company's VPN so those folders wouldn't be accessible (though I wasn't trying to open them). I signed into VPN and it seemed like the problems went away. Now I've deleted those shortcuts and am seeing better performance. Wonder if there's a pattern there at all.
End of hexfield's quote

Whatever code Fences is using to deal with shortcuts where the original file isn't accessible, is horrible code.  I've had it forcibly delete them, or move them to my default fence without prompting.  And it did it randomly after a certain number of reboots.  The ticket I opened on it almost 40 days ago has gone unresolved, nor have I been solicited by Stardock support for any further testing.

 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Jaga Telesin, I noticed you've made a few posts about the issue you've experienced. In one post, you said it was 70 days, another 30 days and this one 40 days. It is the weekend and I'm sure one of your posts will be seen by someone that may have the capacity to nudge someone at support. Hang tight, and I hope your issue with Fences gets resolved...

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

You are welcome hexfield. I have no network shared folders. However, as I told in a post in another thread I had problems with Fences when I moved or copied things through the fences (a supporter of Fences would not admit what I HAD experienced, he knew much better than me, anyway...)
I also experienced the endless green bar progress - where you do not see any icons in explorer because it takes too long to load; this is sometimes due to corrupted thumbnails. I used several tune up programs to find out what was the matter and they always showed a fragmented disk. When I defragmented my disk, Fences worked fine for some time again. Then I had to defrag again...

Now I have installed System Mechanic on my PC and it defrags my disk real-time and Fences works well. Bear in mind, that without Fences I never or SO rarely have to defrag a thing.

On Sunday Fences relapsed, I don't know why (I suppose it was because I used a program which claimed a part of my desktop from Fences - The Affirmation Ticker.) but Windows Explorer would not stop crashing until Fences said it had closed because Explorer was not doing well. I seized the wonderful opportunity to uninstall Fences because I found it was the only solution for the moment.

Then I found in windows updates that a new update was available which fixes some issues in software compatibility and I installed it and then reinstalled Fences. For the time being Fences is behaving well, - hope it lasts. I am so afraid to open my Affirmation Ticker now.

It is great to share ideas in this forum. (The only problem is some people are there to start an endless debate on this or that. I am not here to argue with anybody, I am sharing my experiences - if they can help somebody, good! If somebody shares something and I can use it, Great! There is no need to spend our energy to say others are wrong or whatever.) We are here to help one another, wherever possible.

Thanks to you all.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jjbjolicoeur, reply 14
Then I found in windows updates that a new update was available which fixes some issues in software compatibility and I installed it and then reinstalled Fences. For the time being Fences is behaving well, - hope it lasts. I am so afraid to open my Affirmation Ticker now.
End of jjbjolicoeur's quote
I'd love you know what updates you installed.

To help us track this down, please download the following utility:

http://sd.stardock.com/Rosco/apps/WinUpdatesList.zip

Extract the files within, then run the utility. Select "Edit->Select All" from the menus, then "File->Save Selected Items". Save the file to somewhere you can locate it again, like the Desktop, then post the file somewhere I can see it.

 

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting jjbjolicoeur, reply 14
By the way, is there a new Fences, version 2.02 (https://forums.stardock.com/437757)? I checked in my Downloads but I still see 2.01.

 
End of jjbjolicoeur's quote
The person in that post was incorrect.

 

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Explorer crashed several times again while I restarted Windows. Could it be due to the installation of new programs? I am guessing...

I installed the following updates the past days:

1) Update for Windows 7 (KB2762895)

Installation date: ‎12/‎02/‎12 08:07

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Recommended

Install this update to resolve a set of known application compatibility issues with Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2762895

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

2) Update for Windows (KB2670838)

Installation date: ‎11/‎24/‎12 14:51

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

Platform Update for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

3) Update for Windows 7 (KB2761217)

Installation date: ‎11/‎21/‎12 10:57

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Recommended

Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2761217

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com

4) Update for Windows 7 (KB2750841)

Installation date: ‎11/‎21/‎12 10:57

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Recommended

Install this update to resolve issues in Windows. For a complete listing of the issues that are included in this update, see the associated Microsoft Knowledge Base article for more information. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2750841

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com




Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

I am wondering:

Could disabling Aero theme and then re-enabling it cause a mess with Fences? Do you have any idea about this?

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Hmm I believe the game that changed my resolution also temporarily switched me from Aero to classic mode. 

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

As an update, since getting rid of the network shortcuts I've had no more UAC prompts or explorer crashes.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm using windows 8 with 2 screens and trying to use fences 2. At first it was working well but when i right click on the desktop, its goning wrong.

 

When a use only one screen it is a little different then when a use 2 screens.

When a use 1 screen, each time i right click on the desktop, the screen goes black for 1 or 2 secondes and then the taskbar is empty for 1 or 2 seconds then  it comes back. After 3 or 4 times of right click, fences crash and show this message;

"Fences has detected that Explorer was not closed properly. As a precaution, Fences has been temporarily disabled.

 

To re-enable Fences, right click your desktop and choose "Enable Fences"."

 

But a cannot right click cause it does de same this again.

 

When i use 2 screens with different resolutions, the crash happens at the first right click.