Windows Explorer window position & buttons freeze

from Stardock Forums

Hello,

I'm using Win8-64bit and I have 5 monitors driven by 3 nVidia cards.  I'm also using the latest versions of Start 8, Fences, and Blinds.  All software, including the OS, is up to date.  My monitors are configured in a 2-above/3-below (like a pyramid) configuration with the top two being standard 16:9 and the bottom three being standard 5:4.  Without fail, whenever I open a Windows Explorer window and drag it onto either of the top monitors it gets locked into that position and all of the title bar buttons cease to respond.  In addition, the window can no longer be moved by dragging the title bar and the only way to close it is ALT+F4.  (If I open additional instances of Windows Explorer the new windows open and freeze right on top of the previous ones.)  If I unload Windows Blinds the Explorer window goes back to being fully functional, but as soon as I apply any of the Blinds styles it becomes frozen again.  During all of this the Navigation and Details Panes remain fully functional and I can still grab the left, bottom, and right edges (but not the top edges) of the window and change the window's size as desired.  It seems to me that something is going haywire in the title bar.

I've not been able to duplicate the problem with any applications other than Windows Explorer but for me this is a real show stopper since I typically have multiple Windows Explorer windows open on my top monitors most of the time.  I've changed the relative positions of the various monitors using the Control Panel display appearance page and this does change whether the freezing occurs on specific monitors, but I have not been able to come up with any particular pattern for which arrangements have problems and which don't, other than the two 16:9s always have it when on top.  What do you think?

Thanks,
Ray Mitchell 

windowblinds
6,814 views 7 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, that seems to have fixed the problem, and thanks for your help.  Does anyone know if Stardock personnel read this forum or if this issue has been reported to them?  If not I will be glad to report this one.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

for my issues (i've had a couple, one being this one another being maximizing windows explorer windows) i've been posting in here and submitting a ticket as well

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm afraid I spoke too soon when I said that making the upper-left monitor my primary monitor fixed the problem.  After further testing the problem symptoms merely changed a little.  The Windows Explorer windows no longer freeze when placed on my upper monitors, but they now freeze on all three of the lower monitors if they are maximized.  I think it may be best to wait for a few more revisions of WB before trying to actually use it reliably for multiple monitors.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Yeah, I think I'll have to wait for re-purchasing my subscription to OD and get the whole burrito -long time no renew- until this issue gets fixed. On the other hand... I've started to think on using an alternate file manager like XYplorer instead of the Windows Explorer in the mean time, for that seems to be a way to get WB working on Win8 without suffering too much.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

you know, for all the bitching and moaning people do about windows, it is extremely customizable with the right apps, and far more stable than Linux.  Granted, Linux is free and Microsoft tends to monotize everything, but my point is for the stability, support, and compatibility you get with Windows, it's easy to see where the money goes.

 

I didn't even think about looking for something other than explorer but i'm suddenly interested, and super excited about seeing what's out there.  Thanks mate!

 

also, to RayMitchell:  Yea, I'm having the same issue and am billing it as a separate issue/ticket because i don't think they are linked, i just think the one exposed the other.  The number of people running more than 2 monitors is still in the minority, so tbh i'm not really surprised that it went unnoticed.  I like WB enough that my workaround is to just temporarily do most of my navigation/ file handling in the top 2 monitors.  Sucks, doesn't always feel natural, but it makes my desktop so much more elegant and clean than the standard windows desktop that i decided to stick with it.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting RayMitchell, reply 2
 Does anyone know if Stardock personnel read this forum or if this issue has been reported to them?
End of RayMitchell's quote

We read the forums.  :)

However, if you can download and run the following utility: http://sd.stardock.com/SDSupportTool.exe and send it to support@stardock.com with the above description we will have more data to work with.

This is a tool that we use to gather relevant log files and basic information about your computer. Once the utility finishes running, please send back the .zip file it creates on the desktop.

Thanks.