Windows Blinds 8 not skinning correctly

-on Windows 8 Pro x64

from Stardock Forums

This is what it looks like before I apply a skin, and this is after.

 

Windows Blinds (version 8.0) is not skinning that whole section for some reason, and it doesn't matter what skin I use, they all do the same.

Even the buttons to minimize, expand, and close (when they actually show) don't get skinned either.

 

Any ideas?

 

windowblinds
9,904 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I've tried to uninstall and reinstalling, I've tried running Windows Blinds as an admin, but nothing seems to work.

 

Every skin EXCEPT for the default skin will not skin that bar, and all of the buttons on the top right are invisible, but they are there.

 

Here are some more images:

-Selected a skin (skins will either do this or look like the above images), and then rebooted my computer

 

-Changed skin back to default, no reboot, looks normal

 

Edit:

 

After looking through some other topics, I noticed that Windows Blinds (the one on my computer) isn't even showing the previews correctly.

 

 

Here is the information from the about section:

Windows 8 Pro with Media Center (9200.win8_gdr.130410-1505)
WindowBlinds 8.0 (017 - Windows 8 Edition) - 64 bit OS

    Wblind.dll         2013/06/18 10:17:ll
    Wblind64.dll         2013/06/18 10:17:39
    Wbsrv.dll         2013/06/18 09:44:40
    WB8Config.exe         2013/06/18 09:44:29
    Wbload.dll              2013/06/17 10:03:35
    Screen.exe         2013/06/06 09:52:23

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You might have had a borked install. Go back to the SD store and download the installer package if you didn't already. I'm no expert but its worth a shot until  someone more knowledgable stops by.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

So, still broken.

 

-Uninstalled Windows Blinds 8

-Restarted Computer

-Downloaded Windows Blind 8.0 setup from my purchases page

-Installed then restarted computer

-Skinned to Win8 Metro, looked even more broken than before

-Restarted computer

-Skin looked similar to above images

-Reverted to default

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm not support, but I'll make a suggestion.

In the WB config window click on the "gear" in the upper right corner. Go to the advance settings tab. Is the checkbox for I want to use Aero window frames but keep the rest of the skin selected? If so, deselect it and apply.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting 2of3, reply 4

I'm not support, but I'll make a suggestion.

In the WB config window click on the "gear" in the upper right corner. Go to the advance settings tab. Is the checkbox for I want to use Aero window frames but keep the rest of the skin selected? If so, deselect it and apply.
End of 2of3's quote

 

I don't see anything that even mentions Aero.

Here are some pictures of what I see.

-Settings

-Advanced Settings



Edit:

Even went to the Skin Studio to try and apply a skin to see any difference, and it still looked the same as before with the same problems.

 

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ok. I'm on windows7 and it makes sense that that option isn't there on win8 because there is no aero for win8. Hang tight here and someone from support should be able to help you.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

That is the issue.  I imagine this is an upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and you had that setting set before so it got carried along with it.

If you delete the AeroFrames value under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\WindowBlinds\wb5.ini\WBLiteFX you should find everything works then.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 7

That is the issue.  I imagine this is an upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 and you had that setting set before so it got carried along with it.

If you delete the AeroFrames value under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\WindowBlinds\wb5.ini\WBLiteFX you should find everything works then.
End of Neil's quote

 

Nope.

 

Built the computer myself, and the only OS it has ever had on it was Windows 8 Pro x64

but, that did work though.

 

Edit:

It seems that WB8 doesn't like Firefox 22, as the buttons (Min, Max, and Close) don't change when Firefox is maximized, and don't get highlighted when hovering over them.

They also don't seem to match correctly (clicking middle of Max will minimize, and clicking in between Max and Close will Maximize)

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

FF 21 also has issues with WB8 which is why I use Chrome now.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

I added Firefox to the exclusion list, and when I checked off to not skin it at all, it made it look completely broken.

Then unchecked that, and set it up to use a specific skin, but disable the skinning of application controls, and that is the closest I have seen it to functioning correctly.

 

The Precision skin seems to be close to the default, and the hover effect is very close to matching up to the actual buttons, and it looks normal when not maximized.

 

Edit:

I guess it wasn't the precision skin, not sure which one was actually similar.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have a very similar problem on Windows 7 x64. All windows except Oracle's VirtualBox appear to skin properly. However, VirtualBox has a transparent title bar and window frame. The Close, Maximize and Minimize buttons are invisible, but do work.

 

I tried many other skins, but the problem persists. I have submitted a support request (PUF-428-16127).

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

So, it seems that my theme that I use for Firefox is the part that isn't letting it be skinned.

So, if I just use the default theme, then I have no problem, and it uses the correct buttons, but if I don't, then it just doesn't work.

 

But, it still seems that the Exclusion list doesn't work correctly, as it doesn't load the default skin for the exclusion list, it instead uses the extremely generic and old looking titlebar from the XP years.