VirtualBox, Windows 8.1, and WindowBlinds

Combine all of that and nothing works...

from Stardock Forums

Take VirtualBox and install Windows 8.1.  Everything seems fine, works fine, but the desktop user interface is hideous.  It looks like something that crawled out of the ass end of 1995.

OK, so I installed WindowBlinds like I've used on Windows 7 for a long time.  I installed the trial version of it so to see if things will work right.  So I installed it and applied a theme.  I then went to go launch Google Chrome.  I click the icon and I wait, wait, wait, and wait some more.  Nothing happens.  I open up Process Hacker (a Windows Task Manager replacement program) and I spy two Google Chrome related processes and they are just sitting there doing nothing.  So I kill them off and try again, click on the icon and nothing happens.  Same two dead on arrival Google Chrome processes.

I then go to open up WindowBlinds and re-apply the original Windows 8.1 theme (puke) and try running Google Chrome.  This time it loads.

Is WindowBlinds completely broken on Windows 8.1?  Or is this an issue when running it in VirtualBox?  Either way, I'm trying to test Windows 8.1 and by extension Windows 8.1 Update One to see if Microsoft really has fixed the glaring issues that traditional desktop users have with this train wreck of an operating system.

windowblinds
6,721 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

WindowBlinds should be working just fine with Google Chrome and Windows 8.1.  What version of WindowBlinds did you install and which version of Chrome?

I assume when you mention 8.1 update 1 you do not mean you used that hack to force it to install before the release date as we will not be providing customers with any support for that for obvious reasons.

WindowBlinds and Chrome will be expecting a minimum level of 3D hardware acceleration support, so make sure you have the latest VirtualBox video drivers installed.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I installed WindowBlinds 8.03.  Same load issues happen with Firefox as well so it's not just a Google Chrome issue.

No, I've not installed Update One yet.

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I have the latest set of VirtualBox extension drivers installed that came with 4.3.8.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Are you saying that WindowBlinds doesn't have any issues with Windows 8.1 when running on bare metal (non-VMed)?

I have to say that the only reason I wanted to see if WindowBlinds will work properly is because I can't freakin' stand what the default Windows 8.1 desktop theme looks like.  I seriously want a hit of whatever they were smoking when they decided that taking Aero out of Windows 8/8.1 was a good thing to do, maybe then I'd like it like they do.  Then again, I don't even think that would help me like it.  It looks absolutely hideous to me.

I guess that I'll have to put up with the God awful UI for my testing purposes while running it in a VM.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting trparky, reply 4
Are you saying that WindowBlinds doesn't have any issues with Windows 8.1 when running on bare metal (non-VMed)?
End of trparky's quote

It doesn't, that I see. I use Windows 8.1 (bare metal) daily and WindowBlinds works wonderfully.

I do, however, have some problems with CursorFX in a VM. VMs do not always act like the real McCoy.