Menubar always showing and ribbon bar disappeared in Windows 8.1

can't disable menubar after installing WB 8.06

from Stardock Forums

I have a huge problem that appeared after installing the latest stable WindowBlinds version, 8.06 on Windows 8.1 pro x64.
As soon as I applied a theme the Menubar showed up in Explorer, and the ribbon bar disappeared completely! Have a look at this screenshot:
(in the screenshot above there is the Aero theme, not a WB skin)


I tried to disable the menubar via the menu option, but no luck.
I have uninstalled version 8.06 and installed the previous one, 8.05, but still no good.
I have unloaded WindowBlinds from the tray icon menu, restared my PC, re-applied the stock Aero theme from Windows and WindowBlinds, but it didn't change anything!
Also, I didn't use the ribbon menu so I'm not concerned on getting it back, but I hate the menubar and I want it gone! Can anyone help me?

windowblinds
4,401 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

This does not sound like anything we would or could have done.

Are you sure you did not install something else recently which claimed to restore the Windows 7 explorer?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I have recently patched the UXTheme files so it would allow me to use windows themes that are not certified by microsoft. However, I shouldn't have touched explorer at all...
I have restored the backup with the original UXTheme files, but the problem persists. I'm installing Windows 8.1 in a VirtualBox now so I can get back the original explorer.exe file and try, but this doesn't sound like it will work... 

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting T3STY, reply 2

Yes, I have recently patched the UXTheme files so it would allow me to use windows themes that are not certified by microsoft. However, I shouldn't have touched explorer at all...
I have restored the backup with the original UXTheme files, but the problem persists. I'm installing Windows 8.1 in a VirtualBox now so I can get back the original explorer.exe file and try, but this doesn't sound like it will work... 
End of T3STY's quote

It sounds like it did something else too.

Personally I would recommend against anything which patches OS files as they are liable to break when the OS gets patches.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Just as I thought... it didn't work... 
I'll try repairing windows with the installation DVD... X|  

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Did you try running 'sfc /scannow' at an administrative command prompt yet? 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm sorry, I forgot to post the updates...

So, it doesn't look like any WindowBlinds related issue, and it's not UXTheme patcher's fault either.

The classic explorer look comes from Classic Shell which I was using to get the Windows 7 style start menu, but it can also provide a classic Explorer for the sake of the good old times.

From time to time it would notify about updates. When I updated last time I forgot to check what tools it was installing and most likely it installed classic Explorer as well.
Unfortunately, by the time I figured this out, I had reinstalled Windows already, so I can't be 100% sure it was classic Explorer's fault... but I have thought about it a lot and I couldn't find any other explanation.

Bad dreams sometimes come true... ^_^