Annoying Right Click to show icons

from Stardock Forums

I know this is old hat, but I don't know why it started to happen in my new computer (Dell XPS) 16 GB Ram. Using the latest edition 2.13

When I reboot, all I get is a blank screen ( my wallpaper) and if I don't right click the fences and there icons do not appear.

This situation was reported more than a year ago, but I don't know id there is a definitive solution.

Please advice.

fences
5,936 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OS version?

And by 'only wallpaper' do you mean nothing at all else is displayed...ie. Taskbar, start button, etc.?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you for your reply.

I'm using  Win 8.1 .

Regarding "nothing else", I mean on the desktop. Task bar and start button are there. As extra info, when I prematurely use right click, the fences and icons appear but the latter are blank (white) and eventually populate to their normal appearance. Also, in the mean time this is happening the desktop is not active as a click on any icon results in no action.

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ah...

Generally speaking that is simply a 'con' perpetrated on users by Microsoft to give the 'impression' the desktop [OS] is fully loaded while actually it is not.

What you see with programs such as Fences which by MS's order of process loading sees 3rd party software load AFTER the OS has finished booting fully is the true time it takes to boot Win 8 / 8.1.

Since Fences is a GUI addon to the desktop it gives the impression it has slowed the desktop loading...but it hasn't. [I think I saw a process load time somewhere for Fences of 0.3 seconds which is in all intents and purposes meaningless...a blink of an eye.

If you Google you'll find registry edits to make Win 8 /8.1 load 3rd party proggies sooner [change the timing/sequence] but personally I wouldn't.  If MS wants it done in the order it is then so be it....;)

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Very interesting your explanation, but what baffles me is that a month ago, with the same setup, the delay I'm referring to did not happen at all and the boot time until fully functional would be under a minute (now it's 2 or more). I say it on a old Dell which was way much slower than the current XPS.

Any comments?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ameneses54, reply 4

Very interesting your explanation, but what baffles me is that a month ago, with the same setup, the delay I'm referring to did not happen at all and the boot time until fully functional would be under a minute (now it's 2 or more). I say it on a old Dell which was way much slower than the current XPS.

Any comments?
End of ameneses54's quote

What you will be seeing is the same result.  Fences' loading sort of highlights the completion time of the OS boot.  If that time has gone from 1 minute to 2 then it is simply something the OS loads that has caused the time delay.  First culprits to suspect would be a Windows update, or a new program install or alternatively a newly scheduled activity such as a virus scan.

If it is nothing you have 'done' then it will be an MS update or an unwanted process loading [ie virus].  Large changes to boot times are most commonly configuring of MS Updates...;)

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I suspect a MS update must have caused the issue.

Thnaks

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

ameneses54 - I've created a ticket for you with a work around for this.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the ticket, I'll be waiting for the response.