Unable to try WindowBlinds 10. Trial popup doesn't work.

from Stardock Forums

Hi there,

I wanted to give skinning a try on Windows 7 Ultimate, so I downloaded WindowBlinds 10.5 from the official website to try. (As an aside, the installer still reports the program as version 9.5.1.0, so that might need looking at).

Upon running it for the first time, WindowBlinds customization window loads, and then a modal dialog appears over it to force me to make a choice: either to enter a key, buy now, or start a 30-day trial, as shown in this screenshot:

Screenshot 1

Pressing the Enter Product Key button does nothing.

Pressing the Start 30-day Trial button does nothing.

Pressing the Purchase Product Key button attempts to load the Stardock website inside the tiny modal dialog as shown in the screenshot below. This web view is virtually unusable. Some links are clickable, but none of the website's CSS or JavaScript loads.

Screenshot 2

So now I'm stuck unable to use WindowBlinds. I can't even close it without using the task manager to kill it. I have also tried restarting Windows, uninstalling and resintalling the program, with the same results every time.

Not a good first impression, but perhaps Stardock staff can help me work around this issue so I can at least decide whether to buy it or not.

windowblinds
23,464 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Try downloading and installing with any AV/Antimalware apps you may be using temporarily disabled.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

What version of Internet Explorer are you using?

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 1

Try downloading and installing with any AV/Antimalware apps you may be using temporarily disabled.
End of Wizard1956's quote

I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security 2017. I paused protection and ran the installer again, restarting at the end. Same issue.

Quoting ZubaZ, reply 2

What version of Internet Explorer are you using?
End of ZubaZ's quote

IE is not installed on this machine for security reasons.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

might you be using "scriptblock" or something similar.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TryingToCustomize, reply 3


Quoting Wizard1956,
reply 1

Try downloading and installing with any AV/Antimalware apps you may be using temporarily disabled.



I'm using Kaspersky Internet Security 2017. I paused protection and ran the installer again, restarting at the end. Same issue.


Quoting ZubaZ,
reply 2

What version of Internet Explorer are you using?



IE is not installed on this machine for security reasons.

End of TryingToCustomize's quote

Did you run something which removed the OS component which provides the IWebBrowser control, or limits the functionality to trust nothing / allow no scripts to ever run?

That window uses the embedded IE framework (A stock OS component) and such settings would break it from being able to run correctly.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I was loathing the idea of having to temporarily reinstall IE to get this working, but your comment gave me a flash of inspiration. I restored the 'Internet zone security settings' to their defaults and, as if by magic, everything started working!

I'd still say that implementing any software that depends on IE or embedded web plugins is a bad idea (Stardock would certainly have to change things up if they ever wanted to move beyond Windows operating systems), though, but thanks for the hints.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TryingToCustomize, reply 6

I was loathing the idea of having to temporarily reinstall IE to get this working, but your comment gave me a flash of inspiration. I restored the 'Internet zone security settings' to their defaults and, as if by magic, everything started working!

I'd still say that implementing any software that depends on IE or embedded web plugins is a bad idea (Stardock would certainly have to change things up if they ever wanted to move beyond Windows operating systems), though, but thanks for the hints.
End of TryingToCustomize's quote

None of our apps would be designed to work on anything other than Windows anyway.  They would require pretty much total recodes for any other platform.

The reason for using the OS functionality is because it is built in and so ensures our applications do not need to ship an additional bloated HTML renderer.  There is no point reinventing the wheel after all.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

True enough, although the market for Macs keeps growing, so always worth keeping an eye open for that!

Usually when it comes to utilizing existing components, I would agree wholeheartedly. In the case of Windows' IE and all internet zone settings, though, I would personally steer well clear of it. The way it tries to model threats and allow potentially dangerous things to happen purely based on the supposed origin of the page is, IMHO, flawed and outdated. Even IT administrators have trouble setting this up correctly, and the risks of being too lenient are all too apparent. I'm surprised IE11 is still in Windows 10, really. I can't wait to see the back of it.

Perhaps it sounds like I'm ranting, but I think it's worth noting that I've been using this configuration on my PCs for over 5 years, and never had problems with any other software.

When it comes to developing fancy workflows in applications, WPF would probably be the preferred way to go now. Perhaps something for the future, eh? Or, if you still want to keep a few things web-based, embedded Chromium is pretty popular these days. It's used in Steam, Discord and a few others.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting TryingToCustomize, reply 6

(Stardock would certainly have to change things up if they ever wanted to move beyond Windows operating systems),
End of TryingToCustomize's quote
  It's called WinCustomize for a reason...lol.

 

I would love Stardock apps for Android, that'd be awesome...

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 9

I would love Stardock apps for Android, that'd be awesome...
End of RedneckDude's quote

My almost smart phone uses Android. I can just me now...trying to skin my phone. Oh jeez! o_O  

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Uvah, reply 10


Quoting RedneckDude,
reply 9

I would love Stardock apps for Android, that'd be awesome...



My almost smart phone uses Android. I can just me now...trying to skin my phone. Oh jeez! o_O  

End of Uvah's quote

No please. Ross phone up time 10%. Downtime 40%. Won't work at all 50%.  O:)

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Quoting RedneckDude, reply 9

  It's called WinCustomize for a reason...lol.

End of RedneckDude's quote

Conveniently, 'Win' can apply to any OS that has a window management system - not just Windows with a capital W.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Win, here, means Windows.  :thumbsup:

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting TryingToCustomize, reply 6

I was loathing the idea of having to temporarily reinstall IE to get this working, but your comment gave me a flash of inspiration. I restored the 'Internet zone security settings' to their defaults and, as if by magic, everything started working!

I'd still say that implementing any software that depends on IE or embedded web plugins is a bad idea (Stardock would certainly have to change things up if they ever wanted to move beyond Windows operating systems), though, but thanks for the hints.
End of TryingToCustomize's quote

Stardock's origins were with OS2... only then moving to MS Windows.

There's absolutely no mileage to be had with involvement in any other OS .....certainly not Apple's or Torvald's.

Theye are both essentially dead....;)