CursorFX + Windows 10

Cursors not in front

from Stardock Forums

CursorFX is not working correctly with my Windows 10 desktop.  No matter what icon theme I choose, even CursorFX Default, the Standard Select icon does not appear in front.  If I select Windows Standard everything works perfectly.

If the window is transparent enough, I can see it behind.  I am attaching two examples. 

In the first, you can see the R/L stretch icon peek from behind the opaque Windows 10 menu.  If I moved it to the left, I would see the tail of it as it turned back into the Standard Select, then it would disappear.  I could still select items, but telling what is highlighted is not easy.

Cursor behind Windows Menu

In the second, captured as the wireless networking menu was coming up, you can see the grayed out Standard Select icon behind the transparent window here, just to the left of the Recycle Bin icon.  Once the menu fully comes up, it is more opaque, so hard to see the icon even behind the blank areas.  If I moved it to the edge, as above, I would see the stretch icon peek out.  If I moved it behind one of the selectable choices (like WiFi, Airplane mode, or Mobile Hotspot, the icon changes to a hand, which is also behind the context menu and nearly impossible to see.

TCursor behind Start Menu

 

I have noticed this with every other CursorFX theme I have tried and I have noticed it with other 3rd party applications, not just Windows desktop apps/menus.

I have a Radeon RX480 video card.  I own other Stardock desktop apps, but none other than CursorFX are currently installed.

 

I hope someone in the community, or Stardock can provide a solution so CursorFX works.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your report to the Stardock support team for their review and recommendations. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates.

We really do appreciate your feedback, thanks.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Please list down what program/app running in the background. I think one of it is interfering with CursorFX

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I thought my initial problem description was clear.  CursorFX does not even work with the Windows 10 Desktop. 

To accommodate your request and rule out other applications, I booted the computer in Safe Mode.  I launched CursorFX and got the exact same problem.  No other programs running.  Windows 10 in Safe Mode.  Cursor can be faintly seen behind the Windows 10 Menu, behind the notification context menu, behind the hidden icon menu, behind... I think you get the picture.  It is not even working with windows windows, much less 3rd party apps.

No 3rd party apps should be running and even Windows features are limited in Windows Safe Mode.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Was asked to relay information with regard on this dual cursor issue..

"With the release of the Windows 10 2018 Fall update : V1809 (if you have it yet), do you still have this issue with CursorFX? We have reports that it was resolved with this update.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

I have the exact same issue.  Windows 10 up to date on all patches.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Please give us your windows 10 version. Winver.exe should give a good answer.

Thanks

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Zhiki, reply 11

I am unable to download: http://sd.stardock.com/zubaz/apps/Purge_CursorFX.bat 

Where else can i download it?

 

winver is: Windows 10 1803 (os Build 17134.376)
End of Zhiki's quote

No. That is the only location for that purge files. I just tried download it without a problem. Maybe there is a security setting that block downloading bat files?

Your Windows version is not the latest released. The latest version was V1809, but this version was hold back by MS due to some technical issues. Hopefully MS will re-release the V1809 soon.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

OK, thank you. I downloaded it from a win7 machine followed the steps to purge and reinstall it and I am getting the same weird behavior. I guess will have to wait till the next windows 10 update.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I just updated to  Windows PRO 1809 Version 17763.195. the same issue still there.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Would like to know your monitor setups.

1) Single monitor, dual or more?

2) Resolution on monitor/monitors?

3) Scalling on monitor/monitors (100%, 125% or more)?

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

After rebuilding my PC, I decided to try again using the latest version of CursorFX Plus.  I found interesting diagnostic results.

I decided to test several Cursor Themes.  Each produced the same results, except Windows Default, which I assume is not CursorFX 'version' of Windows cursors, but bypasses/disables the app.

With each Cursor Theme, the following happened.

  • Enabled theme. 
  • Clicked system tray to bring up icons.  Cursor on top.
  • Cursor on top of taskbar.  Rt-click taskbar to bring context menu up.  Cursor on top.
  • Clicked Windows menu.  Cursor behind.  Cursor now behind taskbar, behind taskbar context menu, behind system tray icons and their context menus.
  • Here's where I experienced new results.  Previously I do not recall any way to restore the cursor to the top other than stopping/restarting CursorFX Plus.  I now clicked on a desktop icon or an app window (e.g. browser) and the icon (edit: cursor) returned to the top.
  • With the cursor restored to the top, I could repeat the same steps and the Windows menu puts the cursor behind again.

It appears that activating the Windows menu brings it to the top, even above the CursorFX Plus cursors.  Again, this does not happen with the windows default cursors whether selected in CursorFX or not.  Clicking on a desktop cursor or window restores the cursor to the top.  And this was all repeated consistently with at least 8 cursor themes.

Unfortunately, this is one tiny step forward in diagnosing the problem, but I also experienced on giant step backward.  After testing a number of times, I went back to CursorFX control panel to select another theme.  When I clicked apply, the app froze.  The cursor froze.  I managed to kill the task using the keyboard, but the cursor remained frozen.  I logged out by keyboard and could not log back in.  I had to power cycle my PC to restore function.  So, there is a crash bug in CursorFX Plus now.

I hope this helps with diagnosis and I hope someone will investigate app crash.  I have not been able to recreate the crash, so can only describe the circumstances.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Here is another test data point I discovered.

I installed StartIsBack++ (I own Start8, but not Start10, so could not test using Stardocks alternate Start menu product because Start8 is not compatible with Windows 10.)

With StartIsBack++ replacing the Start menu, I quickly tested three cursor themes which failed with the default Start Menu.  With the alternative Start menu, the cursor remained properly on top.

If any of the others reporting the problem here also have Start10, they could test and report if that, too, allows CursorFX Plus to operate properly.

Not that an alternate Start menu is a solution, but it should point Stardock software engineers to the source of the problem which seems specific to CursorFX Plus operating with the Windows default Start menu.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your report to the Stardock support team for their review and recommendations.

Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates.

We really do appreciate your feedback, thanks.

 

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Yet another piece of weirdness to report.

Even using StartIsBack++ as my menu, the cursor still remains behind the Windows Notifications (Clicking text bubble at bottom right) bringing up right side-bar).

So, even with the kludgy fix of using an alternative Windows Menu, the notification sidebar is not fixed.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Still waiting for this information:

Would like to know your monitor setups.

1) Single monitor, dual or more?

2) Resolution on monitor/monitors?

3) Scaling on monitor/monitors (100%, 125% or more)?

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
  1. Dual monitor
  2. 1920x1080 ea
  3. 100%

I am still testing with StartIsBack++ because the problem occurs less with that active.  With that caveat, I disconnected one monitor and got the same results as before with a single monitor.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Additional data points. 

I reported that with StartIsBack++ active, the only menu overlaying the cursor was the Notifications sidebar.  Further testing has shown several more items that do not work even with StartIsBack++.

  1. Right-clicking on the Windows Start icon to bring up its context menu, the cursor goes behind it as well. 
  2. Clicking in the Cortana Search Box or the Microphone also buries the cursor.
  3. I enabled the Task View taskbar icon.  When you click it, all the open windows arrange on the screen and bury the cursor, so it is invisible for the entire screen.  Interestingly, the cursor is also buried under the taskbar as well.
  4. Also true with the People Taskbar icon.  The cursor is buried behind that item as well when used.
  5. And Windows Ink icon. Buries cursor behind its pop-up.
  6. And the Windows Touch Keyboard.

I think you see where this trend is heading. 

Using StartIsBack++: Any context or pop-up window activated from the taskbar appear over the cursor except the Start Menu itself, the Taskbar, the Taskbar context, and the System Tray icons.

Using default Windows Start Menu: After clicking the start menu, then even more items, basically everything related to the taskbar, appears over the cursor.

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

1)Please try the following:

-For Win8/10 Users: Open the Start Screen, and type 'cmd'. Right-click on the search result and select 'Run as administrator' from below.

-Type: sfc /scannow

-Wait for the scan to complete (this can take several minutes)

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/929833/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system

If the SFC finds errors, but cannot fix them, please also run the following command in the same command prompt window:

dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Some help on how this looks should you need it:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-use-dism-command-line-utility-repair-windows-10-imag

The above command should assist with replacing any damaged or problematic system files. Please note, however, since it may require restoring certain files, this process can take some time and you will need to be patient until it has completed.

2) Once the above steps are done. And the problem still there please try clean boot steps, I know you mentioned that you have tried safe mode. But there are difference between it. Steps on how to do the clean boot steps are listed in the link below.

Difference between clean boot and safe mode https://www.maketecheasier.com/windows-safe-mode-vs-clean-boot/

 

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Just in case you are wondering here a screenshot and a video grab of my CursorfX on my Windows 10

Here a video I made just following your steps to see if I can make the cursors goes below the Windows menu. But it did not.

https://youtu.be/eAaWNn3XRhw

Note : Excuse the dual cursors, it only appear when I do a video grap. But on my actual desktop it is not dual cursor at all. Refer to screenshot above.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
  1. sfc found no issues to correct.
  2. Ran clean boot several times.  No change in problem.
    1. During these several boots, I noticed the cursor started as the normal Windows cursor, then changed to the CursorFX Plus selected cursor as things loaded.  I brought up the notification sidebar while the cursor was still default and on top.  The moment the cursor changed, it went behind the sidebar.
  3. Your video is nice, and I'm sure there are lots of people for whom CursorFX Plus works, probably the majority.  I, and the others posting here, are not in that majority.  My screenshots show it does not work for me.  I'm sure everyone else posting here could also post screenshots or videos.
  4. Anticipating you might want to consider video adapters next, I did the following.
    1. Identified my video card: Radeon RX 480, a common formerly high-end graphics card.
    2. Uninstalled Radeon software and drivers.
    3. Lowered screen resolution to lowest available option.
    4. Tested at each step.  No change in results.  Even with Radeon software and drivers uninstalled, I am still using the AMD video driver provided by Microsoft Windows.  It might be useful for others with this problem to also provide their video card and driver info.