Fences 3.09 causes Windows to crash after boot up

Fences Disables

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from Stardock Forums

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So after I reboot the PC and I go to my fences and windows crashes. I have reinstalled it 4 times and after the install, it works for a few weeks then it starts doing this. The only solution I have found is to reinstall it, but the install is temporary. It may not crash after ever reboot, but more often than not. Also if Fences cause windows to crash more than 3-4 times, windows will disable fences. I am forced to reboot again. If it fails a second time I usually just reinstall it again. Which I hate doing because I have to redo all my fences and icons... soooo frustrating.

Windows 10
Apex 4 (BOXX) PC
Quadro P4000
512 SSD
32GB RAM
i7-7700K CPU @ 4.2GHz

Regards,
Scott

fences
29,880 views 31 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Would like to know if you have Forcepoint install in your system?

If it is not, please try the "purge and reinstall" steps as listed here : https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling

Make sure to re-download the installer from your account and reinstall that one. Make sure to reboot after installation completed. Retest and report back here.

Thank you.

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

No "Forcepoint" installed.

FYI - I came here looking for a solution prior to my last reinstall. I saw your "purge and reinstall" thread and tried it. It only lasted for a couple of weeks before it started again. So I started this thread.

TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

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-image

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.

 

Please let me know whether this resolves your problem or if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

The check you had me run, did not return any integrity violations.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Try the clean boot steps : these steps should iron out if there is conflicting application between Fences and others : https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#cleanboot

If it fails a second time I usually just reinstall it again. Which I hate doing because I have to redo all my fences and icons... soooo frustrating.
End of quote

BTW you can always backup your layout using this steps : https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#backupsnapshots

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Everything was working fine, but after the update i can't enter on fences settings... everytime i do a right click reaching for the options nothing happens... then, when i bring the mouse over a windows folder/software it shows options to create fences...  And never the settings i need.

 

Did already the DISM instruction, tried to reinstal with purge, tried to roll back to older versions...

Nothing solves this until now.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting zazuts, reply 6

Everything was working fine, but after the update i can't enter on fences settings... everytime i do a right click reaching for the options nothing happens... then, when i bring the mouse over a windows folder/software it shows options to create fences...  And never the settings i need.

 

Did already the DISM instruction, tried to reinstal with purge, tried to roll back to older versions...

Nothing solves this until now.
End of zazuts's quote

Please create a new thread for your problem. Its get confusing.

Thank you,

 

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok, i'm trully sorry. Found some posts talking about my problem after today.

Wish you have a good day.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Basj,

I hope you realize it only crashes the explorer when I go over the "Programs" fence. Everything else in the fences works completely fine. At some point, I removed that fence and made a new one and called it "Programs". Worked fine for a couple reboots but now it crashes every time I go over the top of it to expand it even after a hard or soft reboot.

I have Promon on my PC, would there be a way I could track something specific to help determine what might be causing this to occur?

Regards,
Scott

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your problem to Stardock Support team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

 

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

I have been trying to track "fences.exe" and "explorer.exe" after I restart the PC using procmon, but I don't know what I am looking for. I also have been tracking "RegSetValue" in case there was a registry change. One thing I have noticed is that when it crashes everything locks up or at least I cannot access Procmon or anything else, until after I restart explorer through the task manager.

It hasn't failed to crash after I reboot the PC and hover over the top of that Programs fence only. Thought it might have been the fact that the PC was still booting up or something, but that's not it either. After several crashes, it finally stops.

If support has a particular filter option to use I will be glad to add it. Just let me know.

Thanks,
Scott

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your problem to Stardock Support team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

 

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Did you do this, Credence69:

Quoting basj, reply 5

Try the clean boot steps : these steps should iron out if there is conflicting application between Fences and others : https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#cleanboot
End of basj's quote

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

 

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

I did try it, but because I am on a network at my company I am unable to log into the new account because it is not on the domain

Any suggestions on getting around that?

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Credence69, reply 2

No "Forcepoint" installed.
End of Credence69's quote

Quoting Credence69, reply 14

I did try it, but because I am on a network at my company
End of Credence69's quote

Are you certain that Forecpoint / Websense is not used in your company?  If not, can your IT people say what AV products you are using?

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

I confirmed with our IT manager that we do not use either of those programs. The AV we use is Norton AV "Symantec Endpoint protection" small business Edition.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Credence69, reply 16

I confirmed with our IT manager that we do not use either of those programs. The AV we use is Norton AV "Symantec Endpoint protection" small business Edition.
End of Credence69's quote

Can it be suspended, at least for a test?  While we have not had any reports of that AV app being an issue, something could have changed.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

 

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I can suspend the AV for 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. What is your test?

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Credence69, reply 18

Yes, I can suspend the AV for 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. What is your test?
End of Credence69's quote

That it works when it is suspended....

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

I turned off the AV for 15 minutes hovered over the "Programs" fence and explorer crashed again.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Is 'Programs' a folder portal or regular Fence?

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Regular Fence - I should point out that the option for Roll-up is enabled. When I turn it off it causes explorer to crash sometimes until Windows disables fences completely. I have to reboot to reenable it or in some cases, I have had to reinstall fences.

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Credence69, reply 22

Regular Fence - I should point out that the option for Roll-up is enabled. When I turn it off it causes explorer to crash sometimes until Windows disables fences completely. I have to reboot to reenable it or in some cases, I have had to reinstall fences.
End of Credence69's quote

I just think something else is wrong - that some other app or setting is causing the issue and only materializes when some action you are taking triggers it. 

While I know you are restricted in your corp environment, I would REALLY like to see what it would take to do the clean boot if at all possible.  It would go a long way to help expose what app / setting that could be.  I am near certain that some corp policy / app / setting is the cause as Fences runs fine for 99% of the clients that use it - even in most corp environments - we have more issues with activation for corp clients (firewalls) than we do with the overall functionality of Fences or its stability.

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

I was finally able to make a local user account and log into it. I made a backup of my fences and loaded it into the new account. Both the new fence prior to replacing it with my backup account worked fine and same with the backup. It seems to be isolated to my account and just one of seven fences. 

What I still don't understand is why is it just one fence. Even when I replace the problem fence with a new one, the problem comes back after rebooting?

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Credence69, reply 24

I was finally able to make a local user account and log into it. I made a backup of my fences and loaded it into the new account. Both the new fence prior to replacing it with my backup account worked fine and same with the backup. It seems to be isolated to my account and just one of seven fences. 
End of Credence69's quote

Then that goes a long way to say it is indeed an app / setting / profile issue on the main Win account. 

I wish we could help more but our ignorance of your environment, and the variables that it creates, makes it nearly impossible for us to participate in finding what exactly is interfering with the normal functionality of Fences. 

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager