Two Instances of Fences Settings in Task Manager

from Stardock Forums

I'm experiencing a similar issue: Infrequently (though enough to be troublesome), my Windows 10 system will slow to a crawl. Sometimes this is due to anti-virus checking software, but when the Task Manager is opened, I find 2 Processes for 'Fences Settings' in the list, tying up 100% of the CPU.

I'm using Fences 3.0.9.11

I completed the recommended purge.bat and reinstalled on July 12. Today (July 19), my Windows 10 system slowed to a crawl. In the Task Manager, you see two instances of 'Fences Settings' tying up 100% of the CPU. I have to manually End these Tasks.

Any other suggestions?

 

fences
18,278 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello ,

Would you Please do a Clean Boot: https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#cleanboot

test and report back please.

Those 2 Fences running in Task Manager is not the issue a Clean Boot will help determine 

there is probably 3rd party app/apps causing the issue .

Here's a SS of my desktop with Fences running and a CPU meter showing low CPU usage 10%

with other things running in the background and as a Dream Maker I have dreams running on

the Desktop most of the time CPU usage still very low ...

 


AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Just to be clear - 

The Two instances of 'Fences Settings' are visible in both the Task Manager:Proceses and Task Manager:Startup (See Below).

I am using a company-owned/managed laptop and cant add administrative accounts.

 

 

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues.

Is your system an ARM based system 64bit ? if so Fences not compatible .

and yes those Two instances of 'Fences Settings' are normal and must run.

You didn't mention before that this was a Company Laptop , you may have to

check with your iT people if there might be security software or other causing 

Fences to run high cpu usage.

I see you have other software running all together high CPU usage .

If you can't do the clean boot see if iT can help with this . 

and report back here .

 


AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

The Laptop is Intel based...

 

I'll keep an eye on it - it may be easier to just end the Tasks when the system slows down. I know to End the Tasks, but there may be other customers who are not familiar with that required workaround and get really frustrated with their system.

If it continues, or the frequency of the slowdowns increase, I'll uninstall. How do I get a refund?

Reply #5 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.

I'll check for a better fix for you .

But to get a refund you need to submit a ticket to support https://stardock.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/4

 

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

'Fences Settings' should only ever appear in the process list if the Fences settings UI is open - is it at the time you are picturing it?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Sean - that's what I would have thought - but the 'Fences Settings' appears in the Task Manager even though the 'Config Fences' dialog box is not displayed/active.... It's a puzzle to be sure..

When I manually End the Tasks, there doesn't appear to be any negative impact (all my desktop fences remain and work as expected..)

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting dawatson_1, reply 7

Sean - that's what I would have thought - but the 'Fences Settings' appears in the Task Manager even though the 'Config Fences' dialog box is not displayed/active.... It's a puzzle to be sure..

When I manually End the Tasks, there doesn't appear to be any negative impact (all my desktop fences remain and work as expected..)
End of dawatson_1's quote

Make sure you are not running Fences as admin:

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Yep - confirmed that when Fences.exe is run - the 'Run this program as an administrator' is unchecked.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting dawatson_1, reply 2

I am using a company-owned/managed laptop and cant add administrative accounts.
End of dawatson_1's quote

It might be time to ask them what they think as again, this is normal behavior.  They may have some GPO setting that is causing this.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Wait - I'm confused... It it expected behavior for your app  to tie up 100% of the CPU bandwidth? (This is a screen show from now 7/22/2021 9:13 AM) This wasn't a problem in previous Fences installations. Do I need to use an previous version?

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Update - While I was typing the previous note, a third instance of 'Fences Settings' appeared..

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting dawatson_1, reply 11

Wait - I'm confused... It it expected behavior for your app  to tie up 100% of the CPU bandwidth? (This is a screen show from now 7/22/2021 9:13 AM) This wasn't a problem in previous Fences installations. Do I need to use an previous version?
End of dawatson_1's quote

If you cannot (not allowed to) create a new admin account, clean boot the system (just Fences and Windows essential services), and you have already purged and reinstalled, my prior recommendation is the one we are left with - at least reach out to your IT people to see if they have any insight.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Just upgraded to the recently released Fences upgrade (3.1) and will see if that corrects the multiple instances.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Just an FYI that Fences 3.12 Beta was released today.

For all the details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/506115

We are very much looking forward to your feedback there.

Thanks,

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant