Fences 4 will not install properly on Windows 11

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try purge and reinstall steps as mentioned here: [link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account. Reboot after the purged. Reinstall, and Reboot again after the installation. Retest it. Report back here.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

That didn't help.

The problem is completely repeatable.

The installation does not ask for my registration key at any point. It produces the following dialog box TWICE

Upon rebooting, nothing happens. I launch "Customize Fences" and I get the following:

Looking at the Startup Apps only Fences Settings is there:

Running the Purge file appears to do nothing:

I have run DISM Restore Health

I have run SFC Scannow

No problems reported

I have installed with Antivirus and Firewall switched off.

Everything happens in EXACTLY the same way each time. The double dialog box (one after the other) and Fences not running after rebooting. 

Hello,

Can we have details on your systems.

1. Windows 11 version numbers. You can use Winver.exe to get full Windows version numbers.
2. Details on your system CPU, Intel, AMD or ARM?
3. Do you see Fences listed on startup twice? It need to be twice for fences to work properly. Check it on Taskmanager. Something like screenshot below should appear on your system.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

It's Windows 11 Version 21H2 (OS Build 22000.469)

Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9700 CPU @ 3.00GHz   3.00 GHz

32GB RAM

Fences is only listed ONCE

By the way, Fences 3 worked OK on this machine until two weeks ago.

That started misbehaving, hence the upgrade to Version 4

With Fences 3 installed, upon restarting all desktop icons and fences are not visible. However, they appear as soon as I right-click the desktop after a restart.

I have tried reinstalling Version 3 of Fences, but I get the same issues as with installing Version 4

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues.

Make sure Fences is enabled twice ( both ) 

Reboot then check it out .

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Thanks @AzDude - but as I said, Fences only enables once. There is no way of making it double enabled.

Hello,

Would you do this PURGE: https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling

Reboot and ReInstall the latest version FROM YOUR ACCOUNT PAGE .

Reboot , test and report back please .

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

@AzDude - I don't think you are reading my replies. I have already done what you suggest above and the error is completely repeatable. Nothing I do removes the problem. None of the suggestions made solves the problem.

Hello,

Not sure, have your tried cleanboot yet? https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#cleanboot. If not, please try it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I have done all of the above.

Clean boot.

New admin user.

Exactly the same problem each time.

Fences will not install properly.

Only one Fences Settings starts up, not two.

This is completely repeatable.

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.

-For 7 Users: click Start, in the start search field type 'cmd'. Right-click on the search result and select 'Run as administrator'.

-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

Also, I would recommend doing this : https://forums.stardock.com/508353/get;3826768, Try that and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

As I have already said....

I have run sfc /scannow

I have done DISM Restore health

The error persists and is completely and identically repeatable

The option in the other forum article you link to is not possible as there is only one Fences installed at startup. Not two.

No matter what you say, the issue is entirely repeatable.

Hello,
I have forward your problem/question 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

Please post a screenshot of your TaskManager\Startup with the items sorted by name as pictured here - showing Fences only once of you:

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

Here is the screenshot as requested

Quoting grahamjonesuk, reply 16

Here is the screenshot as requested

Reduced 74%

Original 1130 x 756

End of grahamjonesuk's quote

When you install Fences, is it with full admin rights to the PC...or no... this is a work PC where you have limited rights?

Is the PC connected to a VPN when you try to install?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

I have full admin rights. It is not a work PC.

There is no VPN.

Fences 3 used to install OK - I used it for several years and Fences 2 before it. But Fences 4 ends up as you see in the screenshot

Any updates? I have installed Fences 4 OK on a laptop. But it still will not install properly on my desktop. Both are HP computers and I have the same software and settings on each. So, why does it install OK on one machine, but not on the other?

On checking REGEDIT I have discovered that none of the entries that appear in the Registry on the laptop appear on the desktop.

It seems that the installation on the desktop is preventing registry changes.

Any other ideas?

I had exactly the same problem. And I have also tried the above methods, but none of them worked.

Looking forward to any updates

That there should be a clue that it's something very specific and unique to your PC, its apps, or its settings.

Please list all the things you tried.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

I agree, but I am struggling to find out what. Fences 3 ran OK on the laptop and desktop. Fences 4 runs OK on the laptop but will not install correctly on the desktop. Both the laptop and desktop are identical in terms of apps and settings. 

I also have this problem, and I really don't want to do this, but... maybe you have to completely reinstall Windows just to give your computer a completely clean state just to get Fences to work again?

Has anybody any updates on this? Fences 4 will still not install on my desktop, though it is working happily on my laptop that has the same software/settings.

As I review your activations, it looks like you had a trial last on your desktop. The steps I am going to recommend you have said you have completed, but I want you to try them again.

I would try the purge file again, make sure you are running as an admin, follow that process. When it is time to reinstall, download the latest Fences4 beta from your Stardock account.

If you need the purge file again: https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling

If still no luck, make sure you review the clean boot process, it really should work after the clean boot as there will be no other 3rd party software installed to conflict if done properly. If you do this again and it is still not working, please post a picture of the task manager (startup tab) form the clean boot state

Paul Scroggins
Associate Technical Support Analyst