Fences keeps disabling itself with message Windows 10 Explored did not close properly last time

Fences problem with Windows 10 Explorer

from Stardock Forums

Hi Stardock Folks,

I have used Stardock Fences for several years with tremendous satisfaction.

A few days ago, on one of my laptops, something between  Fences and Windows 10 Explorer stopped working. Fences would organize my laptop then a few seconds later this error message would pop up:

 Fences error message

My screen would switch back and forth between Fences and regular desktop several times and would not stop until I had disabled Fences.

Using Windows 10 Task Manager I stopped and removed Windows Explorer and rebooted my machine, but it did the same thing with the same error message. I did this 4 or 5 times without success.

I thought maybe I needed to upgrade my  Stardock Fences version so I purchased the most recent version for use on 3 computers. NO luck, I still get the same error message.

Please Help!!! I really appreciate and enjoy using Fences.

Sincerely,

William “Mike” Hairfield

hairfield@live.com

 

fences
33,311 views 17 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Stardock Fences keeps becoming disabled in Windows 10.  This started a few weeks ago.  I have never had this problem before.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting tdomenech, reply 2

Stardock Fences keeps becoming disabled in Windows 10.  This started a few weeks ago.  I have never had this problem before.
End of tdomenech's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need more information on your system and issue.

  1. Windows 10 full version and OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe
  2. Fences full version number.
  3. Fences disabled similar to mentioned by the OP with the same popup message? Or, it was disabled from Startup? Need more clarification.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Does the same popup msg appear?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I get no message at all.  I have learned to look at Start Ups in Task Manger and find both disabled.  It has taken me a while to figure that out....I began searching when I would start computer and NOT see desktop.  I'd right click......and desktop would appear.  After a while I looked at Task Manager and found that both fences had become disabled.  Happens all the time.  For example, I just checked......Disabled.  LOL.  I didn't do it.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Once you enable it, reboot, does both of it get disabled again.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Sometimes.  I think it is important to note that it will be become disabled during the day when the computer is being used.  Last night, before shutting down computer, I checked to see if Fences was disabled....it was.  I enabled and shut down computer.  This morning I started computer, fences seemed to be working; however, I just checked and it was disabled.  I am not sure if it was enabled or disabled when I started computer, just know it was working properly.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

When it was working and if it get disabled did you saw the same popup msg as posted by the OP in his first post?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

There is no popup or indication anything has changed.  Only way to know is to open task manager to see if it is enabled or disabled OR when computer is turned back on, desk top does not automatically appear.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting tdomenech, reply 10

There is no popup or indication anything has changed.  Only way to know is to open task manager to see if it is enabled or disabled OR when computer is turned back on, desk top does not automatically appear.
End of tdomenech's quote

Please try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Purge is done to remove everything that get installed into your system when you run Fences installer, except your Fences backups/layout snapshots. This should help if there is something that get corrupted.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Still confused.  So, does purge = uninstall?  Again, I've never heard that word used with a computer.  Propane tank.  Yes.  Scuba tank, yes.  Computer......nope.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Purge, for Stardock software, from what I understand, is more than normal uninstall.  This should also remove installation's leftover files. Which sometimes not remove by uninstall.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

How then, does one "purge."  I did notice when I did an uninstall (didn't work) there were was a Fences 2 there, also.  VERY strange.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

There are steps mentioned in the link that I listed in my reply#11 above.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant