Win11 File Explorer not opening

What version of WindowBlinds exactly are you using as thats not normal for WB11 on Win11 but would be normal for WB10 on Win11.

WB11 on Win11

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. 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.

Sorry for the late reply basj - first time I've had to devote time to fixing this.

Went through the above and some problem

Are you using start11 or some other start menu application?

Hello,

Would like to suggest to do cleanboot https://forums.stardock.com/486023/windowblinds-support-faq#cleanboot. Need to check if something else is causing conflict with Windowblinds.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

SimplexDesigns - that was it!

Uninstalled Start11 and system is tickety-boo again.

I have had the same issue twice.  Only a reboot fixed it.  It seems to be sporadic.

And the problem is back :[

Hello again,

Have you tried cleanboot as mentioned in my reply#6?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

I have experienced this issue on Windows 11 22H2 with certain skins created for older versions of WindowBlinds. One reliable example (at least on my PC) is this old WindowBlinds skin WinCustomize:
https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/246

This issue occurs regardless if the Windows 11 File Explorer tabs are enabled or disabled.

This problem does NOT occur on my PC with this newer (2005 lol) skin:
https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/4780

Very old skins most probably will have issue with current WB. Unless the author of the skin update those skin themselves. There is nothing much can be done about it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

It's understandable that ancient skins that are almost two decades old are not and likely will not be supported by the current version of Windowblinds. It's surprising the skin mostly works anyway. Maybe the problem has something to do with older skins not having artwork for newer UI elements, and perhaps WB or affected applications terminate as a result?

Regardless, if Windowblinds can be in an error state in which it prevents applications from launching, that is a bug which should be addressed.  I'm not suggesting Stardock develops code to make ancient skins work.  Rather, the error should be handled in a way that is more easily discoverable to the user.  When handling this error, Windowblinds could:

• Not skin the program at all.
• Apply a "default" skin if the current user skin fails to draw for a given window.
• Draw the ancient user skin, but ensure the program launches, without drawing the skin correctly.
  
  • (Misaligned art, transparent holes in the program window due to missing art, etc.)
• Display an error message.

I'm sure this error handling is easier said than done. Maybe WB somehow monitors launched programs to ensure they don't crash on launch, then try handling the error on the next launch using one of these four suggestions if the first launch is unsuccessful. 

Just a thought.

WB10 and WB11 support only XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 WB skins. Very old skins from Windows 98/2000 era is not work.