Newly installed Fences don't work

from Stardock Forums

I have downloaded the latest Fences version (5.53) and installed it on W11 (Enterprise edition, version 23H2, build 22631.3593) on which I have admin rights. However, Fences doesn't work, not as expected and almost not at all. I have Chameleon, Peek, Rollup, Pages and Rules turned off.

Every now and then (I haven't been able to figure out what causes it) I get this popup. Even though I always click the Yes button, it keeps coming back.

When I create an empty Fence somewhere, I can't drag existing icons (not documents that are on the desktop, nor shortcuts to programs or documents) to it. Documents show up on top of the fence, shortcuts disappear behind the fence. When I move the fence, both type of icons remain where they are and the only thing that moves is the - still empty - fence. 

Alternatively I create a fence by right dragging around icons and clicking the little "Create a fence here" popup.

Then I get this look.

The shortcuts appear to be in the fence, but not completely visible because the fence is too small. The document icon behaves weirder: sometime it does the same as the shortcuts, sometimes it appears to be hanging in front of the fence. When I now drag the fence a little bit higher, the shortcuts don't move with the fence, they just get more and more invisible. The same happens to the document icon if it previously behaved like the shortcuts. In the other case, it just remains where it is.

Sometimes, during moving the fence all over the screen, after a while the icons seem to catch up and move together with the fence (like they are supposed to do) and are also neatly aligned as they should. Then, when you stop dragging and think "now all is ok", you're wrong! If you start moving the fence once again, the icons remain again where they are and don't move together with the fence.

This way, Fences is completely useless. What can I do to get the expected behaviour?

fences
12,139 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. First, 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 #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Basj,

Things have become far worse now.

- All icons on my desktop have disappeared (although they are still there, they're just invisible)
- I can't make any fences anymore
- The UAC popup (see my very first screenshot) still appears randomly

Something I did forget to mention, just in case it's important. I use a Lenovo Thinkpad laptop connected to a Thinkpad docking station. There are three monitors connected to the docking station: the left one is panorama and connected through displayport, the middle is portrait and connected through hdmi, the right one is also portrait but connected through displayport. The middle one is the main monitor. The laptop screen itself is not used (it's closed). 

SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

For multi-monitor setup please review and try to follow the troubleshooting steps mentioned in the first post of this thread: https://forums.stardock.com/528229. If you still have issues. Please report back here or there in that thread.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Since I wrote the previous reply (20 minutes ago), the popup has appeared 3 times, the last time was just now. I clicked yes each time, but this last time it made my icons reappear on the desktop. Now, I can make fences again, but their behaviour is still as wrong as described in my opening post.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Basj,

Today, I finally found the time to try your cleanboot suggestion.

I have created an new admin account. I need to mention here that this is a local account, unlike the "normal" account under which I reported the issues (that is a domain account). Then I logged in under the new account. Almost immediately I get a popup almost identically to the very first image in this forum post. The only difference being that it also says "To continue, enter an admin username and password" and it shows the domain name. Which is, under this local account, not desired. So I enter my username as computername\username and click yes. The result is again the same popup, this time with a red note "The requested operation requires elevation". 

After clicking no to that one, I went to the Fences install folder, right clicked the executable and chose "Run as administrator" as that would in my opinion elevate the executable. I get the popup, try to log in with the local account, but I get the "requires elevation" error again.

Then I tried to login with my domain account and that did work. Unfortunately, the behavior of Fences is exactly as erronous as described earlier.

So, up to the cleanboot. When I try to open the msconfig application, again, I get the same issues as above: I get a popup asking for credentials, it refuses the local admin account (requires elevation), behaves the same when "run as administrator", complies when given the domain account.

Then I followed the instructions from the microsoft webpage, I kept the Fences entry enabled and restarted the computer. Almost immediately I get a popup almost identically to the very first image in this forum post. The only difference being that it also says "To continue, enter an admin username and password" and it shows the domain name. The local admin account gives me the "requires elevation" message, the network account works.

I do get the "Welcome to Fences" screen. Not while open, nor after closing does creating a fence work at all. Normally when I draw a rectangle on the screen, you can see it. Now, I don't and don't get the little poput "Create a fence" either.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded 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

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi, can you click “Show more details” on that dialog and post that screenshot? It should give helpful information

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top


Every now and then (I haven't been able to figure out what causes it) I get this popup. Even though I always click the Yes button, it keeps coming back.
End of quote

This would indicate you have 'Run as admin' set for Fences.exe - dont ever do that....

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Roebie, I think it's struggling with your multimon setup. Would love to debug. Could you send a copy of your the file fences_debug_info.txt in "%appdata%\Stardock\Fences\TroubleshootingLog" to support? No guarantee we can figure it out, but, would like to take a look. Thank you! 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Doesn't work. I get this reply:

host stardock-com.mail.protection.outlook.com[52.101.9.24]
    said: 550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.
    [BL6PEPF00022573.namprd02.prod.outlook.com 2024-07-10T07:18:58.752Z
    08DC9FF9B4737147] (in reply to RCPT TO command)
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Roebie, reply 11

Doesn't work. I get this reply:

host stardock-com.mail.protection.outlook.com[52.101.9.24]

 

    said: 550 5.4.1 Recipient address rejected: Access denied.

 

    [BL6PEPF00022573.namprd02.prod.outlook.com 2024-07-10T07:18:58.752Z

 

    08DC9FF9B4737147] (in reply to RCPT TO command)


End of Roebie's quote

 

Hi Roebie sorry about this, would still love to get that log! Would love to get the bottom of this.

Thank you!

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Also, did you look into this, Roebie? 

Quoting sdrohan, reply 9



Every now and then (I haven't been able to figure out what causes it) I get this popup. Even though I always click the Yes button, it keeps coming back.

This would indicate you have 'Run as admin' set for Fences.exe - dont ever do that....



Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager
End of sdrohan's quote