Had to uninstall ZIPPO theme...

I'll tell you the problem, its easy. Too many open programs.

dreaded blue screen

And your running a Win9x OS? My guess. Since I haven't seen a BSOD since I've used WinXP

I'm running WindowsXP SP1. I could understand 'TOO MANY OPEN PROGRAMS' if 1) I ran the same number of open programs on an older Dell Inspiron with less capacity/power and 2) this would happen while using themes other than ZIPPO. Only with Zippo do I get a noticable decrease in all around performance and crashes with certain AutoCAD software.

Not all programs sit happy with WindowBlinds, there are some that you may have to exclude, try checking out the "Per Apps" section of the "WB Config"

He says he has the problem only while using the Zippo theme, so it doesn't appear to be a WindowBlinds problem.

I am running the full Zippo theme, obviously I've got different proggies running, but I am having no issues with it.

AutoCAD software

Could conflict

I got to work today and began using some of my more intensive programs (Autodesk REVIT).

Windowblinds is not an intensive porgram. Therefore, it is not windowblinds or Zippo which is causing your problems, but the "intensive" programs. This should be obvious.

If you close Object Dock and Autocad and look at your available memory in any sysmetrix skin you will see what I mean(with Zippo installed). Then, compare that memory to the memory you have available with AutoCad and ObjectDock running. Then you want to add Window Media Player too?!

Look, here's another way to see exactly what I am saying about your intensive programs. Ctrl-Alt-Delete and in the process tab check memory usage for the open programs. Mine shows Windowblinds "with Zippo Running" using 2.8 MB.

I know you may want to have a totally beautiful desktop, run intensive desktop modules, listen to music, work in your most intensive programs, and not experience any lag. With a 2.4GB processor, and 1GB memory, maybe should be able to. There are many things you can do to try to optimize your system. This is where I believe the problem may lie. But mostly, it is the "intensive" programs; not Windowblinds, not Zippo.

Latest update:

I had windowblinds loaded with the Ketix theme, ObjectDock with the GT2 theme, Sysmetrix, Rainlendar and a few Desktop Objects. With Outlook, windows explorer, Excel and AutoCAD loaded, everthing works fine. I open Autodesk REVIT (Similar to 3D Studio Max) and all is well.

Then: I replace the desktop wallpaper with the ZIPPO (extremely large file relative to most wallpapers) and all is still well. I replace the Window Media Player skin with the Zippo and my system slows down. ObjectDock is slow to react, windows open slowly, etc. Change skin for Media Player back to original to get good system performance and change windowblinds to Zippo. Close down all applications and start REVIT....CRASH!

There might be some module of the zippo theme not present in the ketrix theme that is causing problems. My suggestion is to figure out the differences and play around with the zippo theme until you get it to work. Most likely a dx object or a objectdock docklet interferes with it.

Try closing everything and installing the zippo theme. Close ObjectDock, AutoCad, sysmetrix, rainlender and anything DX. Then see if Zippo and WMP work together. I believe everything will be fine. The problem is that windows doesn't unload dll's when they are no longer being used. Windows doesn't give you back your memory. Object Dock will just keep building memory usage, and AutoCad won't unload its Dll's either when closed. This speeds up the restart of a program. But, it will keep chewing your memory until you have none(I.E. crash). There is a option to force windows to unload dll's but that doesn't always work, especially for desktop applications. Try checking your memory usage like I said before. Believe it or not, it is a memory usage problem.

Sounds like Windows Media Player Zippo skin that's the problem rather than the WindowBlinds stuff. Does the WMP skin have animations? I know that WMP can have scripts running to do lots of clever stuff (which is on a per-skin basis - different skin, different scripts).

I had a skin once that I couldn't run because it made my computer extremely slow; even affected the Internet speed. I never figured out why that particular skin was like that, and it seems I was the only one cause nobody else ever said anything about it.  I guess that for some strange reason certain skins don't like certain computers. *shrugs*

He did mention that he has a Dell. Dell has been known to hack the OS to add its advertisement in the start menu of its users computers and its nearly impossible to remove it. Whether its a legal hack or not, its still a hack. I have a gateway and it was the same. They modify the operating system and its just not the same. Maybe you should try getting a unhacked version of WindowsXP. Windows Media Player should have problems like this. It is integral to the Operating system. Is WMP updated fully?

Also, he hasn't reported back to any of the suggestions that I have made. So, what's the use really? My last suggestion would have helped to determine whether it was a Problem with WMP or memory as I suspect. One has to narrow down the possibilities and one can't do it alone. My first suggestion would have helped to determine how much memory he had available just before a crash.
[Message Edited]

Paxx is right by me. Wierd things happen. I thought it was only me.

#12 by essorant - 2/11/2004 6:16:15 AM Sounds like Windows Media Player Zippo

#13 by paxx - 2/11/2004 8:26:14 AM I had a skin once that I couldn't run because it made my computer extremely slow; even affected the Internet speed. I never figured out why that particular skin was like that, and it seems I was the only one cause nobody else ever said anything about it. I guess that for some strange reason certain skins don't like certain computers. *shrugs*

I say yes to both.
Some skins are more intense than others. Windows Media Player can have a skin that uses more CPU time and RAM (as well as other things) because of how it is made or some special feature that takes up memory.