WB5 Causing Explorer.exe

What specific version of WindowBlinds are you using? There are many releases within version 5. Also, which version of windows are you running (including service packs)?

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

I updated to 4.90g[b].003. I am running it on XP SP2.

I have the same problem, with the same version of WB and XP

i installed window blinds 5 and had nothing but trouble , had to delete it & reinstall win 4.. works fine, they rushed win 5 out the door for some reason only known to them. i have found most all these new versions have realy no new capabilities, they are just trying to stay ahead of the cracker & hackers'' no matter what anyone says.i wouldnt mind it all..but they hype up these new versions & when they come out theres either major problems or there is realy nothing new about them.bottom line is its a awesome program. but please get a grip on all this constant bomb barding of so called new versions. heck version (5) i believe is technicaly only 4.9 :

I too have been getting frequent Explorer crashes with WB5.

Question Makaveli213: Are you using the Microsoft Desktop Search?

One way I can blow up Explorer is if I have WB running and then run a search in MS Desktop Search. Boom! Without WB running, no issues with the MSDS or Explorer.

XP SP2
WB 4.90g[b].003
WFX 2.20c[b].003

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

You have Stardock WindowFX running. Please be aware that WindowBlinds 5 is not compatible with WindowFX 2.11 or 2.19. WindowFX 2.5 beta which is compatible with WindowBlinds 5 will be released later this month

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have 2 monitors.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON 9600 SERIES
(Plug and Play Monitor) 2 is attached to RADEON 9600 SERIES - Secondary
'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

I've been having problems with it as well. I posted a note earlier this week describing a problem I had when I'd try to switch from one skin to another and it caused my computer to lock up so hard that I had to unplug it just to reboot. I put WB5 on all three computers we have and on the other two, it simply didn't work at all -- freezes, graphic problems, etc. This one works marginally but I still have to load either Windows Classic or Windows XP between WB skins or the taskbar goes generic on me. I agree that they might have rushed this version out the door a little too quickly. Maybe they were trying to encourage people to buy Object Desktop. I will admit that's what I did...

Question Makaveli213: Are you using the Microsoft Desktop Search? One way I can blow up Explorer is if I have WB running and then run a search in MS Desktop Search. Boom! Without WB running, no issues with the MSDS or Explorer. XP SP2WB 4.90g[b].003WFX 2.20c[b].003

To answer your question. No i dont use anything of Google's except GMail. I also dont use the MSN Toolbar or anything like that. I know where all of my files are at all time i dont need a search. I hope i dont come off as rude as i dont mean it. I just dont use any extras that i dont need. I use OD cause i dotn like the look of windows and this program is the best for what i want to do.

So any new info besides the rushed theory that we can work out here?
Ohh yeah heres my Troubleshoting report:
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Dell M993s) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6800
'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

Seems like Stardock is quick to take our money but when there is serious problems it takes them forever to reply. 11 days and counting since anybody from Stardock replied to this thread.

I'm having same issues, my Explorer crashes at every boot, my desktop icons, start bar and quick launch are rendered completly useless, hense my computer is too. I've found a way to uninstall all Object Desktop programs but the problem still persists. I'm running XP sp2 with a gig mem and a TB of HD. So far I'm seeing that only solution would be a clean reinstall, but there are too many goodies on C drive to lose it all.

I've found a way to uninstall all Object Desktop programs but the problem still persists

What did you do to uninstall all programs?

I have seen some issues with WB5 holding on to something (not sure what yet), that prevents applying the default Windows XP theme.

The work around I have found is this:

1 - Start Icon Packager (if in use) > Tools > Restore all Icons > click "Yes" to confirm > click "OK" to apply.

2 - Use WB5 config panel to apply the "Windows Classic" listing (First listing at left end of list).

3 - Unload WB5 using the unload link in the WB5 config panel.

4 - Apply the "Windows Classic" theme using the Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme drop-down list.

5 - Reboot computer.

6 - Apply the Windows XP theme using the Display Properties\Themes tab\Theme drop-down list.

This has been successful in releasing the explorer shell and applying the Luna theme correctly, which in turn would allows for the clean uninstall of WB5 beta using Stardock Central with no ill effects.

I am not sure what you have tried, but you might try booting to Safe Mode if you can get the shell to work in that mode, and reinstall WB5 and give this a go before proceeding with a clean install of the OS.

I don't know if this will help anyone with the explorer.exe crashes, but it helped me. The option to open explorer in seperate process: uncheck it. Yes, I know that it is useful when you have a crash, it is supposed to keep the whole of the shell from crashing, but I think that is a myth or something, because it works oppostie for me. But I am not running WinXp like they, being Microsoft, recommend either. I admit I had problems with the first beta release, but dang. Another thing I am seeing in common, and I am by no means Intel bashing, but it seems most everyone running Pentiums has this quirky problem Corky has found a workaround for.

If explorer is crashing on your system, try adding explorer.exe to the "Per application" list and exclude it from being skinned...see if this resolves the problem. Let us know the result.

Itheone: Since you've removed our software, this is obviously not the cause of your issue.  The Windows XP operating system itself is not 100% stable when connected to the internet as a result of malicious software.  I would be interested to know more about the software setup on your system.  Please download Silent Runners, upload the output file to a file server, and post the link here.

The option to open explorer in seperate process: uncheck it.

scorpio-logic: Are you referring to the folder option to have each window open in a separate process? To this day I have not encountered any issues with explorer crashing, but wonder if that might be a possible cause.

they rushed win 5 out the door for some reason only known to them

WindowBlinds Beta has actually been in development since before it was released to the Object Desktop community. Even though it is now available for download for ODNT subscribers, WindowBlinds is still in development and testing.  When you opt to install beta software, you should be aware that beta releases can be unstable. We do not recommend installing any beta software on your primary (or only) system.  All ODNT subscribers are eligible to participate in Stardock beta testing, but we offer no guarantees in stability.

heck version (5) i believe is technicaly only 4.9

That is exactly correct, WindowBlinds 5 is still in beta.

If you have a problem with our software, please email support@stardock.com; please do not consider the forums a main area for support.  In the forums, we attempt to answer everyone's question or at least forward issues to the development teams, but the main function of the forums is for community discussion.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]