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Help!! WB is messing up my computer!! (with screenshots)

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Help!! WB is messing up my computer!! (with screenshots)

I don't know what to do anymore... I tried everything!

from WinCustomize Forums

I have been using WB5 for about 4 days now and I haven't gotten any types of errors, whatsoever, up until a few hours ago.. I didn't even do a thing! I was using Mormegil's ChristmasTime theme (and ran it for 4 days without errors), then when I decided to come to WinCustomize.com to browse for new Objects and such, my computer hung up on me! I don't know if that had anything to do with my visiting wincustomize.com, but it couldn't have been a virus or a spyware because I just performed a general maintenance on my computer a few hours earlier (and I have been doing that since January).. Then I restarted my computer using the button on my CPU and when I entered my Windows XP account, the entire "start" bar below (the whole thing, not just the start button, but the entire bar -- sorry, i have no idea what it's called) didn't even show up! The only thing that showed up was the digital clock, and that's it.. Ok, hold on.. I don't know where I'm going anymore. I think it's better if I just show you a screenshot and maybe you can just help me out and tell me what's wrong (also, I tried uninstalling+re-installing WB5, but apparently, that didn't fix my problem)..

http://tinypic.com/ionkf5.jpg

That's my whole screen.. No "start button" and the entire "bar" at the bottom of the screen is messed up! WB also got rid of my Windows XP theme.. I tried accessing through desktop/right-click/bah blah but then that didn't work.. all it's showing me is nothing (sorry, I'm really, really sleepy and i have been trying to fix this problem since 5 PM (and now it's about (9:00).. so, that should explain why my grammar is skewed. i haven't even eaten yet!) I tried righ clicking on "My Computer" and going to "Manage" / "Services" / etc. (as one poster explained in another thread), but that didn't work -- it didn't bring my Windows XP theme back..

Please help me! I am totally clueless about what's going on! And once again, excuse the grammar. I'm typing this up real fast because I'm about to collapse.. I really hope you guys can help me! Please!

Moderator Note:

This issue is caused by the cracked version of WindowBlinds.  Don't run the cracked version of WindowBlinds and this won't happen.

windowblinds
113,628 views 394 replies
Reply #276 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#234 by Admin Frogboy
Whatever Vanillla might be or do, he does have a point that its not right to mess up peoples computers if they use cracked software (and i dont believe the harmful part is in the crack, but the boobytrap is in your software).

The moral indignation of thieves is always interesting.

I like the part how WE messed with people's computers. They apply a warez patch to a system wide desktop enhancement that causes WB to be unable to paint when a redundancy activation check comes on and it's our fault.


Again playing dumb eh? And an insult in it 4 free Checked my profile then (thought you were the admin)?
I even got me an (expensive) creditcard to be able to buy OD several years ago. I allready had Windowblinds 'for free' (i.e. warezversion) and I thought it was nice and u would deserve money for it, being a small developer and all.

So why are you calling me a thief?
I'm one of those customers thats been paying your bills for the last couple of years mate.
Only now i can't really afford the luxury anymore 4 the updates and wanted to give WB5 a spin to see if its worth the money (just got married and eyecandy in the home takes precedence over (non working) transparent eyecandy on the pc).

Guess what? I don't think it is. It's still not working properly (on extra buttons in a transparent titlebar). And after spending several hours cleaning up the mess hasn't really helped putting me in a spending mood.

So either you put it in on purpose, or you're not that smart afterall - that you didn't oversee the consequences.
Reply #277 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I allready had Windowblinds 'for free' (i.e. warezversion)

Ah, a self confessed thief...

ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #278 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I can sympathize with someone stealing a loaf of bread to feed themselves or their family but tough times don't justify stealing software.

I hope Stardock is taking pride in the fact that people are willing to do anything and risk their PC's just get their hands on their software. Go Stardock!
Reply #279 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#273
... so they've obviously created an overwrite to some vital WB system file that when Windows did an update this past time around, it didn't find what it was looking for and overwrote the "new" cracked file causing WB not to be able to repaint/draw certain elements of the GUI.


Obviously you're just guessing or parotting. Better let the makers do the talking.

I don't do Windows updates, and yet it blew up on the same date. It's clearly a timecheck.
Reply #281 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 ]eep ....


Again playing dumb eh? And an insult in it 4 free Checked my profile then (thought you were the admin)?
I even got me an (expensive) creditcard to be able to buy OD several years ago. I allready had Windowblinds 'for free' (i.e. warezversion) and I thought it was nice and u would deserve money for it, being a small developer and all.

I checked your profile...and am currently deciding whether Wincustomize really needs you around.

Comparisons to some idiots endangering their Operating Systems by using a half-baked crack and causing Windowblinds to cease drawing correctly to the tragedy and loss of lives in 9/11 is not only ridiculous it's an insult...to both the families involved in 9/11 and the People who are 'Stardock' who created the program.

So,

Time to seek your jollies elsewhere....your voice has been removed.

Reply #282 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Obviously you're just guessing or parotting. Better let the makers do the talking.


OBVIOUSLY, you JUST DON'T read.....
You're a thief...an admitted thief at that and I'll be damned if I'm going to bother to take the time or the energy to bother with the likes of you. (Showing that you don't even KNOW who the hell Frogboy really is....LMFAO at the asshat....) Before you even came here, you had NO idea WHO the makers of the software *are*...ahem....

I'd love to see things from your point of view but I just can't seem to get my head that far up my ass....





Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #283 from WinCustomize Forums Top
...plus he doesn't know how to spell 'parrot'...
Reply #284 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i have learned my lesson and would like to say to the stardock staff that "i am honsetly sorry" if you choose you remove me or not allow me to access your site i can understand that....
but i can honesly say that from this day on i will stand up for you and tell people and not to steal or download your software at any time!!!!

its well worth the $20 and its to bad that i think i just found that out now....

i will very soon be a paying customer (you will see).....and i respect all your work and what you do too and for your community!

peas
cityboy
Reply #286 from Stardock Forums Top

lol i don´t believe him...



and for those who ask for the god damn T. check go and ask headshoto...he knew all about it but he was dropped from the forum he was the first that mentioned something about it now quit talkin crap about stardocks software it works 100% correct no issues no Problems if you using a no warez Product



IM realy going to bed now its 2 in the morning damn and i got to stand up at 4am fu.. that

Reply #287 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All this to talk one person into paying for what they should not have stolen in the first place?

Jafo: well done. I wondered how long it would take. Need some towels to clean boot?

DigitalDanes: I like the picture! ROFL!...asshat! HAHAHAHA!!
Reply #288 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Although I know it's not true, I truly wish that Stardock WAS inserting malicious code to screw up the computers of warez users!, that would be so cool, I would laugh my tits off.
But, I know the guys at Stardock very well, and they are too nice to do something like that. What a pity...........
Reply #289 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i agree with boxxi. i'd love for stardock to code wb to screw the computers of warez wb users. it won't happen but it would be the best thing since sliced bread.
Reply #290 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i think thats illegal tho
Reply #292 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They never needed an explanation to begin with. Let 'em figure it out for themselves. This thread is a complete waste of space.
Reply #293 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Let 'em figure it out for themselves. This thread is a complete waste of space.

Seems like a dead thread to me also........

Reply #294 from WinCustomize Forums Top
but...but...I got more





Reply #295 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i think thats illegal tho


I believe that it would only be illegal to sell software that has a malicious code/intential problem coding it it. What Stardock chooses to do with their software product to make it unservicable to someone who has stolen it and used it illegally would probably be fine. My whole idea on this is....if those that are complaining that Stardock did this and they're so damned smart, why not provide the coding portion of WB5 that *supposedly* has this malicious intent and expose it to the public. I've seen a butt-load of accusations from the theives but no substantial proof. On SD's side there's the proof in the pudding that *NO* purchased or trial versions on machines that haven't had a pirated copy on it previously have had any problem that matches the problems related by the warez/pirated users' problems. Not stating that those with legal trials and purchased products aren't having problems, but none that match up to the repaint/draw problem produced when the WB program is pirated.
DD

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #296 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well, the fact that non-piraters don't have the problem is by no means relevant to rather SD could have malicious code inside. but, you're right, if there is bad code in there, someone might look for it. i'd say if it is thre, it will be exposed. i do tend to think SD probably didn't put malicious code in there. i think they may have intended for the software to fail in this way should it be cracked (er, more accurately cracked poorly) but if my problem (and seemingly others not on this forum but on another) of explorer still not working after uninstalling WB, is due to this, then that's probably accidental. in which case i guess we did get what we deserved. but i'm not even certain WB has caused my explorer problem, and others' who make similar claims on the other forum aren't too clear in what they're saying. so i dunno. i think my prob is most likely with the registry, since a repair install of xp didn't fix it.

-edit-
oh, and i'm no law expert, but i don't think it would be legal for software to cause damage to someone's computer, even if it were pirated. viruses aren't for sale, but they're illegal. i think the only way it'd be ok is if it were in the license agreement that in the event that the agreement were broken... although most agreements say they aren't liable to any damages they may cause, i think they say something like "incidental damage". you can't sue microsoft cause it crashes, but if they secretly added code that wiped all of your data cause you modify it in a way they don't like...
Reply #297 from Stardock Forums Top
BTW : Never doing Windows Updates BUT using cracks from doubtable sources. How dumb is that ?
Reply #298 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#212 by Carl[c242]
Tue, December 20, 2005 06:30 AM
Reply

Quote Watch
[Carl[c242]]
Agrippa : I had no problems on Win2003 Server, tested it.


Thanks Carl, much appreciated. WB5 bought and paid for.
Reply #299 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The real danger if an app decided to delete files from a users PC when it thought it was pirated would be if the detection was buggy and it happened on customer machines.

I have heard of CD burning apps creating coasters though when they detect pirate copies.  A silent failure when burning a CD would potentially cause lost data if the CDs were assumed to be OK.

Reply #300 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just a quick question for the devs. I've been using uxtheme and StyleXP for a while, but I now want to buy WB 5, since it looks rather nice. Like I always do, I downloaded a cracked version to check the program out (yup - it's wrong and all that, but I simply find it's the most convenient way to find out if I want to buy a program or not. As long as I don't retain any cracked stuff on my machine, which in fact I don't, I frankly see no harm in it...). Trouble is, on changing skins this particular version of WB 5 gave me a blue screen every time (oooooo, haven't seen one of those in years). Skins work just fine on reboot, it's just changing them that's dodgy every time.

Now I'm not asking for any kind of support here (perish the very thought!), I just want to know if WB 5 is working fine with Server 2003 Enterprise, or if there are any issues at all? Tell me it's all good and I'll hit that "Purchase WindowBlinds" button right away.


Oh well, back again.

Just installed my newly bought copy of WB 5 and the above problem persists. Skin change = BSOD. Apply setting changes = BSOD. Not cool in the least.

BSOD info: c000021a {fatal system error}, status: 0xc0000005 (0x00000000 0x00000000)

System Info:

WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+ TRAY+

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.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to RADEON 9700 PRO (Omega 2.6.87)

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 13:57:10
Wbsrv.dll 2005/11/28 15:52:00
Wbconfig.exe 2005/11/28 16:19:00
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/20 12:23:40
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26

Want to take a stab at this?