I should stress WB contains no code to touch your boot sector or anything like that!

m sticking with 4.6 for now untill all matters are resolved...warez or legit.. lol

So what, are earlier versions unaffected and only 5 is rejecting the cracks?

So what, are earlier versions unaffected and only 5 is rejecting the cracks?

u got that right i think 5 is just a special case.

I'm sorry, but there's just something blindingly stupid regarding posting about pirating and cracking software on THE DEVELOPER'S FORUMS and then having the audacity to ask for tech support or blame them when the whole thing gets messed up due to some poorly written hacked exe to circumvent the authentication checks.

I'm sorry, but there's just something blindingly stupid regarding posting about pirating and cracking software on THE DEVELOPER'S FORUMS and then having the audacity to ask for tech support or blame them when the whole thing gets messed up due to some poorly written hacked exe to circumvent the authentication checks.

You noticed....

Unbelievable.

No brains, no headache.......

i didn't ask for tech support. i was just trying to find out if it was stardock putting mailicious code in there. i honestly don't know what to believe tho. i can't say for sure that my Explorer not working is due to WB or the patched Windowblinds either one. i was also deleting a virus i obtained a while back (using SP1 without AV or firewall. i know it's stupid but my computer is too slow to run a bunch of stuff in the background) and some related stuff in my registry and may have messed something up. but when i rebooted and it was obvious that WB's painting was so slow, i naturally connected the two.

frogboy, you said there is a dozen and a half checks in WB5. so what about WB 3 & 4? did you not put much effort into anti-piracy back then?

To try to help with people having this problem, I obtained a 'cracked' copy of WB5.  It messed up my taskbar exactly as you have described. I then completely uninstalled that copy of WB and reinstalled the demo. All of the taskbar issues were gone. I then installed my legitamately purchased copy of WB5 and once again had no issue. This is all on the same laptop with the same settings.

Vanilla Ice : Plz appreciate the fact these guys have put in there time into this software which by any standard is worth $20...

I myself use a warez....And I dont find it any wrong on Stardocks part if they use their own tactics to thwart piracy....

If I am ready to use an illegal copy of the software then I am responsible for my actions...So if the software did not work or did something because the crack did not work properly is my responsibility...not StarDock's...

Now I was employed I sure would have purchased this...

Plz people dont cribb...

I dont understand the point in fighting with devolopers..

For those who profess to use cracked [read 'illegal'] copies of Windowblinds....take a moment to consider you are then expecting to download and use skins from Wincustomize.com, a site which is entirely funded by Stardock [the company who produces the Program for which you have NOT paid], and by legitimate contributors to this site, who [mostly] pay THEIR own way through product purchases and through Site membership subscriptions, as well as expending their own time and effort to create the site's content.

Those who do ALL THREE [buy the product, subscribe, and create the skins] are particularly reluctant to be paying for your opportunity to access this site and its content.

The ultimate insult is to then hope to receive assistance from these same people when a warez download fubars your machine.

The only saving grace is that pangs of conscience 'may' kick in and you will rethink the situation and purchase a legitimate copy, and it seems some actually do just that....

I don't mind paying $19.99 for WindowBlinds 5, but I hate the fact that Stardock is being very greedy lately. Not convince?

- Previous Owner of WindowBlinds don't get any benefit or JACK! Instead they paid for $14.99 - $19.99 somewhere around there for version 4. Now they have to pay again $15.00 just for a damn upgrade! That's $40 dollar for previous owner who bought WindowBlinds have to pay now for a newer version. The one that didn't buy previously get WindowBlinds 5 for a freakin $19.99? Now where in the hell is the justice in that?

I'm sick and tired of paying for Stardock softwares then when a new version come you still have to pay for it again. It is freakin ridulous! Plus older member don't get any benefit at all! They just pay more then the new member who come in and decide to buy it. Come on, give us long term members a break like free update. Stop being a greedy ASS and think of yourself only!

I used to support Stardock a lot! Until they charge for everything. They even charge you to have membership to download skins from their website now (Which I also decided to register with them). Oh what's next? Sorry but I'm through, I'm a big fan of Stardock and been supporting them a lot, but they don't offer me anything back in return.

Stardock! I will buy version 5 of WindowBlinds for the last time and if you charge me for upgrade fee when newer version come out! You can take your product and shove it up your ASS! That's is how I feel with your company right now, and I believe some user here feel the same. So if you don't want to loose more customer, start to think of them more then yourself. Stop charging money for everything on your website and stop charging people money when newer version come out.

I'm done!

Aphazius: WindowBlinds 4 came out in 2003. That's almost 3 years ago.  You're calling us "greedy" because even though we provided 3 years of free updates that when a new version came out someone woudl have to pay 15 bucks for a new version?

Heck, tell that to a Photoshop user.  The upgrade on Photoshop CS2 is $170. 

What do you mean by Stardock being greedy? It was clearly stated that you would have to pay for upgrades past your version number. You've been able to use 4.x for the last how many years? There has been an incredible amount of work done on 4.x, and now that you FINALLY have to pay for an update to the extremely improved version 5, you complain? How is stardock greedy when they gave you over 3 years of free updates?

Your logic is extremely flawed. Stardock has a VERY good process for updates based on version numbers. Whats the problem with paying for what is nearly a brand new program with the massive amount of changes in it? Long term members ARE getting a bonus. You get a discount from the ordinary price by twenty-five percent. That is a pretty good discount if you ask me. I dont know why you see this as unfair.

You are also entirely wrong in the fact that you had to purchase a subscription to download skins here. This is inaccurate. When you purchase ANY Stardock product, you get unlimited access to downloads from WinCustomize.com. [sarcasm] That isnt generous of stardock at ALL. [/sarcasm]

Stardock certainly isnt losing customers because of this, since your complaints arent valid. There is no reason why they shouldnt charge for the next release bracket of a program when you've been getting free updates for 3 years. If you are a 'supporter' of Stardock, you must surely understand that you must charge money to stay in buisness. In all honesty, I can certainly say that they are the fairest company that I have ever had the pleasure to deal with.

Please, lets think through the whole 'charging for mere updates' a little bit more before posting this sort of thing in the future, hmm? After all, its not a small amount of work that went into this 'update'.

Yeah, but why new user pay $19.99 when I have to to pay almost $35 - 40 that including my previous version is a little unfair. It accumulate over time as you can see. Unless a major update then I'm willing to pay it, but I think $15.00 is bit too much even for an update. $10 is to be more fare since we long time customer. New user can just come in and bam buy say version 6 for $19.99 then laugh at us. Haha, you pay $50 for your (accumulate over time) and I pay just $19.99 for mine. Atleast offer me a coupon discount if I stay with a product long. Before they let you download Skins for free now only limit to 20MB. You now have to pay to download. I think any user who registered their product should get to download unlimited skins to their product. Such as if you registered WindowBlind, you should be elegible to download as many skins as you like since you are paying customer. Instead having to pay even more for to get what you want. And the subscription to the download is also limited to 1 year and you have to renew it again. I don't know, that sound like being greedy to me.

#133 by Vanilla Ice Sun, December 18, 2005 9:24 PM i can't say for sure that my Explorer not working is due to WB or the patched Windowblinds either one. i was also deleting a virus i obtained a while back (using SP1 without AV or firewall. i know it's stupid but my computer is too slow to run a bunch of stuff in the background) and some related stuff in my registry and may have messed something up. but when i rebooted and it was obvious that WB's painting was so slow, i naturally connected the two.

Often someone complaining about "buggy' software, will say "I'm a developer, so yadda, yadda, yadda....". if the dialog continues long enough, said 'developer' will 9 times out of ten, prove that he/she is logically challenged. Much like you have.

Just an observation......

Yes, but by the time version 6 comes out, you will have had WB for well over 4 years, most likely. Are you telling me that you find it unreasonable to pay roughly 40 dollars for a product you use every day? I find that logic to be extremely flawed. So flawed, in fact, that I will not even begin to break it down to a a cost-per-day basis. Heck, I wont even go for a cost per month. I think you're definately being unreasonable in your expectations from Stardock.

Are you going to purchase Vista? Or will that just be an 'update' that you're not willing to pay for...

(Just a note... you get access to ALL skins when you purchase ANY Stardock product, so dont go on about that.)

(Another note: Initial subscription is one year, but subsequent renewals are two years.)

My previous post was directed at #140.

This may be the most annyoing incident in my 7 years history of watching the skinning scene ever. People complaining about what a crack did to their computer and blaiming the company for it, whos software was cracked.

I also "like" the people arguing that "poor" people have no chance than piracing software. They have, simply don't use it. And WindowBlinds is no essential software like a word processor might be. I also can't afford a Ferrari, no matter how attractive I might find it...

As for the Update costs : I can easily see that WindowBlinds is not the only pirated Software on their machines, as they obviously never had to pay for a Windows, Office or Corel/Photoshop update.

I'm going to buy the legal version, but the bad things are: - I can't buy it from Poland - Even if I could, I've no cash

I'm in Poland and I've bought it, been buying it (OD subscription) for nearly 6 years. It seems the latter (i.e. no cash) seems to be the problem for you. Even so, if you can afford a PC and net access in Poland (both rather expensive goods), 60PLN isn't exactly a huge amount of money.

I cant believe some of the comments on this forum. i d/l the crack version and yes it regularly crashed my explorer and eventually wouldnt start. Tough sh*t, thats my problem as it is your own problem if you installed the crack version. Dont get me wrong im always up for a freebie, wether it be a crack version, open source, freeware, shareware, blah blah. Unfortunately this software isnt and I can appreciate why. After an uninstall and thorough clean of registry all is okay now and as soon as the festive seasons over, i will be sure to purchase windowblinds 5.

hello- Hallo

I have the original windowblinds 5 and the pirated one... just to check some things

1. I tried installing that illegal software it worked fine...after I copied the shit in the xxx.xxx.xxx.folder and made the copy work with renaming some file you all know that dll

well restartet -worked fine- loaded up and automatically applied oneset of the themes...there was another vistaskin in the illegal Folder I used it and all worked check these skins all fine...

well after some days it broke like the others in this forum was saying (Black start bar) without (start button)and the computer seemed too hang for proper cpu speed...well this sucked

I uninstalled the illegal copy and tried removing those  registry Keys

well on my HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/stardock/windowblinds/there some Keys i cant delete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont know why but even in save mode I cant delete the folder wb5 with the wb5.ini in it and that standart key...they just wont let them remove (adminstrator) the same shit

I can know understand the other illegal Users cause they will have to reinstall their system to make it go away tried several programs to remove but they all failed...its surely not the crack that made this!

(ell Stardock explain this) ????

ok installed the trial again worked fine (windowblinds 5 public) but no glass support...maybee you guys could change that for the new users that are trying to experiment with the produkt... without that support the software is useless too buy

ok Now to my actually problem ...

uninstalled all that mess of Stardock and Warez to finally install my Legaly bought software BUT WHATS THAT AFTER THE INSTALL I HAD THE SAME FREAKING PROBLEM LIKE THE OTHERS ON THIS FORUM BLACK START BAR NO SKINNING AND AGAIN CPU SLOW MO SPEED

IM REALLY REALLY PISSED AT THIS POINT AND VERY MUCH CONFUSED

IM WRITING THIS CAUSE I ALLREADY FORMATED MY SYSTEM ABOUT 4$TIMES AND STILL THER SAME SH.....T cant get it back to work no way

I hope it didnt broke my graphicscard if it did I will write one smeeling message up to Stardock and wantREVENGE!!!!

somebody might help but stop buggin me with those illegal copy messages I have the correct version I paid per MASter card

The trial does support glass on the included skins to give people a taste of the feature.

If you are still having this problem with a purchased copy, please e-mail neil@stardock.com from the e-mail address you registered WB with and include the information from the System Information page in wbconfig.

Even so, if you can afford a PC and net access in Poland (both rather expensive goods), 60PLN isn't exactly a huge amount of money.

OK, and how old are you? I have finansial problems and that's normal, because of my age. I'm 13.

BTW, SkinStudio is developed in Poland.  Somehow Adam, the team leader, manages.