Window Blinds no longer loads Shareware version on XP Pro

from WinCustomize Forums
First I will let it be known that I was intending to purchase the full suit but I had been testing Window blinds for about 2 months now and last night when Explorer crashed on my PC my system went back to the "Clasic" mode and I could not get WB to load any of the skins I have loaded. Prior to that WB on my work PC went out and the same thing happened. Both systems are different. My home PC is a P4, Gigabyte MOBO, 2 Gig Corsar MEM, EVGA 6800GT and 2 WD SATA HD's. My work PC is a generic HP D530 with a ATI RADEON X300 series video card. Both PCs have had the video drivers updated (Nvidia Version: 81.98 and ATI 6.14.10.6542) and I can guarrentee that my Nvidia card supports everything WB needs to run. Since both PC's had WB working for over a month and nothing on either PC has changed in at least 2 weeks I am at a technical loss as to WB will not load anymore. I have tried removing and reinstalling to no avail. Like I said I intended to purchase window blinds and the whole 49.95 suit but it now looks like I will pass unless this can be resolved. I am a PC tech with 12 years experience so please dont patronize me or treat me like a novice. There is no reason why this happened like it did unless there is a time limit on shareware versions.

Work PC WB information
WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

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

WindowBlinds is installed correctly 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 X300 Series

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 12:01:54
Wbsrv.dll 2005/11/28 11:50:22
Wbconfig.exe 2005/11/28 15:45:06
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/26 18:09:46
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26
windowblinds
4,298 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As far as I know, there is a 60 day limit on the trial version.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The shareware version of WB5 has a 60 day trial limit.  The nag screen which appears has a countdown on it.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WindowBlinds 5 isn't $50 by itself. It's about $20.00 or less (if you have WB4). $50 would be the price for an ODNT subscription (Object Desktop Network Subscription). ODNT gives you WindowBlinds, IconPackager, DesktopX and a lot more programs (go to www.stardock.com and view all what's included with Object Desktop).
DD

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Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Eeeeuurrrghhhh,

I had shareware version with only 30 days on it. 2 dys left and WB 5 will not work properly. I get some horrible version of a windows classic theme. The skin chooser etc look fine yet when you click on 'apply' nothing happens. If you unload WB then re load it same thing happens, horrible windows classic. I am sad as I had 4.6(?) free version for ages and loved it. Why would it do this with 2 days left on trial?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It does suck that you lost two days of the trial. However, it's still a good time to buy the full version.

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Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I forgot to mention, my taskbar were o.k. and the start menu. I noticed it failing when firefox reverted to classic. Is this normal or is it sonthing up with my machine? Also, when I buy (and I will cos' xp style makes baby jesus cry) what if it does not work?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Stardock's refund policy: https://www.stardock.helpserve.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=356

It worked for the last 58 days, right? The full version will work as well or better. Make sure you uninstall first though. I've heard of issues if you don't.

Usually everthing reverts smoothly. Things do happen though. You can alwasy get help here or by creating a ticket with Stardock here: https://www.stardock.helpserve.com/index.php?_m=tickets&_a=submit

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Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Dude, it's not that I lost 2 days on the trial that worries me. It's that WB bunked out and failed. I need to know is this is normal or has somthing happened to my system that has made WB incompatible.

P.S. your store should take switch/solo
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What you described is very atypical.

I dig that any funkiness is a concern. But I wouldn't let it concern me too much. I'd take a chance and know that I have some recourse with a great company.

P.S. your store should take switch/solo


I would think if Stardock were going to take other paymetn types, PayPal would be a better choice. But if a credit card is an issue you can always go the paper route here: https://www.stardock.com/order.txt

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Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks fellow, will paypal in next few days and give it a bash. Thou hast filled me with confidence
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cool.

I'm not going to make any money out of the deal, but I would reccommend that you get the Object Desktop suite. You get a lot of other apps for a great price. And once you start skinning windows you want to get matching icons . . . and on and on

Linky: https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/

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Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sir Z is right.

Look at the programs listed. If you only want 3 or 4, the full set is the way to go. As for the glitch...if you go the package route and use SDC to install and keep track of updates...it can pay to set it to auto archive prior to installing the most recent...that way you can fall back if need be.