WindowBlinds won't apply skins

from Stardock Forums
I purchased the Object Desktop suite earlier today and have been wrestling for the past three hours or so with WindowBlinds5. When I apply a skin, it says "Please Wait", then changes the colors of the toolbar/wallpaper/browser/etc . . but doesn't actually skin it. Something else I've noticed, even with WB5 turned off, upon rebooting the computer reverts back to the default Windows XP theme when I try to apply another theme (such as the Windows classic).

   The machine is a 3 day old Dell XPS-400 with a Pentium D 3.0ghz, 256mb nVidia 6800, 1 gig RAM, and running XP Media Center. Thanks!


 


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.


(Dell 1907FP(Digital)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6800  


Wblind.dll      2005/08/02 11:58:00
Wbsrv.dll      2006/02/05 12:58:22
Wbconfig.exe      2006/03/19 14:33:44
Wbload.exe      2005/02/23 17:09:00
Wbhelp.dll      2004/07/30 11:29:52
Wbui.dll      2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll      2005/11/02 13:28:26
windowblinds
4,491 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Wblind.dll 2005/08/02 11:58:00
Wbsrv.dll 2006/02/05 12:58:22
Wbconfig.exe 2006/03/19 14:33:44
Wbload.exe 2005/02/23 17:09:00
Wbhelp.dll 2004/07/30 11:29:52
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26

You might try completely uninstalling this version of WB5 > rebooting > removing any leftover files from that version > install the current WB 5.01 via Stardock Central.

The files above are not correct for the current version of WB5.01.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

   Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately . . nothin' doin'. I'm still having the problem with the default theme coming back -- actually, more precisely . . the taskbar and start menu. When I try to apply a skin in WB5, it changes the taskbar and start menu to the Windows classic style; however, when I reboot, it's back to the XP style taskbar (start menu itself stays classic). Note also that this occurs even when using the included Microsoft themes. It's leaving the sounds and wallpaper and icons, but nothing else.


   Also, having a devil of a time deleting "wbhelp.dll". I had a problem with "wbsrv.dll", but eventually figured out which process to end to free it up. "wbhelp.dll" just says it's in use. I really hate having this much problem getting two things that I just bought to work together! It's very discouraging when it comes time to pay the bill for the puter . . . Thanks again!
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The file dates look like a mix of WB 4.6 and WB 5.01 which would explain why it does not work.

If the default XP UI appears everytime you boot even if you set it to classic from display properties then something on your PC is reapplying that theme on bootup.  Do you have any other theme related apps on your PC?

I would try applying Classic, then Windows XP style and then Classic again and see if that stops it.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the help. After not being able to remove all the files, I decided to wipe the drive clean and start over. Works like a charm now. I can't figure what was causing the problems, like I say, the computer is very new and hadn't had much done since it was received. So long as it works, though. Thanks again!