WB5 hangs when I apply skin

WB5 refuses to skin anything and hangs

from WinCustomize Forums

WB5 launches and looks ok, but when I select a skin and "apply changes" it goes blank and changes my gui to a Windows classic theme. When I close it I get the "this program is not responding" box.

I've been a user of Window Blinds since version one and this is the first problem in years.

XP pro sp2

Athlon64 3700+

1gb RAM

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 9200 SERIES

Wblind.dll 2006/03/21 13:33:46
Wbsrv.dll 2006/02/05 12:58:22
Wbconfig.exe 2006/03/19 14:33:44
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 17:54:12
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26
windowblinds
4,102 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since you show as a subscriber, not current customer... I'm guessing your 60 days are up...the trial version now actually expires.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sir Bichur: A trial copy would not have the WindowBlinds appears to be activated line.

Have you tried changing the skin to the Windows XP style via display properties & then back to classic & then tried using WB?

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sir Bichur: A trial copy would not have the WindowBlinds appears to be activated line.


You know, as many times as I have read that line... I kept reading 'activate' as in up and running.

Filed for future reference.

Thanks for the info Neil.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the help. I tried using an earlier ATI driver which I had previously used with no problems w/ this card. Also, I uninstalled the beta and installed WB 5.01. This seems to be some improvement, however, often WB doesn't load at startup, and I have to apply the skin twice to get it to skin everything. I've had this problem fairly regularly with several skins, so it's apparently not the skin. In addition, other users on this computer (home) can't access WB. I get the "access denied" window. They all have admin privileges.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
did you install as a stand a lone or via SDC (StarDock Central) browser?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
via SDC- here's an update: disabled simple file sharing and manually gave permissions. This works so far. WB loaded at startup this evening, no problems skinning. I'm glad I found a solution but I'm still puzzled, as I've never had to go this route before w/ WB. I'll post again if the startup problem returns. Would be interested in any insight on either issue.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've seen posts off and on about users unable to access/apply WB - generally the fix is as you did - disable simple file sharing and give permission.  Haven't seen a definitive reason as to why it would become necessary to 'fix' it.

The permissions text in the WB folder says even limited users should be able to acces and apply WB.

Do you still have issues changing skins?  I'm wondering if maybe the permissions issue was affecting the rest - if it 'glitched' then maybe instead of a flat denial via 'access denied' it resorted to "uhhh, I don't think so"?

Pictoratus did a survey regarding drivers when WB5 came out.  Listed a bunch of them with some driver versions and issues if any - this is the article where he was collecting info: https://forums.wincustomize.com/?ForumID=167&AID=96587#808256 unfortunately the compiled list (link in #51) is unavailable at the moment.

All I can remember is that some drivers needed the most current version, others needed a rollback.