Skin Files Disappeared With 5.50.021 Install - Bug in Installer?

Message: Back Up Skins Before Updating!

from WinCustomize Forums
Cautionary note:

For some reason, the installation of 5.50.021 via SDC resulted in the deletion of all but the thumbs.db & .wb4 files from 3 of my skin folders: Airframe, Cyclops & Retro. I only noticed because I use animations & Toolbar Icons from those skins & they weren't showing up in WBConfig, even after rebuilding the skins list.

Fortunately, I had backed up my skins folders before the update & was able to restore them, but all three of these skins are still available for download in the WB Gallery, so I'm led to believe this was a bug in the WB installer. All my other skins were undisturbed.

SD staff - please take a look at this if you get a chance.
windowblinds
3,164 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Same here... same 3

Possibly in the addtional skins download also dated 02/22/2007

downloading/installing that folder now... dialup... gonna go make some coffe


(should be a + sign next to WB in SDC - open for the skins folder)
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would be nice if you could tell exactly 'which' skins are 'additional', wouldn't it? Not to mention that any previous versions of those skins would be deleted, whether you installed the 'new' additional skins or not?
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yeah - but the description seems might familiar

I won't know for a while - 34% complete
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
was at 42%

starting messing with some stuff... got in a hurry.... clicked too much stuff too fast...froze up... had to kill my computer...


I gotta start over..
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Highlight 'Additional Skins' -> Click 'History' -> 'Data not available'.

Description pane mentions no skin names.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yep
nope
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't you think we should have the option of downloading additional skins when installing a new version of WB? Most of them I just delete anyways.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Absolutely.

I'd just like to know which of my existing ones will be trashed if I happen not to install the 'Additional Skins'. I may have modified the ones I already have to suit my preferences and those modifications are lost with no opportunity to intervene (aside from keeping backups regularly).

Obviously, the WB installer has a routine in it to delete the old skin files for at least some skins, presumably because they expect they are going to be replaced. Seems that delete routine should be in the 'Additional skins' installer, not WB's installer. Otherwise, why have a separate install for the skins? If WB's installer is going to silently kill the old versions, might as well get the new versions from the gitgo. Not that that's the solution I would pick.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree as well. It takes twice as long updating because of downloading all those skin files, which usually go at 56k speeds, and then when it comes to actually getting the important files it jumps up to 100+ kb/s. I end up deleting the skins too, and then I don't even know what new ones were added.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I understand that the skins were split out as a separate download primarily for the benefit of those on dialup. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense is to then have the skin-delete routine in WB's installer - it should be part of the Additional Skins' installer.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't you think we should have the option of downloading additional skins when installing a new version of WB? Most of them I just delete anyways.


Agreed.