Updating to a new version of a theme.

from WinCustomize Forums

When i first tried WB years ago I remember my friend telling me to just unload and reload the skin to fix the problem.. here I am years later..having to do the same thing.


  I'd like to ask why when installing an updated version of a theme why I have to manually uninstall the old version?


As great as windowblinds is I find it particularly troublesome that when installing new themes and especially updates I have ( and i know many other folks also have ) so many problems.


Several times, even since ive updated to 5.5 and in previous versions WB has completely locked up my computer forcing restarts and sometimes double restarts.


 The FIRST thing that should work 100% correctly in WB is the abilty to seamlessly install new and updated themes and transition to them after applying.


Im to the point to where I dread adding new themes or testing updates from other skinners I know because I dont want my system locked up or acting weird.


As far as updated themes are concerned, WB should delete the existing themes and make the process hands free. As far as new themes are concerned.. they should just work.


Also.. while trying to delete the folder of an old version before the new one is installed sometimes the folder is undeleteable ( in use ) I believe this has something to do with installed fonts still being used. The only way to delete it is to swap to a different theme then go back, delete the folder and then install the new update...


not what i would call user friendly   


Im really tired of unloading, reloading, restarting, etc etc.. just to get a theme to apply like it should.


This may not be indicitive of everyones experience but i know several people who go through the same thing on a daily basis.


I like Stardock and their products but I think some things ( this being one of them ) in WB need to be addressed immediately.


The installation of new and updated themes should work without even thinking twice about it. Its particulary annoying to skinners as we do a lot more installing of themes and updates perhaps than the average user.


Hopefully something can be done.   


I have the latest version everything ,32bit XP running on a 3.4G Dual core, with a 512 vid card and 2G of Ram.. i know its not a system related issue.

1,904 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bump.. this is weird, there were several responses for since I posted it in Feb.. now.. their all gone.   
All of the issues still exist however.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have a feeling your post with replies was in a different group.

Overwriting themes is something we have addressed in WB 6.

Please note that it is best to apply a theme from WBConfig rather than SkinStudio.

As for deleting themes which have files in use, sorry but thats a Windows limitation.  Wbconfig in WB 5.5 will not allow you to delete the current in use skin anyway, so it should no longer show up as a problem.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Please note that it is best to apply a theme from WBConfig rather than SkinStudio


Ill try that. thanks.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Please note that it is best to apply a theme from WBConfig rather than SkinStudio.


Any chance the "reload current skin" option from the tray will return?


Neil, FYI, on 4 seperate occasions in the past 2 weeks I have had major crashes when applying a skin using Skinstudio.

1. The skin loads a half assed windows clasic looking mess. Flashes for a moment..tries to reload the skin...crash. Not a program crash. A PC crash. As hard as it gets. If I were to pull the power chord from the outlet, that would dupicate the intesity of the crash. NO exaggeration at all. As the PC reboots itself, it doesn't start properly and I do anothe reboot , then all is well.
The first couple of times I brushed it off but 4 times with identical actions being taken leads me to believe it is not my error and that something might be leaking.
I would guess to say I apply skins about a 100 times in between crashes before this happened.

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.5 (build 92 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
(Plug and Play Monitor) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT

Wblind.dll 2007/02/21 16:06:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/02/07 18:31:19
Wbconfig.exe 2007/02/15 14:35:52
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 18:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 17:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 22:29:06
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 19:26:49

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A PC crash. As hard as it gets. If I were to pull the power chord from the outlet, that would dupicate the intesity of the crash. NO exaggeration at all. As the PC reboots itself, it doesn't start properly and I do anothe reboot , then all is well.


Ditto. The dreaded triple-boot.   

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.5 (build 94 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS

Wblind.dll 2007/03/13 10:50:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/03/13 10:57:52
Wbconfig.exe 2007/03/13 10:16:17
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 17:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:07
Wbui.dll 2005/12/06 21:29:06
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 18:26:49