Startup Menu not changing transparecy using WindowBlinds..

from Stardock Forums
Hi,

Can somebody please tell me why the Startup Menu is'nt changing the transparency at all using WindowBlinds whereas it does it for Taskbar, etc,etc,..
windowblinds
11,940 views 27 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What skin?
What OS?
What version of WB? Build?
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
What Skin >> Does'nt work with ANY SKIN, i.e Startup Menu is still completley OPAQUE GREY despite setting the Transparency Control & Blur to MOST TRANSPARENT

What OS ? >> Vista Business

What version of WB ? Find below System Info.

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.01 (build 57 x86 - Vista Edition) - Shareware

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2007/11/06 10:11:32
Wbsrv.dll 2007/09/24 14:57:48
Wbconfig.exe 2007/11/02 14:31:08
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Wbload.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:28
Screen.exe 2007/11/02 11:47:39


Build ? >> Not Sure !
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you are using the trial, only the skins that came with WB will work with transparency and blur.
Your file dates look fine though.  I did notice that your Index and graphics score are missing.  Can you repost those.

Please load up Diamond and post a screenshot of your start menu open. (You can post to imageshack.us and link back to here.)

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
ok - i've done a complete a fresh install of Vista to get rid of previous bugs.

I'm not seeing any Transparency changes to TaskBar & Startup Menu at all !!

I suspect this is due to not applying AERO style (correct me if i'm wrong), next qtn., where do i download AERO style 'coz i can't see it my system ?!

Below snapshot of Diamond style
http://img142.imageshack.us/content.php?page=done&l=img142/7716/startupmenusnapshotuu7.jpg

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Aero is not something you download.  Aero is there and is applied if your system can support it.

What is you Windows Experience score?  It was not displayed in your system info.

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is
End of quote
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok - i've done a complete a fresh install of Vista to get rid of previous bugs.
End of quote


which means you should also have a fresh install of WB.

post the wb system info again

this time use the 'copy text' button so everything will show up

or post a screen shot of the wb system info
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
WEI is showing a Rating of 1. (http://imgshuck.com/images/fsnr.jpg)

How can i UNINSTALL & RE-INSTALL Drivers/Utilities CD 'coz the 1st time it gave me a message that system was updating the drivers during REBOOT.

The 2nd time there was no such message..

Note: My laptop is brand new & CDs look pretty genuine.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi everybody,

I'm having the exact same issue!

I'm getting transparency and everything is working GREAT in WinXP. But this annoying issue is just with Vista.

Why is this 100% bound to the vista scoreboard? I know this is working since it working on XP. There must be some reg hack to force this over the vista score.

I'm getting like 0.1 points from using it i think.

My machine:
HP NC4200 2 GB RAM
Pentium M 1.87 GHZ
"WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.01 (build 57 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2007/11/06 10:11:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/09/24 14:57:26
Wbconfig.exe 2007/11/02 14:30:08
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Wbload.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:28
Screen.exe 2007/11/02 10:52:51"

Kind regards
Fredrik W
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Firstly, successfully installed Drivers/Utilities from CD & i'm now getting a WEI 3.5 (see snapshot on http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=weidi1.jpg )

Secondly,graphic card is now showing some specs., and i have applied Vista Aero
(see snapshot on http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=graphiccardspecsqb6.jpg )

Thirdly, Windows Blind shows (+) System Specs. (see snapshot on
http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wbspecscp2.jpg)

Unfortunately, transparency has still NOT changed for STARTUP MENU, whereas it has changed for TaskBar, etc,etc ?!

Mave
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi everybody,

I'm having the exact same issue!

I'm getting transparency and everything is working GREAT in WinXP. But this annoying issue is just with Vista.

Why is this 100% bound to the vista scoreboard? I know this is working since it working on XP. There must be some reg hack to force this over the vista score.

I'm getting like 0.1 points from using it i think.

My machine:
HP NC4200 2 GB RAM
Pentium M 1.87 GHZ
"WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.01 (build 57 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll 2007/11/06 10:11:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/09/24 14:57:26
Wbconfig.exe 2007/11/02 14:30:08
Wbload.exe 2007/09/27 15:42:44
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/11 14:06:07
Tray.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:21
Wbload.dll 2007/09/12 17:58:28
Screen.exe 2007/11/02 10:52:51"

Kind regards
Fredrik W
End of quote


Hi Fredrick,

Have a look @ this link on a tutorial:

https://forums.joeuser.com/index.aspx?forumid=157&aid=78608

Let me know how you get on, maybe we can share our experiences ?!

Mave

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi Mave,

The link you provided me was for making a start menu?
I don't see how that applies to us?

Kind regards
Fredrik W
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Sorry Fredrick.

Can an official from STARDOCK pls. kindly comment on this issue ?

Firstly, successfully installed Drivers/Utilities from CD & i'm now getting a WEI 3.5 (see snapshot on http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=weidi1.jpg )

Secondly,graphic card is now showing some specs., and i have applied Vista Aero
(see snapshot on http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=graphiccardspecsqb6.jpg )

Thirdly, Windows Blind shows (+) System Specs. (see snapshot on
http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=wbspecscp2.jpg)

Unfortunately, transparency has still NOT changed for STARTUP MENU, whereas it has changed for TaskBar, etc,etc ?!

Mave
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe you should buy the programs first and then get tech support to help you out a bit.
Seems you are a visitor and you are not using the professional version software. With the professional version software ; your problem will be easily resolved!

SGT
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

TDLANG: You will need to apply the Vista Start Menu. Right click the taskbar and go to Properties. Click the Start Menu tab and choose the Start Menu option.

WindowBlinds is unable to customize the Classic Start Menu due to the nature in which it's drawn by the system.

frewys: Are you also using the Classic Start menu?

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You will need to apply the Vista Start Menu. Right click the taskbar and go to Properties. Click the Start Menu tab and choose the Start Menu option.

WindowBlinds is unable to customize the Classic Start Menu due to the nature in which it's drawn by the system.
End of quote


Zubaz has learned something new (or at least been reminded)
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ya know . . looking back, the image in post #5 should have given the whole thing away much earlier.  I missed it.  Should have been in-line or at leaset a hyperlink.  I blame this miss on me being lazy.
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi again,

I am using the "new" vista startmenu so not because of the classic for me.

I have found some pages on hacking the Windows Experience Index. I have removed it so i will have to get it back to see if it will work.

Here is a hacking page:
http://www.petri.co.il/artificially_raise_wei.htm

Kind regards:
Fredrik W
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hacking one part of Vista can have effects otherwise
Artificially raising your WEI can also cause you issues

Your problems with Windowblinds may not be Windowblinds problem. 
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Increasing your WEI score will not help with enabling WB per pixel.

Either your hardware has WDDM drivers or it does not.  Without WDDM drivers WindowBlinds will not do per pixel on Vista.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

TDLANG: You will need to apply the Vista Start Menu. Right click the taskbar and go to Properties. Click the Start Menu tab and choose the Start Menu option.


WindowBlinds is unable to customize the Classic Start Menu due to the nature in which it's drawn by the system.


frewys: Are you also using the Classic Start menu?


-Mike
[Stardock Support]


End of quote


THANKS !!
Assuming the same principle applies to Windows XP ?!

Mave
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Increasing your WEI score will not help with enabling WB per pixel.


Either your hardware has WDDM drivers or it does not.  Without WDDM drivers WindowBlinds will not do per pixel on Vista.

End of quote


Ok thanks Neil for the heads up.

I know there is a issue with Vista. But I thought you would have gotten around that on Stardock.

I have a 915GMA wich is a known card that does actually fully work with Vista Aero glass. The ONLY thing holding this back is Intel that are lazy getting there WDDM Drivers out. So its JUST a drivers issue.

So if i could go round this I will have a working Windowblinds WITH per pixel on my perfectly working card! Wich is kinda the reason i bought WB in the first place.

Kind regards
Fredrik W

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm currently using Diamond style & looks quite AWESOME !

Can somebody pls. tell me how i can change the Startup Button on the extreme left hand side in the corner to replace with Vista Button (Vista Aero style) ?!

Mave
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

frewys: I think it is unlikely intel will ever release any WDDM drivers for your graphics hardware.  They would rather sell you newer hardware.

TDLANG: You will need to edit the skin in SkinStudio.