ObjectDock Randomly Shuts Down

from WinCustomize Forums
I bought ObjectDock Plus a couple of weeks ago (Version 1.90 Plus, Build 535u) and lately I find that it will stop working randomly. It works just fine for a while, and then it shuts down without warning. I'm using it as a taskbar and Start Menu replacement, so when it runs it hides the taskbar, but when it shuts down it doesn't show the taskbar as if it shut down normally. This is beginning to be very frustrating, so much so that I'm beginning to regret the $20 I spent on it. If there is anyone who might be able to suggest a reason as to why this might be happening, I would really appreciate the help.
objectdock
5,732 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think it's an ongoing issue, because it does that to me as well as other people. Sometimes it just vanishes, or "ObjectDock has encountered and error and needs to close" and then gives you an option to save the error log. It doesn't happen often though, but it usually happens when my machine is under a lot of stress (such as CS3).
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I noticed it happened a lot more when my antivirus was constantly running. When I closed the antivirus, it seemed to stabilize, but then today it did it again several times.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi to all.
I have got the same problems of "crashes" for my ObjectDock _Plus_, in my Windows Vista Ultimate environment. I've already posted the problem (july, 17) but no answers from author(s)....

ObjectDock looks like a good and useful product, but it's very unstable and I'm starting to think I wasted my money buying the Plus version....

I cannot keep restartiung it every 10 minutes... so very likely, in absence of any technical solution, I'll uninstall it and tell the world it's better to go to other software...

Sergio
(Italy)
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When I closed the antivirus, it seemed to stabilize, but then today it did it again several times.
End of quote


Has anyone tried removing the weather docklet and see if it helps? Maybe the weather updater and AV/Security isn't playing together nicely.Just guessing here. :)
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes, very frustrating. I was having the same problem on Windows XP, often several times a day. Finally, I deleted all my docks and stopped using it. But, I missed having all my favourite shortcuts and docklets, so I made a new tabbed dock this week and so far, it hasn't crashed at all. I have the weather docklet running and many other docklets and shortcuts are also available.

I don't know what the problem was before, but it appears that deleting the docks you are using now and making new ones, might fix the problem.

I haven't reloaded everything I had before, so maybe I had something on my docks before that was the cause of the problem. I'm just guessing, but maybe internet shortcuts could be the problem. I used to have about 10 of my favourite shortcuts on my old dock, that kept crashing, but now I don't have any and so far, I haven't had a single crash.

I do remember deleting all the available docklets before, but that didn't work, it kept crashing. Do you have any internet shortcuts on your docks? If so, maybe you could delete all of them and see if that fixes things up.

Cheers :D
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I have also this problem with Objectdock plus under windows xp sp2, I will remove all internet shortcut, and I will see if it crash again.

For internet shortcut maybe there's a rule to respect to add them for no crash, maybe....
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
This week I reformatted my PC and after reinstalling OD+, I to have OD+ random shutdown problems. Before it would never shutdown. It seems to happen when I minimize Firefox or a Windows Explorer window. One docklet I have been using is system tray. I have shut this down and am removing it to see if this helps.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe the weather updater and AV/Security isn't playing together nicely.Just guessing here.
End of quote

I noticed this crashing would occur more often when I had weather docklet running (at some point). I was under that same impression Wizard1956, but it has been know to happen other times too. It's a conundrum.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ObjectDock looks like a good and useful product, but it's very unstable and I'm starting to think I wasted my money buying the Plus version....
End of quote


I've been running OD+ for about 3 years now and have never once had an issue with it. I run 4 docks on my XP Machine with the weather docklet and stacks docklet. No problems. Anti-Virus always on too. I just recently installed it on my Vista harddrive and so far so good also.

I'm sort of surprised to see so many people with the same problem...CloneEmporer, have you tried Stardock Support?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm new to ObjectDock Plus - having installed on Vista 64 version and over the first week of operation have experienced multiple crashes "objectdock plus is shutting down...". Seems like it always crashes coming out of hiberation, however, has also crashed when running normally. I do not have any internet shortcuts but I am running weather. During regular operation it hasn't been a huge issue as my crashes seem more associated with hibernation. Any experinces from anyone in that regard?
Thanks
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I used to have this problem when I had my XP machine. I watched very closely to try to figure out why it was happening. What I discovered was that it crashed when my CPU was maxed out at 100%. It could be any programs running, and it did not happen all the time, but that's when it happened for me.

I now have a Vista machine and have not had a crash since....I have not been able to max out my CPU yet (and I've tried).  ;) 
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I came here with the same issue, seeking help.

I'm running Vista Ulimate 32 bit with OD+. My crashes USUALLY occur when I bring my system out of screen saver. I can't recall it ever crashing during other activities, even under intense CPU or memory loads.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have been having the same problems with OD crashing and having to be restarted. I initially thought I would try it out and see if it was worth purchasing, but this problem has been going on for so long now that I'm reluctant to purchase the program. I have the free version running on my Windows Vista Ultimate at home, and Windows Vista Ultimate on my laptop, and Windows XP Media Center on my office desktop computer. The XP rarely has issues, and usually only when I have too much going on. The laptop (with vista) rarely has issues. I am not sure I even remember it having any issues. However, the Vista desktop has problems at least once a day. I have not figured out any combination of things to make it run smoothly.

I have just updated the program. I was running an earlier build of 1.9, but now it's the latest ... I'll see what happens.