Where are the skins for WB v7?

I just extended my OD subscription, entirely to be able to get the WB 7 beta.  I have an old tablet PC, using an Intel 915GM chipset -- which does not support Aero.  I've been running WB 6 on this box under Vista since it came out and have been happy with the results.

This morning, I installed impulse and then installed WB 7, but when it runs, there are no skins to choose from.  So, I dowloaded one at random from the site, and installed it.  But, it did not show up in the skin list and when I checked Impuse again, it said that WB 6 was now also installed.  It also hosed up the display so that now, even Vista Basic doesn't show anymore.  So, I removed WB 6 -- only to see that it removed WB 7 as well.

So now, I've installed WB 7 again, but again, there are no skins.

I ordered this in to test it on my tablet PC, but can't do that if there are no skins available.  So, where do I find skins for WB 7?

18,292 views 34 replies
Reply #1 Top

open the windowblinds config panel > Look & Feel > Visual Styles > Skin Options > Rebuild List

Reply #2 Top

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=6902&libid=1

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=6549&libid=1

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=6688&libid=1

https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=6822&libid=1

All 4 of these are listed as compatable with Win7. Give the skinners some time,WB7 beta hasn't been out long.I'm sure many of the earlier works will be redone,along with a lot of fresh,new work. Patience ..........have some;) .

Reply #3 Top

Lantec:

Should have mentioned that there were no skins on the PC when I installed WB 7, so when I did the Rebuild List, there were no skins for it to find and add to the list. However, after I downloaded and installed a skin, and did the Rebuild List, it still did not show any skins.

 

Wizard1956:

Thanks for the links. 

So, does this mean that current skins (i.e., ones written for WB 6) are NOT compatible with WB 7?  That could explain why the one I downloaded and installed did not work.

Reply #4 Top

Stardocks Dragon works fine on my W7 rc1 64 bit, so doees Rock Angel which I am currently using, so does Rise of Mezzine Vista So does Clear Black 7. I have problems with older version of Vista WB 6 skins but not the newer ones. Remember to only try those designed for Vista only if using W-7 Rc1

Reply #5 Top

As far as I know,there is no need or reason to use WB7 on Vista. The beta is out there for those running the  Windows7 RC. I'm on Vista so I'm not trying WB7 until the improvments are in place for my OS.  There is a lot yet  to come for WindowBlinds7,I'm looking forward to it.  

Reply #6 Top

Thanks for the help folks, but basically, NOTHING WORKS!

I've downloaded the WB 7 skins from the links, installed them all, and the results I get are as follows:

1) Skins show up as "unknown" in the config panel

2) Selecting a skin shows nothing in the view panel

3) Installing the skin relegates me to Windows Classic -- with no visual effects. Plus after than, the functions in the config panel don't seem to work anymore. Selecting a skin, choosing apply accomplishes nothing. Deleting the skins accomplishes nothing.

4) This also installs WB 6. Uninstalling WB 6 also uninstalls WB 7 and reverts me back to Seven Basic.

So basically, nothing works.

Reply #7 Top

As far as I know,there is no need or reason to use WB7 on Vista. The beta is out there for those running the Windows7 RC. I'm on Vista so I'm not trying WB7 until the improvments are in place for my OS. There is a
End of quote

You're wrong, some of the new features also affect Vista skinning, adding new skinnable parts and extra setting for existing sections, you should try WB7 Beta if this is the only thing holding you :)

You can also check this guide for tips to add new Win7 skinnable parts: http://danillooc.deviantart.com/art/WindowBlinds-7-new-code-Win7-130442094

Reply #8 Top

Mark, WB should have installed skins with the program. If skins were installed, you should be able to find them here:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\Stardock\WindowBlinds

 

Did you install WB7 through Impulse? If not, then that may be your problem.

Reply #9 Top

Mark Phelps when you have uninstall and reinstalled WB 7 are you rebooting?  Prior to rebooting are you running some sort of clean up program like CCleaner?  The reason I ask this is if the original download was bad for some reason just ininstalling and reinstalling won't get rid of everything so that you get a new clean installl.  If you did that then I apologize for bringing it up.

If your tablet was able to run Vista and WB 6 then it should be able to run WB 7.

If you would please go into WB configuration and copy and paste the System Info here.  It will help to see that to determine if you are not getting a good download.

Also, have you emailed [email protected] and started a ticket yet?

Reply #10 Top

Mirsguy:

Skins are in the folder you mentioned -- including the Windows 7 ones I downloaded from the links.

I've installed WB 7 through Impulse (didn't know there was any other way) five times now.

Philly0381:

Rebooting every time. Not running a registry clean program -- and not going to.  Have seen too many cases where the OS is rendered unusable afterward.

Noticed that again, Impulse installed BOTH WB 6 and WB 7 even though I asked it to install only WB 7, and as I have said, removing WB 6 automatically removes WB 7.

System Info (from WB):

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 1
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 1

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.0 (build 188 - Windows 7 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         2009/07/20 14:14:20
Wbsrv.dll         2009/06/25 11:39:33
Wbconfig.exe         2009/07/14 12:54:26
Wbload.exe         2009/06/02 14:39:14
Wbhelp.dll         2009/05/14 14:39:07
Tray.dll              2009/05/14 14:39:21
Wbload.dll              2009/03/17 09:36:29
Screen.exe         2009/07/14 12:55:09

 

Reply #11 Top

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 1
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 1
End of quote

aha! Experience scores can limit what Windowblinds believes it can do so try running the "Update my score" link

Control Panel > Performance > Upgrade my score

 

Reply #12 Top

I agree with Lantec, there was another community member that thier experience score was 1 recenty, updating it correted thier problems.  Most of the times it's the simple things.

On running a clean up program, lots of times some links remain around.  I do run a registry clean up also and have not had any problems.  Most allow you to do a back up first.

Reply #13 Top

aha! Experience scores can limit what Windowblinds believes it can do so try running the "Update my score" link
End of quote

Yup. I agree.

Reply #14 Top

Refreshed my Windows Experience Index.  In Seven, the path is Control Panel --> Performance Information and Tools --> Re-run the assessment. Got the same scores as before, as follows:

- Processor: 3.3

- Memory (RAM): 4.4

- Graphiucs: 1.9

- Gaming graphics: 1.0

- Primary hard disk: 5.4

Base score is 1.0.  As I said already, this chipset does NOT support AERO.

And, before anyone asks, yes, I am running the very latest Windows 7 video drivers for this chipset.

This is very disappointing. The low performance index in Vista did not prevent WB from working.

Given this is a tablet PC, I have no way to upgrade the video processor. If you're telling me I have to be able to run Aero to run WB in Seven, that should have been pointed out as a system requirement before I bought a subscription and paid my money.

Reply #16 Top

Your problem is unrelated to the score of 1.0.  Obviously with such a score you will not get semi transparency effects, but WB itself should run fine.

For some reason WB cannot see the skins.  Did you alter the installation directory?

Reply #17 Top

Quoting Neil, reply 16
Your problem is unrelated to the score of 1.0.  Obviously with such a score you will not get semi transparency effects, but WB itself should run fine.
End of Neil's quote

That was my presumption as well ... but replies from others indicated that the low score was the problem.

For some reason WB cannot see the skins.  Did you alter the installation directory?
End of quote

Interesting question ... When I first installed WB, I got a popup about the skins being moved to the directory mentioned above -- where they now reside.  But no, I didn't alter any directories from their defaults. When I downloaded the WB 7 skins, they got installed to that same new directory.

Another strange thing is that WB "partially" sees the skins, that is, if I click one of the "unknown" entries in the config panel, it will provide the name of the skin with some pulldown options.  So, WB does apparently know the skin exists.  But yet, it doesn't display anything in the preview part of the config panel, and the menu entries don't work right after I install WB.

One other complication I just thought about.  Vista is installed on this machine as well.  I'm guessing that what Impulse is doing when I install WB 7 is detecting the WB 6 files in the Vista partition, installing them in Seven, and installing WB 6 to handle those files.  Which would be OK if it would then allow me to remove only WB 6 and the related wba directories and files -- but it won't.  When I remove WB 6, it removes WB 7 as well.

Reply #18 Top

I'm going to take a guess here, maybe totally wrong, have you turned off some services in the OS that maybe needed?

Reply #19 Top

Nope -- not turned off any services.

OK, if there's no apparent "fix" for this, what do I have to do to open a trouble ticket with the support folks?

Reply #21 Top

Quoting Mark, reply 19
Nope -- not turned off any services.

OK, if there's no apparent "fix" for this, what do I have to do to open a trouble ticket with the support folks?
End of Mark's quote

E-mail them at [email protected].

Reply #22 Top

You may already have, but if not try this......uninstall Windowblinds > reboot > turn off any anti-virus/anti-spyware & firewall > reinstall via Impulse > reboot > make sure to turn security software back on........

 

Reply #23 Top

You may already have, but if not try this......uninstall Windowblinds > reboot > turn off any anti-virus/anti-spyware & firewall > reinstall via Impulse > reboot > make sure to turn security software back on........

End of quote

Good idear! :thumbsup:

Reply #24 Top

OK, folks.  I'm going to do two things ...

First, i'm going to (temporarily) remove the WB 6 stuff from the shared volume and wipe out the contents of the local folder. Then, I'm going to reinstall Impulse and WB 7 (this time, without any WB 6 skins) and see what happens.

Second, if that fails (and I suspect it will), then I'll reinstall a second time with AV and Firewall disabled.

Will post results of both here.

Reply #25 Top

Vista is installed on this machine as well. I'm guessing that what Impulse is doing when I install WB 7 is detecting the WB 6 files in the Vista partition, installing them in Seven, and installing WB 6 to handle those files.
End of quote

Er...you have Vista AND Windows 7 on the one drive....[in different partitions]...but 'think' one install [of Windowblinds] may be confusing the other?  Do you KNOW for sure which partition and file system and 'my documents', etc you're actually dealing with?

When 2 operating systems are 'visible' to each other you can have all sorts of fun....as you seem to be noticing...;)