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WindowBlinds 5 BETA released

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WindowBlinds 5 BETA released

Bring Glass to Windows XP

from WinCustomize Forums

Stardock has released the first BETA of WindowBlinds 5.  WindowBlinds is a program that can completely alter the look and feel of the Windows GUI.  It does so by applying visual styles (skins) to your title bars, push buttons, Start bar, borders, etc.

The most anticipated new feature of WindowBlinds 5 is its ability to deliver glass effects to Windows XP user.  Technically speaking, WindowBlinds can do full alpha blended user interfaces now, that means that skins can have a variable level of transparency.  Numerous new features have been added to allow skinners to do reflective effects, shadows, smooth edges and more to their WindowBlinds skins.

WindowBlinds 5 also eliminates any dedicated processes to it.  When running WindowBlinds 5, no additional processes are needed anymore, it runs as part of the system.  WindowBlinds 5 BETA currently requires Windows XP (32-bit edition).  A 64-bit edition will be available with beta 2.  It should run on any reasonably modern video card. 

WindowBlinds 5 is currently only available on Object Desktop.  To get Object Desktop visit: www.objectdesktop.com.

Preview Guide

Beta 1 Readme

56,696 views 128 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Neil B & Mackintosh, Thx ...I see the (delete button) in the display centered ON the skin itself!! I just knew it had to be somewhere!! There are 4 selections including 'Apply This Skin Now'. Very clever design!


See George,

I told you.. I'm an idiot. Lol

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Look closely in the preview window, right above "Apply this skin now"

Just goes to show... I'm not used to looking there because that is the preview window. Very clever, but I don't think it's very consistant. Some settings are outside the preview and some are in it.
And as this has proved I'm not the only stupid one who missed it
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is great. I realize this is a beta so problems are to be expected. I find on my computer, I have to give wbload.exe and wbconfig.exe an exception to not be skined or I cannot read some of the options. I have a Nvidia 5900 on a sp2 machine.
Reply #79 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well i went back to useing WB4.6 and it's working great, cos we don't seem to be getting any help from stardock on how to right the wrongs on Windowblinds 5 (will have to wait i suppose)

only half a star for this one!!!!!!
Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No problems here whatsoever...unloaded WB 4.6, set to default XP theme, installed WB5 Beta, reboot, apply Aura skin...beautiful!

Just FYI:
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
3.20 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
ATI FireGL V3100 [Display adapter]
ATI FireGL V3100 Secondary [Display adapter]
ViewSonic E90f-2 [Monitor]
All XP fixes to-date applied
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Very Happy to report that it works flawlessly so far on my Dell D610 laptop
Pentium-M
1.60 GHZ
512 MB RAM

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Dell P1230) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family

'Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'LapLink Mirror Driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV3', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow! I couldn't edit my last comment after only 5 minutes....

I forgot to report...My laptop runs measurably faster now...I used to have to run windows XP style most of the time because Windowblinds/Dell would clock my CPU down to 797 MHZ...With this new WB5 it runs GREAT and FAST!!
Reply #84 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Upgarded to v5 and all is well so far. Ive tried the new Stealth os and Capice skins and both work fine. All my pre-WB5 skins work fine also. here is my WB troubleshooting report.
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

I still have one question. Im showing two installations of WB4.90a(b).002 in SDC. Is this normal. Do I need to delete one of them? The first one is showing a new(?) update available 4.60.048 which doesn't make any sense.
Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Monitor Plug and Play) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller

'Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver

Right click the desktop and select "Properties" caused the same "RunDll32.exe" error.

Themes "Arrow", "Aura" etc... excellent.
Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Alberto's XP SP2 is Italian (post #62), my XP is Portuguese-Brazil and we're having the same RunDll32.exe error...

Was WB5 tested on a non English XP?

By the way, I tested WB 4.90a[b].002.
Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Not to sound like a jerk, but I paid for OD and you will too if you want it's benefits.


Nope.
Reply #90 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Laoran,

Not all owners of ATI cards are having problems; my system runs great (Radeon 9700 128mb)
My only issues revolve around msstyles not showing up on the WB selector. My workaround is to apply via Skinstudio. I'm sure the Stardock team will fix this eventually.

If interested, I'll trade my 9700 for your ATI X850XT Platium Edition
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have a Radeon 9700 Pro on a GA-8PE667 Ultra.

I get a crash from loginuiX.exe upon boot, and upon shutdown, skins get applied with alpha working.

Processes launched with rundll32.exe crash.

Have Catalyst 5.9 (latest) installed, version with the .NET Control Center.

loginguiX.exe crashes remind me of some crashes I had a bit over a year ago, which if I remember correctly were caused due to ATI Catalyst, the Control Center and the .NET Framework, I think I had a beta of some .NET Framework version, or a developer version, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with .NET.

I will now download the non-controlcenter version of the catalyst and then reinstall WB5Beta to test.

well, let me tell you that it did not fix the problem. but I had the chance to take a look at the 5imple skin again, NICE! Can't wait till it works!

ps: using 2 monitors.
ps2: that "...m Files\Stardock\SDCentral\installed\WB5.xml 0 (file not foun..." error also came on my machine.
Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
On my work machine, WB5 seems to work just fine. Except there are some oddities like my cursors seems to go behind the parts of skins that are using per-pixel transparencies. Also, windows no longer roll up, I have the right-click button set to always roll-up/down the window and that no longer seems to work.

Specs (that matter):
P4 3GHz 2GB RAM
ATI Radeon X300 Dual-Monitors @ 1600X1200
XP Pro SP2
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Only bad behaviour I have. In explorer, Arrow installed, the content of the window is not linked to the border of the frame. So when I drag the window, the border stays still and the content moves !!!



WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Écran par défaut) 1 is attached to RADEON X300/X550 Series

'RADEON X300/X550 Series Secondary' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report, especially anything related to per-pixel skinning. We don't know what's in that Dell you bought last July or the notebook the office gave you. Per-pixel skinning requires your drivers to at least claim to support the functions needed for it.
Reply #95 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Installation went very well, no errors, rebooted. But not any possibility to apply a skin. Can click what i want to, but nothing happens. Uninstalled it, rebooted, installed it again, but it doesnt't work. Here the report:

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:


WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.

Video Information

You have one monitor in total.

(Plug en Play-monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro (Microsoft Corporation)

'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.

'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WB5 runs well here on my VAIO (Geforce 420 to go), with the exception of the rather unusual logonui.exe error.

LogoniuX.exe Application error.
The instruction at "0x00000000" referenced at"0x00000000" The memory could not be read. Click ok to terminate the program. Click cancel to debug the program.

Congratulations to the developpers for the great new preview option in wbconfig I love the fact that I am now able to see the startmenu in the preview. I also found that wbconfig loads much faster and seems to be much more responsive. What a big improvement!

However, I would love to see an option to put wbconfig back in the system tray. I used the 'reload current skin' and the 'edit current skin' options so many times I, really miss them!
Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Booooo. No Win2k support

Has anyone tried running this on a Win2k box yet? What happens if you do?
- No change, looks the same as 4.6?
- Skins look funky?
- WB5 crashes?
- Loss of skins?
- BSOD?
- Win2k gets screwed up and needs to be reinstalled?
- PC punches you in the head before catching fire?

You know, a lot of us still run Win2k, even though we have upgraded or new hardware (and 49% of all business PC's still run Win2k)...

I ask because I forsee that many/most/all of the upcoming skins will or might require WB5 and those of with Win2k might have to upgrade to be able to use them.
Reply #99 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have a Radeon 9700 Pro on a GA-8PE667 Ultra.

I get a crash from loginuiX.exe upon boot, and upon shutdown, skins get applied with alpha working.

Processes launched with rundll32.exe crash.

Have Catalyst 5.9 (latest) installed, version with the .NET Control Center.

loginguiX.exe crashes remind me of some crashes I had a bit over a year ago, which if I remember correctly were caused due to ATI Catalyst, the Control Center and the .NET Framework, I think I had a beta of some .NET Framework version, or a developer version, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with .NET.

I will now download the non-controlcenter version of the catalyst and then reinstall WB5Beta to test.


well, let me tell you that it did not fix the problem. but I had the chance to take a look at the 5imple skin again, NICE! Can't wait till it works!

ps: using 2 monitors.
ps2: that "...m Files\Stardock\SDCentral\installed\WB5.xml 0 (file not foun..." error also came on my machine.

Windows XP Pro German
Reply #100 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is no Win2K support for transparency effects. Sorry.