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WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1B released

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WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1B released

Lots of fixes and tuning

from WinCustomize Forums

WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1B was released today. It is a major update and improvement over yesterday's beta and should clear up most of the issues for those users who ran into problems.  But it's more than just a bug fix, additional performance improvements have been put in as well. 

Users of WindowBlinds 5 have also reported that it is significantly faster than WindowBlinds 4.6 (which in itself was already very fast).  That's because WindowBlinds 5's engine has been further optimized for drawing and resizing and taking advantage of the latest video cards.

A few notes about WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1b (4.90b):

  1. We don't recommend using it with WindowFX yet.  We have a new WindowFX about to go up that has been optimized to work with WindowBlinds 5.
  2. Skin changing should be faster.
  3. Right-Click on title bar override to make it roll up the window has been added for Alpha-Blended title bars.
  4. RunDLL32 issue resolved.
  5. WinZip issue resolved.
  6. Min/Max settings respect settings.
  7. WB Config now has support for helping those with ATI 9000 that have corrupted mouse buttons.
  8. Corruption with Kol's WinVista skin has been resolved.
  9. Taskbar corruption (graphical) issues should be fixed.
  10. LogonStudio compatibility issue resolved.

All in all, a busy day for the WindowBlinds team.  You need to have Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com) in order to get access to the beta. 

69,264 views 153 replies
Reply #101 from WinCustomize Forums Top

j dott: It sounds like you have the first beta installed.  The winzip extraction problem was specifically fixed in the 4.9 beta 1b build.

Reply #102 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Drakkner: Only enable the option for corrupt titlebars if you have that problem!
Regarding the unskinned apps, are you sure you didn't have ctrl pressed when they loaded?


Regarding the corrupt titlebars, I just tried once in order to see if it could solve my problem, too, but currently and at the time I submitted the problems, I had not that option enabled.
Well except for the task manager, I'm quite sure that while loading the other applications I haven't pressed any the ctrl key; I'll see if I am able to replicate the problem and then I'll report here .
Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #104 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, I set a restore point and updated!!! So far so good. It said it was installed correctly and my computer supports pixel by pixel. I love the way the skins are grouped into categories. Also the preview that shows my actual desktop with the skin. A very nice update, indeed. I am using the 5imple Alpha skin and it looks great. Thanks!! Smile!
Reply #105 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When double clicking on a downloaded wba, the balloon comes up in the sys tray, but clicking on it does not load the skin.

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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 #106 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well for me "Aura" skin is fantastic But is there a chance that you can make the same in black?? Please Mike

Great work guy's

don't seem to have many problems HERE!!
Reply #107 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am loving this new version. I did want to let you know that if I open the start menu while I have a web page up, the web page is behind and slighltly around the outside of the start menu next time I use it with just my desktop showing. Kind of looks like a frame around it, but behind it. It can bee seen through the start menu as well.

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(KDS Visual Sensations XF-70/XF-7e/XF-7p/XF-7i) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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 #109 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ignore the error about being unable to archive on the initial install (or just untick the box to auto-archive). As it's never been installed before, it's confused.
Reply #110 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And the skin not applying when you click the tooltip is a known issue.
Reply #111 from WinCustomize Forums Top
here is my trouble report:

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV- HLP- UI+

WindowBlinds is not installed correctly on this PC. If you did not reboot after installing WindowBlinds 5 for the first time, then please reboot and try this again.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine does not support per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

This is because :

Your computer graphics hardware does not support acceleration of per pixel alpha. WindowBlinds requires this for per pixel alphablended borders as without it performance would be poor. Please see if you can obtain new drivers for your graphics hardware. Recent ATI & NVIDIA boards should support this feature. Onboard graphics tend not to.

You have 2 monitors.

(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 1 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 2 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
'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.

got it with the new c-Update. hope it helps
Reply #112 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You are missing 2 key WB files.  WindowBlinds is not going to run without them. 

Please try reinstalling WB.

Your lack of perpixel alpha is normal for the G450 though.  They don't support it and never will do.

Reply #113 from WinCustomize Forums Top
updated to WB 490c(b) and it messed up but when i uninstalled it first and reinstalled it it worked ok but still have the goast tabbs on task bar dose anyone have the same problem????
Reply #114 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey Neil,

Great work as always. Is there a plan to emulate the blur that vista does on titlebars and borders as well as the transparency?

sos
Reply #115 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Robbie_Boy,

Yeah, I tried it but it nuked my firewall

Gonna try a clean install...brb.

UPDATE:

Ahhh..now it works again =D

Tip for people trying to get the thin fonts look good
in Vista and Arrow skins;

Right-click on desktop and chose Properties.

Go to Appearance tab and click Effects button.

Check the "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:"
and chose Clear Type.

Yeah, I know it's usually best to go with Standard on CRT monitors but
with these two skins the thin fonts get a lot more readable with Clear Type
Reply #116 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is awesome; my problems from the first beta are gone now. I love it! Awesome!
Reply #117 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FWIW, build c doesn't resolve my issue (post 83) re other users being able to use WB.
Reply #118 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tip for people trying to get the thin fonts look good
in Vista and Arrow skins;

Right-click on desktop and chose Properties.

Go to Appearance tab and click Effects button.

Check the "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:"
and chose Clear Type.


chears for that it's a lot better
Reply #119 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Finally it works. It is so lovely to see this on XP. The onyl things i have found is with Arrow theme the Right Click goes "fuzzy" and you lose part of the window at the top near the row of drop down menus. 2 minor things. They dont [hase me much i still love this. Cant wait to se more skins available for this.
Reply #120 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great program team! javascript:editor_insertHTML('ucCommentForm_comments_txtBody',' ')

The transparency looks seamless and by having it now we will be rather 'Ho-hum, so what?' when Vista becomes available in a years time.

The interface still has some text display bugs. The text on the "My Toolbars" and "My Animations" screens is completely obscured by blacked bars on my version, the buttons and images on those pages are fine.

Also two buttons on the "My Skins" screen could do with mouse-over descriptions.

WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Philips 170B (17inch LCD MONITOR 170B6)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
'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.

Cheers

David
Reply #121 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have a small problem and would appreciate help. I had 'Anion' installed in WB4.6 before WB4.9. Ever since when using WB4.9 'Anion' has appeared corrupted in the WB program window and doesn't skin properly either.

I've deleted from within WB Program, removed the folder from Programs Folder, downloaded afresh, uninstalled/reinstalled and tried renaming and saving the skin in SkinStudio. Still the problem remains.

Is there a cache, registry entry that I can amend to fix this ? All other skins seem fine. But IMHO 'Anion' is a great skin and I don't want to lose it.

Thanks
Reply #122 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well.......I guess because I got home late and didn't download it right away is maybe a good thing.. LOL!!

It's working great for me. I also notice a change in the speed of changing skins,,Good stuff, some nice touches added..
Reply #123 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I seem to be having a problem - perhaps because I am running Windows XP Professional x64. Here is the troubleshoot report:
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+

WindowBlinds is not installed correctly on this PC. If you did not reboot after installing WindowBlinds 5 for the first time, then please reboot and try this again.

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

You have one monitor in total.

(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series
'ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 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.
Reply #124 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have never had any trouble installing any version of WB.The 5 beta is another story. Basically it says it's installed correctly. It keeps the skin that was running when I installed the beta. I also tried with no skin running.

When I try and install a new skin windows says it can not find the OBDC driver and asks me to enter the correct one plus some other stuff (where it's located). I have no idea what is happening.The troubleshoot screen says installed correctly, supports per pixel etc. Nothing to indicate a problem.

I need my glass effects! Any help greatly appreciated.
Reply #125 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The rund32dll bug was fixed!

Now it's working fine in my WinXP Home Portuguese-Brazil!

However:

1) it does not skin some VB6 third party controls made for XP lime VbAccelerator Explorer Bar

2) Some buttons label made with VB6 are not correctly aligned (e.g. Browse label); however, I didn't notice this issue with Arrow skin... ???