I really need help getting Windowblinds 4.90B to work...Classic skin everytime !!!

the only version I can get to workis 4.60 , please help me fix this..........

from WinCustomize Forums
Hi: I work with a lot of software and know how to get most things working...But I can't get windowblinds 4.90b to work at all. 1.) Have uninstalled & Re-Installed a billion times. 2.) I have a Radeon 7000 Video Card - Have already updated the drivers to latest version. 3.) Somebody told me to put the activate.exe in windowblinds directory - I did... 4.)everytime my computer boots up it tells me to activate windowblinds-I put in the e-mail address and the serial number I have for windowblinds-I keep getting an error when I click "activate" - it won't activate windowblinds?????????????? 5.) I have even pulled down my firewalls and anti=spyware software figuring that it might be preventing this to register ???? Didn't help at all........... 6.) I'm frustrated and PO'd now - Please help , Thanks. Heike
windowblinds
11,343 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
-Any activation errors, be that Error 5 or otherwise, please email [email protected] the activate.log in the \program files\stardock\sdcentral dir.
Error 5 ones have to do with your account info on the servers, did you order under a different email address than the one you are currently using?
Or some people wind up with multiple records under the same email, which I have to go in and fix. So email.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi:
I looked for activate.log where you said - It's not there , my folders & files are not hidden...I can't locate that file...are there any other ones you could use or need ?? Thanks. I do have 2 accounts one under my name and one under my Husbands
Heike
Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm just passing along info in the History link for WB5.... I'd write [email protected] and ask him. I took a look, and I don't have an activate.log either.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Uninstall all versions of WB through Stardock central. Then install 4.6 again. Then unsinstall 4.6 and then install WB5.  REBOOT after each step!!!!  This worked for me. there is an obvious upgrade bug in the WB4 to WB5 conversion. 
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

 


Hi, dont know if this helps, but...I had a same problem with my system, every one fifth of windows startups I had only classic theme, no Windowsblisds enhancements. My system is Win XP X64 and Windowsblinds 4.6.


What I did was to add wbload.exe to Startup folder and to modify that file to start in NT4 combatiliby mode. Now works fine every time.


 


 


 


 


 

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Heike,


I drove myself crazy with this one as well.  Try this: Use XGMan's method (#4 above), but BEFORE UNINSTALLING make certain that you have reverted to 'Windows Classic' theme, i.e. NO SKINS, rather than uninstalling with a Windowblinds theme still 'registered'.  That was my mistake, since the instructions state that you must reboot before applying a skin with WB5, and my installation was already showing a skin as applied during/after the reboot.  This worked for me, hope it does for you.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

CAN STARDOCK PLEASE FIX THIS!!!  Every minor upgrade to WB5 including the latest one now involves repeating these tedious steps. 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Tried the whole reboot/reinstall circus one last time, thinking I might have missed something like TheDruid47's idea, but no go. Upon uninstall, I even had it override all skins and such.


Still no functional WB5. Won't apply a skin at all.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just i'd mention that i have managed to get WB5 Beta G to work on my pc.

After getting a bit fed up with the install/uninstall routine that you mentioned i finaly gave up and reinstalled WB4. But when i saw the "G" update i thought i.d give it another go. Here's the steps i took to get it working

Uninstalled WB4 > Restarted > Deleted all files except themes in the OD\WB folder > Downloaded and installed WB5 > restarted > Started WB5 and activated using the new activate window (had to let it through Norton firewall).

Bingo skins now apply.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

alphadog and xgman: I've fixed an error in your account info.

Heike Cooper: I've fixed two errors in your account info.

You shouldn't have any more problems.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Much appreciated, Mike, but I don't think activation or my Stardock account was an issue. My Troubleshooting window has always stated "appears to be activated".


As it is WB5 still doesn't work after whatever you did. Hitting "Apply Changes" has absolutely no visible effect, as if I didn't click at all. (Well, if in Classic mode. If in Windows XP mode it flashes a lot and ends up in Classic mode.)


- alphadog

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Biglee1: Tried your suggestion, to no avail. Uninstalled, rebooted, deleted WB folder, installed WB5, rebooted and still get the same end result.


Bizarre.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi, Heike. You need to look for the ODNT_zapper link in "WindowBlinds will NOT skin.." thread. There you will find a link to that application in the middle of the page. Do not remove ACTIVATE.exe from the Stardock folder. Rather, copy it to the WindowBlinds folder. 1. Make sure WB is running. 2. Backup all your WB files . 3. Backup all your WB files. 4. BACKUP UP ALL YOUR WB FILES! Put them on a CD or something. 5. Run the zapper utility. A box will pop up and ask which one you want gone. Choose both Unload and Uninstall. 6. Reboot. Try reinstalling WB and see if it behaves itself. I'm running x64 edition. WB5 is not compatible with it yet, so it gave my system a heart attack. This seemed to work. It is running stable at version 4.5 and identifies itself as "WindowBlinds_64" in the Task Manager. If you are using the Windows that came with your computer, I can't imagine why it would not work. I know. You said you've done it a billion times. One more?

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

alphadog: Though your application might have reported itself as activating properly, there was in fact an error in your account info nonetheless. In reference to post#13, had you uninstalled/rebooted/reinstalled/rebooted after I made my post?  If this doesn't work for your system, it's a known problem that happens with a few systems and the development team is aware of this issue and working on a fix.

Which version of Windowblinds are you using?

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks, Milksama, I'll test it out next update. By the way, my WB5 version in SD only says 490 with no .xx extention numbers, but there are no updates listed.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
STILL DOES NOT, I REPEAT NOT WORK. Yes I am shouting!!! PLEASED STARDOCK FIX THIS MESS OF A BETA!!!!!!!


I always have to uninstall 4.6, reisntall 4.6 then install the latestb 5 beta. this blows!!!!!
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

xgman wrote:


By the way, my WB5 version in SD only says 490 with no .xx extention numbers, but there are no updates listed.


This was my situation a little while back too. What I did to resolve the problem was to totally uninstall WB.... everything (I saved all the skins folders to my Desktop first. ), rebooted and then downloaded/installed just WB 5.0 beta via Stardock Central, which resolved the problem(s) I was having. If you have already done this, then disregard this. hehe

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Milksama:


Problem continues with WB5. I've tried reinstalling with rebooting after your account fix and still no joy. I guess I'll have to wait for a new version of WB5. Presumably, I am afflicted the issue you mysteriously refer to.


BTW, WB4 works fine everytime.


- alphadog

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
it's not WB5 that is the problem. It's SDC and the fact that both WB4 and WB5 show up in the list and the upgrade process is borked somehow for alot of people.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

(The Wincustomize databases had to be reverted, so I am reposting/retyping my response)

xgman: I fixed an activation error in your account two days ago. This would have prevented you from reinstalling WB5.

alphadog: did you perform an uninstall and then reboot and reinstall and then reboot once more? I don't see anything on this end that would prevent you from successfully running Windowblinds 5 Beta.  If it still doesn't work, I'd be interested to know which version of Windows (including service packs) you're running along with the information in the troubleshooting section of the Windowblinds Configuration window.

Both Windowblinds 4.x and Windowblinds 5 Beta show up in Stardock Central for everyone, including myself.  It had to be set up this way because people without an Object Desktop subscription are not eligible to run Windowblinds 5 Beta, but may still download Windowblinds 4.x. Since both versions of Windowblinds go to the same directory, as long as you uninstall one version before installing the other, you shouldn't have any problems (updating Windowblinds will not require you to uninstall/reinstall).

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I Purchase Windowblinds 4.6. Can I get Windowblinds 5? How?
In Stardock Central not work update.
Thanks for help.
George.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

george,

I believe the WB5 beta is still only available to Object Desktop subscribers.

I am sure Stardock will extend the release to others as soon as some of the bug fixes are finalized - perhaps on a Release Candidate version.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't know if this will help, but when I had this problem of WB5 not working, I was told my version of SDC was out of date, gave me this Link

to download a current version, worked ok after that, reinstalled with new SDC.
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Heike Cooper: So glad to see your post! I, too, have a Radeon 7000, and that fact has kept me from attempting the upgrade. So...after a good night's rest and all the food groups tomorrow a.m., I guess   I'll go for it.
I saved all the skins folders to my Desktop first.
and thanks, Hapkido, for this wisdom. Gawd, I REALLY don't want to bork my PC...what the heck... [Mumbles to self: okay, okay, don't woos-out, nut-up, be a grownup, 100 yrs. from now, who's going to care...mumble]