WindowBlinds 5 now available!

Start personalizing Windows!

http://www.windowblinds.net
from WinCustomize Forums

Stardock has released WindowBlinds 5 to the public today.  WindowBlinds allows users to completely alter the look and feel of the Windows interface by applying visual styles (skins) to title bars, buttons, the Start bar, borders and more. Consumers customize nearly everything else in their environments: their cars, homes, clothing and cell phones are based on their personal preferences and needs. With WindowBlinds 5, users can now make their Windows desktops look and feel the way they want.

WindowBlinds 5 introduces a broad range of new features, including per-pixel alpha blending, resulting in smooth or glassy title bars and borders that realistically distort the content behind them; as well as the ability to change toolbar icons, progress animations and the hue and saturation of the Windows interface.

With over over 8 million users worldwide, WindowBlinds 5 is the most popular desktop-enhancement utility of all time according to CNET’s Download.com where it recently passed the 9 million download mark. It is also used by companies such as Microsoft, ATI, nVidia, Alienware, Nintendo and many others to provide custom Windows user interfaces for their customers.

WindowBlinds 5 is $19.95 as a stand-alone program or for $49.95 by purchasing Stardock’s award-winning Windows enhancement suite, Object Desktop. A shareware version of WindowBlinds is available for free download.

64,706 views 161 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I downloaded the public shareware version of it a an hour ago, and well... it screwed everything up. it says that it's perfectly installed and that my computer supports everything, but I can only see two skins, Windows XP Default and Windows Classic (even though I have more skins installed). And if I go to the apperence tab in display properties, which the programs says that I should, I get a Visual C++ Runtime Error.

How should I fix this? please help me, I really want WindowBlinds 5 to work, because I was going to buy it next week, but now I'm not so sure anymore.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Did You reboot after install ?
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It maybe just me but is it really clever to leave the main attraction (transparency) out in the shareware version ?
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have you clicked the 'rebuild list' button?

Have you tried going into the folder where the skins are and double clicking one to see if it shows up in the list?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Congratulations on the final release. Working well
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
c242: transparency is not left out of the shareware version.  We include Aura, 5imple Alpha, Cyclops & DogMax4 which all support transparency in WB5 shareware, we just don't support it on downloaded skins.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It's WindowBlinds 5 at x64 platform - working fine.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Mr Shmoe: If you open up the WB directory, do you have a file called skins.mdb there?  What size is it?
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i was told that the transperancy was included in the sahreware but that stupid pop-up that says "Buy" and "Continue" drives you insane, everytime you start the PC or change the skin.
If you don't get the Transparency like i do it's not the Shareware version but the video card being used on the PC which is a downside as i couldn't see anywhere what minimum video needed for transparency.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
why question is where can I get that neato frosted, bumpy glass wallpaper in the last screen shot?
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There are 2 different popups.  One says in plain text that the per pixel in this skin is not supported in the shareware version.  The 2nd (which appears at bootup) has the price & a list of features.

So if you keep on getting the per pixel popup then its because you are trying to use a skin which is a per pixel skin, but is not one of the permitted ones in WB5 shareware.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
How do we get the upgrade. I purchased 4.6 in September, but when I try to upgrade, it brings up the 15$ upgrade?
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For everyone who purchased WB 4.x after September 1st, emails are now going out with information on your free upgrades. There are a lot of emails to go out, it's going to take a few hours for them all to be sent. The email has a download link and serial number for activation. Or, once you've gotten the email, it means your account record is updated and you can use Stardock Central to install or resend the info via the form at stardock.com/support.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top


i am not using a theme with that per-pixel thing but it comes up at boot-up still i don't know why they did that in the shareware version it's stupid, could at least turn it off.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Izzee: The one at bootup is to remind you that you are using the shareware build and how many days you have left.  Its called a nag screen for a reason!  How many times do you reboot if its causing such an annoyance?

The purpose of the shareware version is to give you a taste of the application and then for you to purchase it if you like it.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tanks for an upgrade of one of the few programs, which makes windows a bit more interesting...
Anyway. Thinks it's od, that transparency has been added to the new version, while I could get (at least some kind) it with VistaXp in the 4.9 version...?
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#18 i've, like dscroggie purchased 4.6 after 1 september and when i do like you suggest the only link i get is to download WB 4.6
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It seems it may take a few hours for all the accounts to be updated and e-mails to be sent.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Neil Banfield
1-3 times a day, but it comes up everytime you change a skin too. What do you mean how many days left? is the shareware like a trial?
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Lookin' good...WB5 working well for me no, problems. Thanks, Stardock, on a job well done