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WindowBlinds 5 now available!

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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.

64,710 views 161 replies
Reply #126 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i just upgraded thx for the great program
Reply #127 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i just upgraded thx for the great program
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #129 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have to say WB5 lasted about 30 mins on my machine. I couldn't get any of my favourite skins to load, so I went back to 4.6 and then my problems started. Media player wouldn't run, nor could I get the machine to "shut down". Thank goodness for a recent backup with Ghost. I may well have done something wrong at any stage, but I think that I will leave well alone for a little while.
Reply #130 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This how I installed 5. First I uninstalled 4.6 through SDC. Reboot. I got 5 for 15 bucks cause I had 4.6. Purchased it from the web site. They sent me the an email with a link. Installed without any problems. After first reboot all I had was the Classic task bar. I was able to change to the default XP task bar etc. Reboot and apply WB5 skin, I think I used Aura, no problem and all has worked well since.

My computer is no powerhouse by todays standards. I'm using the built in Intel graphics. I've got the most up to date drivers from Intel. I also put in DirectX 9. The only thing I see a little bit of lag in is when I drag a window. It doesn't happen all the time either. I can easily live with that until finances allow for a real graphics card. All the bells and whistles are working this being day three.

I've noticed that the computer is now using more of it's RAM. I've got 2-256 sticks. Just to see I opened up some files on Photoshop, put WFMU ( A great Radio station from New Jersey. All Radio should be like this!) on Winamp, opened up Nero, opened Outlook, opened up Opera and Firefox. Used up about 80% of the RAM. Everything worked.

I think the point is that you have to install and uninstall properly. You have to pay attention and have patience. Listen to what people are saying in the forums.
Reply #131 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is anybody else having a problem with Media Center 2005?. Media Center's interface crashes every time i open it since installing WB5.
Reply #132 from WinCustomize Forums Top

reply to #102: i did all you have said but i'm not getting the glass effect (i know it's nothing special) but just wat to see what it looks like, but the themes that come with WB5 aren't working, just a solid window. i have no idea what it is. Might be a dud card.

Izzee,

At this point, you might want to e-mail tech support and include the following:

- Text from the "System Information" report generated from within WB config panel

- System specs: Processor, Video card, OS, RAM, and if you have it, the Motherboard

- Explain as clearly as possible, the procedure you used to install the program, and what other programs you are running with WB5.

From everything I have seen in the threads for the past month or so, your ATI 9800 series card should support the per-pixel blending and therefore you should be able to use the pre-packaged skins that include this effect.

Sorry the steps I left did not help.

Reply #133 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i re-downloaded windowblinds 5 to see if maybe something happened during the download.
i installed it and it is doing that glass effect.
So i installed a skin i download from the gallery "Vista" but the glass effect won't work on it.
Reply #135 from WinCustomize Forums Top
can't delete stardock folder from program files. inside the stardock folder is a folder "ObjectDock" then iside that is "WIndowBlinds" then inside that is nothing. keeps saying that it is being used. don't know why there's nothin in it to use. i uninstalled it by add/remove.
Reply #136 from WinCustomize Forums Top
@Citizen Izzee:
Have you purchased WindowBlinds 5? The shareware version doesn't support per-pixel bordering on downloaded skins. If you have bought WindowBlinds 5, there is no way that this is a hardware or driver issue, not if you have DirectX 8.1+ or drivers that is less than almost two years old. Radeon 9800 is MORE than capable of supporting per-pixel borders. Intel onboard graphics cards can handle that...
Reply #137 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It isnt a easy upgrade... Had a lot of snags that were hard to fix if not for friends here at WC to help me fix them..........

Good luck!
Reply #138 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It isnt a easy upgrade... Had a lot of snags that were hard to fix if not for friends here at WC to help me fix them..........

Good luck!


Hey... I am glad that I was here to help. I really don't know why WB 5 is giving people so many problems. It's no different than updating previous versions. I guess that's what happens when you buy a Dell I guess. But remember... I have said this many times when trying to install new software - make sure that your computer is plugged in and turned on and make sure that you have all the updated drivers, including ones for your motherboard and videocard!

Keep your stick on the ice

Reply #139 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Izzee, in the "Basic Settings" have you got the "Skin Standard Window Parts" checked? People sure are spending a lot of time trying to help you out. I have Windowblinds 5 (full version) on my desktop (AMD Sempron 2800+ @ 2ghz, 1 g of 3200 memory, GeForce FX 5500 graphic card) and on my laptop (Pentium 2 ThinkPad, 8mb shared memory, 366 mhz...) and both work great. With the information you have provided (digging it out of the ranting) I think that your system has the capability to run Windowblinds. If you slow down and get the details needed to stardock.com I am sure you will be satisfied. CVissie is right, I had all the betas up to 4.99 running on my other desktop and it has a Radeon 9200se. All you need to do is take the time to type out all the info, without ranting.


And that wreklasss guy...how about showing or telling what "glitches" you are talking about?


Getting something to work right on your computer and being pissed is like Tony Stewart drinking 2 fifths of Jack Daniels before a Winston Cup race, it's just not advisable. Step away from the box, breath slowly, count to a thousand backwards and eat some ice cream (caramel swirl is recommended), then get back to the "damn" box.

From what izzeee has told us so far, I only know that he can't get the glass effect to work and he has a ATI chipset gaphic card of the 9800 series. That isn't enough info to troubleshoot.
Reply #140 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i re-downloaded windowblinds 5 to see if maybe something happened during the download.
i installed it and it is doing that glass effect.
So i installed a skin i download from the gallery "Vista" but the glass effect won't work on it.


me thinks izzee is using the shareware version. the shareware will only show the effects on the skins included with it. it won't show the effects on any downloaded skins
Reply #141 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.


DogMax4 has glass like borders. That should wow him. And Aura is really nice. 5imple has the transparency going and dig it cool thingy Cyclops with the thingy going ----><----->-----< back and forth.
Reply #142 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can't believe Mike's Arrow or Kol's VistaXP isn't one of the skins shipped with the shareware...I think a lot of people were waiting for WB5 just to see those. Too bad...I use Aura the most out of those that came with it. It's pretty fast and easy to use when you work all day online or pixel-painting. OOOOEW! That reminds me, I was going to upload a shot of the theme I've been working on. Finally got some cool stuff going with transparency...I'll get that on my WC page in the album. Off to another thread!!
Reply #143 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It isnt a easy upgrade... Had a lot of snags that were hard to fix if not for friends here at WC to help me fix them..........

Just did it earlier today....not even in Explorer when I did it....Litestep instead.....no dramas....no issues...no grief....no worries...

Reply #144 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi, I bought WB5 yesterday ; it runs perfectly during a time, perhaps 1 hour, and then everything becomes to go slowly and slowlier and finally I've to reboot because nothing works anymore. Moreover, nearly each time I reboot, I've a message from Objectdock (I also bought a time ago and that always ran perfectly) that says that a part of the infomrations have been lost, and effectively, 3 ou of the 4 docks are'nt there anymore...

Could you help me ?

Thanks a lot !
Reply #145 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To post #137 and $140: i think it a shareware version, down the bottom it has 53 days left, if that means the days i have left to use it then it's really a trial, not a shareware version. Alsothe first download i couldn't get any glass effect on the already standard themes nor one i downloaded. So i redownloaded it again and i'm getting that glass effect on the skins already included. But not the one i downloaded. So obviously you really only getting an updated WB4 not really getting a 5. The themes that come standard (not offending the makers or anybody) aren't nice. So i took it off and now the "STardock" folder is left behind but won't delete. It's empty. I was going to put WB4 back as i already paid for it so i will use it. (not trying to be rude or anything) just i'm not good with putting things the right way)
Reply #146 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Izzee: As the messages tell you in the UI, we do not allow per pixel on non included skins in the shareware version.  The idea is people should buy it if they like it and being able to use other per pixel skins is an incentive!
Reply #147 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Candice Barbe: When it starts to become slow, please open taskmanager, go to the processes tab.  Then on the view menu pick Select Columns, tick USER Objects, GDI Objects & Handle Count.

Then press ok.

Now does any one app running have a high number of any of those?

Reply #148 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I dont know if this has been addressed or not but after geting WB5 on my computer my Daughters account is pretty much unuseable. She has admin rights. Its in classic mode and everything loads incredabley slow. Is it true that WB5 doesnt support multable accounts on xp?
Reply #149 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I dont know if this has been addressed or not but after geting WB5 on my computer my Daughters account is pretty much unuseable. She has admin rights. Its in classic mode and everything loads incredabley slow. Is it true that WB5 doesnt support multable accounts on xp?
Reply #150 from WinCustomize Forums Top

WindowBlinds does support multiple accounts.

It sounds like her account does not have read/write access to the WindowBlinds directory.  You need to give her account this access or WindowBlinds will not work correctly.