cnlevo: The problem is caused by apps deleting critical WB registry keys.  The apps in question believe they are protecting the user, but in fact they are just messing with legit apps.

I'm glad I made those backups - the third boot bounced me right back into the familar reboot pattern! Back to Tenebril support.

cnlevo: Neil is absolutely right, WB5 runs like a dream for me as long as I don't have GhostSurf installed. Read the previous posts in this thread and you'll see that this issue is, as Neil says, related to apps deleting WB registry keys. We've even identified the keys that are being deleted.

That's the thing....I don't have ANY adware/spyware removal, virus protection, etc.. It's simply not installed on my system and never has been. The only thing I have is spybot and it is not on all the time...

so if you can explain to me how programs are trying to help me but are hurting me when I have zero programs like that...then i would be very grateful...is there something I can change in the registry. I am stuck using 4.51 and there is this AWESOME skin in wb5 that I want to use but I can't because it doesn't do anything but tell me to restart.

if anyone can tell me how to fix this I would appreciate it more then you will know.

This is a list of EVERY app installed on my computer...let me know if there is something there that could be erasing stuff.

adobe acrobat 7.0.05
adobe photoshop CS
Ai Booster (ausus system monitor)
AMD64Bit (I have no idea what this is, I guess it got installed with my motherboard drivers)
AOL Instant Messenger
AsusUpdate (Bios Flash from windows program)
ATI Display Drive
BitComet 0.59
eMule
Everest Home Edition 2.20
GameSpy Arcade
HP Beta Drivers for x64
Intervideo Launcher (program to edit video)
J2SE Runtime Enviroment 5.0 Update 1
LeapFTP
Macromedia Flash Player 8
Marvel Miniport Driver (Network Driver)
Medal of Honor Allied Assault
Microsoft Intellipoint Pro 5.5
Microsoft IntelliType Pro 5.5
Microsoft Office Pro 2003
middle_man
Mozilla FireFox
Nvidia Drivers
Nvidia ForceWare
PowerDVD
QuickTime
Realtek AC`97 Audio
SiSoftware Sandra
Spybot Search and Destroy
Viewpoint
Winamp
Windowblinds
Winrar
XP Codec Pack

Spybot Search and Destroy

Tea Timer running?

So - everyone has purchased windowblinds 5 just like I have - and you are all happy with it! - it seems there are 109 posts that say all you have to do is restart is safe mode! - Why - if this thing worked right would anyone have to reboot in safe mode! - This program was released way to early - way too many bugs - and NO FIXES - so all of us who paid 19.95 should be happy with rebooting in safe mode, uninstall - reinstall, then have windowblinds work until you reboot the machine again! - this is Krap! - I just emailed sales and everyone and their brother - and I expect a refund! - this program SUCKS the way it is now.... maybe 5.1 or 5.2 may be better - when its released I may purchase that - but im not jumping through hoops every time I restart to get this piece of junk to work - Anyone else want to email sales and get their money back!??????????????

 

"Krap" is spelled with a 'c'.......

Anyone else want to email sales and get their money back!??????????????

This is not helpful.

Wanting a refund is fine if the program just does not work for you, and being upset is understandable. Posting to vent your frustration should be done with a bit of finesse.

Many of us have the program installed, and it runs just fine. I have Object Desktop, so am able to access the newer beta versions which use an ".ini" file in place of the ODBC source (not a coder, so this is a generalized statement). This method of programming is intended to be more compatible with a larger base of users, though I do not know if the stand-alone version has been updated to this ".ini" structure yet. It may be that this will fix the issues you are experiencing, and it may be prudent to inquire of tech support if this is the case, and if this version could be made available to you for a possible fix.

""" Wanting a refund is fine if the program just does not work for you, and being upset is understandable. Posting to vent your frustration should be done with a bit of finesse """

Finesse you say! - for spending 19.95 I got to reload my system from scratch 5 times - and in the process the last time I did it I lost 1.5 years of email - you say FINESSE!!! - I say you should release a working version before you ask money for it - that is just wrong - so where does this Finesse you ask for come from!! - are you going to compensate me for all the time I spent re-loading my machine 5 times - are you going to compensate me for 1.5 years of lost email!??? - you want Finesse - Release a working program! once your sure it works then charge for it! - Finesse my @ss!

 

years? 1.5 YEARS of email?

damn, if i had any email that important - i woulda printed it.

"Krap" is spelled with a 'c'.......

cnlevo: I agree with yrag - I'd look to SpyBot as the culprit. First, try uninstalling WB5 in its entirety. Maybe even use the OD zapper (the link is elsewhere on this thread). Reboot. Unload/disable the Tea Timer (if you are using it) and try again. If that doesn't work try uinstalling Spybot and reinstalling WB5 after a reboot.

ronw1961: I may be way off base here, but I think you're venting your spleen at the wrong person. I'm pretty sure that Corky is an end user like the rest of us and not a Stardock rep...

ok I was trying to be decent - yes CRAP - im not some out of the US fricken idiot - this is a forum so I used K instead of C ... DOES THIS EVEN MATTER! - the problem is THIS SOFTWARE was designed around copy protection - but they spent way too much time with making it un-copyable - they also ruined it for the paying customer! fricken idiots - open up your eyes - why do you think they gave us a forum for US to figure out their problem! Jesus - you pay 19.95 for a program that doesnt work, and we are supposed to discuss it amongst ourselves and figure out what they did wrong! - WITH FINESSE! - why dont I hear any of them saying " yes a fix or patch is going to be released on such and such a date " this is bull crap! - how can you legally sell a non working program and expect the end users to fix it themselves! open your eyes!

Was this FINESSFULL enough for you!

finesseful

No,not really... Seriously, though, I think the point to be made is that many of us have been in the same position as you and have resolved our problems and have done so within a basic framework of carefully documented attempts to identify the conflict (and it is a conflict with other apps in my experience) and without resorting to flamiing. I agree that it is frustrating. However, I don't see how, with an app that integrates itself into windows to the degree that Windowblinds does one can hold the developer responsible for not predicting/testing against every single possible combination of hardware and third party software that an end user may conceivably be running. Further, while there maybe 116 posts in this thread (including this one) many are from me and a few other posters. I don't think we can use 116 posts as a reliable proxy for how many people *worldwide* are experiencing this problem. And even if we do, what percentage of the overall userbase would this represent? A very small one, I think.

So, either help us help you solve the problem you are having by posting more information about your setup or request your refund and leave us in peace. Just know in either event that most of us on this forum are end-users like you. Your complaints about the software being released early echo those on the forums of other applications (the latest version of Acronis TrueImage comes to mind). Look, too, at the problems that were encountered by people running Windows ME!

As for patches/fixes, at least three have been released since WindowBlinds was released at the end of November and I am sure that more will come out this month. December is, after all, a very busy month and one with a number of public holidays to break up the development process...

I'm pretty sure that Corky is an end user like the rest of us and not a Stardock rep...

This is correct.

I am a moderator for WC. 

Ronw1961,

Have you already posted your "System Information" report text somewhere, which would allow one of the official Stardock reps to offer some help?

Your correct avenue (as with any software company) is through tech support for issues you have with their procedure for release, installation, and support of their product.

My job as moderator (and any other moderator's) is simply to attempt to help the community via these boards and this site. If the "fricken idiots" was directed at users on this board, this again is "Not Helpful".

It looks like you are trying to gain some sort of support for a case against the software company and it's release, instead of trying to work through the problems that you are experiencing. There are many people here who would be willing to help, if you were to leave some specific information on system set-up, what you have installed, and what exactly you have been experiencing.

This obviously does not mean the issue can be resolved, but would be in line with what this community is about. We are simply offering some intermediate support which may be of use to some people. I do not believe any of the users attempting to help should be on the receiving end of insults.

If the help offered here does not suffice for you, then waiting to hear back from "Tech Support" and/or "Sales" is obviously the alternative.

LAST POST FROM ME - just so people can see

Windowblinds - 19.95 changes the look of your desktop, stardock too worried about pirate copys - program doesnt even work for paying customer - DOESNT WORK - major frustration for end users!

Worms 4 mayhem - 19.95 Incredible copy protection, hours of gameplay, fun, makes you laugh - and guess what! - IT WORKS! - no patch needed yet!

Hmmm - hours and hours of fun for 19.95 VS hours and hours of pain and suffering 19.95 Hmmmmm -

lets see... what would the person with brains do.... Im doing this... no more forum... no more fixes from other end users...
no more starting in safe mode, no more! - Im uninstalling this crap and getting my money back - for those of you whos parents bought you this - and you dont care about money - keep talking amongst yourselves, someday you may be able to come up with a fix for stardock - those of us older folk - Im Done! im getting my money back - this crap isnt worth 19.95 - they should give us 19.95 to expiriment with it on our systems! (pretty obvious Stardock didnt even want it on their systems to test it!) Because it DOES NOT WORK!

XP service pack 2
intel pentium 4 2.26 Ghz
Nvidia GeForce fx5700 256 meg
512 ddr 400 memory
3 hard drives

this has nothing to do with it - reboot your damn machine windowblinds 5 goes away! - and for you guys who are still going to discuss it amongst yourselves - not using spybot, or mcafee, or norton, xp firewall disabled, just a pure load of xp sp2 and windowblinds... nothing else! - put in my email and activation... set my windowblinds... everything looks cool, reboot - GONE! its well worth the 19.95! (if you are into torture)

Ronw1961

Have you ever considered that it could be your computer setup that is causing the issues you are experiencing. Your initial post statement that "109 posts that say all you have to do is restart is safe mode!" is exaggerated to say the least. The majority of WB5 users experience no problems whatsover in installing this program.

Wizop Corky O requested that you post the "System Information" from the WindowBlinds Configuration screen which would assist others in trying to resolve your problems with the program.

Requesting your money back is your prerogative and is handled by contacting [email protected] and not the forums.

I will also add some words previously stated "So, either help us help you solve the problem you are having by posting more information about your setup or request your refund and leave us in peace. Just know in either event that most of us on this forum are end-users like you." I am also an end-user!

Link

Ok - Ill play along for this one - I am an MCSE with an A+ and comptia certification - I built this computer - I am starting with a fresh clean load of XP SP2 - Nothing else - and Windowblinds 5 - Firewall turned off.

Here is some system info for you:

WindowBlinds 5.0 System Information Report:

STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+ TRAY+

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 5700LE

Wblind.dll 2005/11/28 13:57:10
Wbsrv.dll 2005/11/28 15:52:00
Wbconfig.exe 2005/11/28 16:19:00
Wbload.exe 2005/11/25 19:30:58
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 15:37:00
Wbui.dll 2005/11/20 12:23:40
Tray.dll 2005/11/02 13:28:26

----------------------------------------------
here is some more: just in case!

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180
Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4A, 2277 MHz (4.25 x 536)
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset SiS 648FX
System Memory 512 MB (DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award
Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce FX 5700LE (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA NV36
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (U49314CF3PUS)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative EMU10K2 Audigy Audio Processor
Storage:
Disk Drive HP Photosmart 8100 USB Device
Disk Drive Maxtor 6E040L0 (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disk Drive Maxtor 6E040L0 (40 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Disk Drive ST380011A (80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 76316 MB (69680 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 19877 MB (1059 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 39197 MB (1888 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
------------------------------------------------------------------
I think thats enough system info -

Here is what I do, Fdisk C:, Format c:, Install WinXP SP2
nothing more
Install Windowblinds 5 enter my email and activation code - click activate, reboot
windowblinds 5 loads, I select a skin, things look good, things work... ok now im going to reboot...
reboot
windowblinds is not loaded - walpaper is there - everything else looks like windows 3.1 - windowblinds 5 is not in my system tray

--------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU GIVE ME A FIX FOR THIS - I DONT MIND PAYING THE 19.95 - YOU DONT GIVE ME A FIX FOR THIS AND SAY ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WE ARE WORKING ON - I WANT MY MONEY BACK - CORKEY!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Im not saying I bought this software sight unseen - I bought this software because it looked great on the web-page... if software works, I have no problem with it - if it doesnt - someone should step up to the plate and inform the users that this doesnt quite work yet - and a patch is on its way - (and if its a great company, use your credit card and you will not be charged until the patch is released) - thats the way to go with this... but... everyone thinks that since we are in a forum - we are going to take it bending over -
--------------------------------------------------------------------

So tell me whats wrong with my system Corkey - so that this wonderful fully tested software app doesnt work on it - im really interested in hearing this! (im sure everyone else is too!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Why are you running a version of WB5 that is not up to date? Update the program and see if the problem persists.

(All my WB5 files were updated in december... yours are all november)

Do you have Stardock Central? If so, you can get the latest update from there. Just make sure you have "Show pre-release versions" checked.

Ok - im going to be stupid here - I just bought the thing yesterday - they emailed me a link to download and my serial number.... Hmmm shouldnt the download link point you to the latest software! - And where! point me in the right direction to GET the LATEST software! - I would think that as soon as you click on support there should be a link to the latest and greatest software! - What the H3LL is stardock central!??? I bought windowblinds 5 - not stardock central - why dont they try something helpfule - click support - click windowblinds - click get latest version.... So where is the latest version if I just didnt download it yesterday!?

So tell me whats wrong with my system Corkey

I do not see anything in the your system specs that would indicate an issue.

I don't use the Fdisk command on newer drive types, but otherwise no difference installing here.

Off-hand, I would say that the ODBC source may be involved, since it does not load on reboot and you do not have anything installed that would prevent write/reads to registry.

CerebroJD's, and Hankers' suggestions to update via SDC would be the next logical step, which would install the current beta 5.00[b].009 which uses the ".ini" file, instead of the ODBC use.

Are you installing WB5 to the same partition as the system files directory (C:\WINDOWS)?

 

 

Click here to go to the Stardock Central website.

Download that, install it and fill in info as needed. Once you are into the program, you need to go into the registration info section, which can be found when you click in the bottom-right corner of the program. Select Object Desktop on the left, then WindowBlinds5 from the dropdown list. Put in your serial number there, and it should work just fine for you. In order to make sure you have the latest beta (just to make sure your issue hasnt been resolved in it), you'll need to check the "Show Pre-release versions" box at the bottom of the window.

Hope this is helpful to you.