No windows draw after WB5 install

from Stardock Forums
This week I attempted to upgrade to WB5 from 4.6. When I reboot after installing WB5, I can log in and the screen draws fine, including the task bar, but no windows will display and the CPU must be pegged because the mouse updates VERY infrequently. When I press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the task manager, it does not display so I can't tell what is hogging the CPU. I tried both the release and current beta versions with the same results.
I had been running WindowFX and DesktopX but disabling them did not change the behavior.
I disabled Sophos, that didn't change it.

Any ideas on what I can do to get it working?
1,968 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Had you un-installed WB4.6 before installing WB5?? --- and what build of WB5 you are using?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Did you unload and uninstall WB 4.6 before installing WB5?

If you can get WB config panel (may not be able to if explorer is not being drawn) - please post the "System Information" report text in this thread.

I would recommend unloading all programs via "Safe Mode", and  clearing the cache in the programs that write to cache (instructions here http://corkyo.wincustomize.com/Articles.aspx?SID=5463&AID=82461) - then boot normally and see if WB5 config loads for you. It is set to load automatically upon first reboot after installation.

If it fails to load, and the issue is still present, then I would suspect you have something blocking the correct keys from being written to the registry for WB5 config to load - and therefore, the CPU peg and crash.

Hopefully someone else will chime in if my suggestions do not work.

Note - if you did not unload and/or uninstall WB 4.6 before installing WB5, I would suggest uninstalling all using this utility https://www.stardock.com/files/ODNT_zapper.exe (just double-click the downloaded file > select any WB listed under the "Unload" tab > Apply > repeat for the "Uninstall" tab). If no WB is seen by this utility, you have an incomplete installation, and may want to attempt removing any listing in "Add or Remove Programs" using "Safe Mode".

Make sure to save any downloaded skin folders (found in "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\WindowBlinds" folder) before uninstalling.

Once uninstalled, reboot and set Windows to the default theme (including all icons), and then attempt to reinstall WB5.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
never mind



{tag teaming's unfair guys!!}
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I uninstalled 4.6 with and rebooted before installing WB5.
The release version I was attempting is 5.00.001 and the beta version is 5.00[b].009.

The good news is that I finally have it running!
The tip about looking in Add Remove Programs worked out.
Even though I uninstalled 4.6 there was still a WindowBlinds entry there. Apparently either letting Stardock Central initiate the un-installation or the uninstaller itself didn't quite do it. After removing that one, I rebooted and then installed the 5.00.001 version again. After rebooting I finally saw the WindowBlinds configuration panel!

My main question is this.
If it is so crippling to have the remains of previous installations around, why doesn't the WB5 install either warn me or clean it up?

Thanks for the help!
I'm off to wincustomize to download the WB5 theme that prompted me to upgrade in the first place.