Hard Freezing on Setting Options
Either a hard freeze or the effect doesn't work!
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 by freakyash | Discussion: WindowFX
Hi
I have an Alienware Sentia laptop based on the Intel 855 using Intel Extreme 2 graphics. Whenever I set a window transition or dragging effect in WindowFX and attempt to apply it or test it, either the effect doesn't work or the system will hard freeze. For example I can set a window effect and apply it and it when I drag a window or minimize there is no effect. I can go back and try to use another and either the same thing happens or I get a hard freeze. There is no further cpu, disk activity or keyboard/mouse responsiveness until the system is manually turned off and on again. This behaviour happens regardless of whether I select a motion based effect or transparency based one. Once an effect is set, the system will not freeze when trying to move a window, just no effect is observed. Only when applying or using the test option poses the risk of a system freeze. Usually a freeze will occur within 3 attempts at setting or testing a window dragging or transition effect.
I am using the latest WindowFX in combination with WindowBlinds 5 and a skin using transparent effects. I have updated my graphics drivers from the Intel website. The same problem occurs in both the latest release and beta editions of WindowFX; with or without WindowBlinds running.
WindowFX identifies my graphics as Intel(R) 8252/8255 GM/GME Graphics Controller, driver version 6.14.10.4497 with acceleration enabled for constant alpha blending and per pixel alpha blending. This graphics controller uses 64MB of shared video memory.
Other effects such as menu animations, windows appearing/disappearing all work as expected.
Any advice would be grately appreciated on why I receive hard freezes when I attempt to set a window dragging or transition effect and whether it is possible to actually get this feature working on my system!
Many thanks
Ash
I have an Alienware Sentia laptop based on the Intel 855 using Intel Extreme 2 graphics. Whenever I set a window transition or dragging effect in WindowFX and attempt to apply it or test it, either the effect doesn't work or the system will hard freeze. For example I can set a window effect and apply it and it when I drag a window or minimize there is no effect. I can go back and try to use another and either the same thing happens or I get a hard freeze. There is no further cpu, disk activity or keyboard/mouse responsiveness until the system is manually turned off and on again. This behaviour happens regardless of whether I select a motion based effect or transparency based one. Once an effect is set, the system will not freeze when trying to move a window, just no effect is observed. Only when applying or using the test option poses the risk of a system freeze. Usually a freeze will occur within 3 attempts at setting or testing a window dragging or transition effect.
I am using the latest WindowFX in combination with WindowBlinds 5 and a skin using transparent effects. I have updated my graphics drivers from the Intel website. The same problem occurs in both the latest release and beta editions of WindowFX; with or without WindowBlinds running.
WindowFX identifies my graphics as Intel(R) 8252/8255 GM/GME Graphics Controller, driver version 6.14.10.4497 with acceleration enabled for constant alpha blending and per pixel alpha blending. This graphics controller uses 64MB of shared video memory.
Other effects such as menu animations, windows appearing/disappearing all work as expected.
Any advice would be grately appreciated on why I receive hard freezes when I attempt to set a window dragging or transition effect and whether it is possible to actually get this feature working on my system!
Many thanks
Ash
Calab
Reply #2 Monday, October 2, 2006 4:37 PM
Reply #2 Monday, October 2, 2006 4:37 PM
Count me in as well.
The freezup occurs whenever you try to set a Window Dragging or Window Transition effect.
FWIW, I'm on an nVidia 7600 PCIe card with the latest drivers.
The freezup occurs whenever you try to set a Window Dragging or Window Transition effect.
FWIW, I'm on an nVidia 7600 PCIe card with the latest drivers.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #3 Monday, October 2, 2006 7:16 PM
Reply #3 Monday, October 2, 2006 7:16 PM
7600GT here and everything runs smooth as silk. Have you tried the 'Advanced' tab and select 'Detect the best mode...' ? Could be your set-up is not up to the job 
Calab
Reply #4 Tuesday, October 3, 2006 12:33 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, October 3, 2006 12:33 AM
I've tried both modes with no difference.
Something odd I just noticed. I have my windows going transparent when I drag them, and that works fine. When the WindowFX Properties window crashes when testing a transition, the window is frozen. I can't drag it or anything. After a few seconds (10 to 20?) it looks like the window does a "restore" as though it was minimized. After than happens I can drag the window around but the controls in the window are dead. When draggin the window goes transparent as expected, but the transparency never goes away.
...and I just stopped WinFX after a lockup on the settings Window and now my Object Dock is "ignoring" clicks. The dock animations and mouseovers work and clicks work, but nothing actually launches. Looks like my Explorer is crashed now that WinFx crashed.
I used Task Manager to end Explorer and start a new instance and the ObjectDock and Desktop are working normally again.
Something odd I just noticed. I have my windows going transparent when I drag them, and that works fine. When the WindowFX Properties window crashes when testing a transition, the window is frozen. I can't drag it or anything. After a few seconds (10 to 20?) it looks like the window does a "restore" as though it was minimized. After than happens I can drag the window around but the controls in the window are dead. When draggin the window goes transparent as expected, but the transparency never goes away.
...and I just stopped WinFX after a lockup on the settings Window and now my Object Dock is "ignoring" clicks. The dock animations and mouseovers work and clicks work, but nothing actually launches. Looks like my Explorer is crashed now that WinFx crashed.
I used Task Manager to end Explorer and start a new instance and the ObjectDock and Desktop are working normally again.
NoXion28
Reply #5 Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:55 PM
Reply #5 Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:55 PM
I have similar issues. My two problems are the shadows and dragging config causing lockups (although I can use the transparent dragging). When a lockup occurs, it's difficult just to open up task manager to shut down WindowFX.
My setup:
P4 2.53ghz
512mb ddr
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro
My setup:
P4 2.53ghz
512mb ddr
ATI Radeon 9500 Pro
jjstokes4
Reply #6 Friday, July 6, 2007 3:16 AM
Reply #6 Friday, July 6, 2007 3:16 AM
Same problems, i just got my install today and it still has bugs that i thought a new edition wouldve had fixed..... actually, some werent i the old
My biggest problem is that i cant use transitions without my system freezing, dragging options are the same, usually i just go to my taskman and shut down winfx, it seems to work to get out of a hard reset
Conclusion, neither transitions or dragging work in the 3.0 version
My biggest problem is that i cant use transitions without my system freezing, dragging options are the same, usually i just go to my taskman and shut down winfx, it seems to work to get out of a hard reset
Conclusion, neither transitions or dragging work in the 3.0 version
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Reply #1 Tuesday, August 22, 2006 2:50 PM
Seems this is very common across many setups.
Stardock needs to fix this ASAP.
My graphics card = ATI Mobility Radeon x700 256MB.
/e