Serious IconPackager problem on Vista

Default app settings messed up - cannot undo

Monday, October 22, 2007 by KenzieZero | Discussion: IconPackager

I've run into a serious problem when applying packages in IP (current version) on Vista (Hone Premium), it is screwing up my app preferences.

My start menu defaults have gotten messed up, I no longer get the second line of text for the internet and email items (should be IE and Outlook), see pic for what I mean...



When I go into the set associations option, I get the following problem with all the programs that could take the default (IE, firefox, outlook, live mail, windows mail, opera)



This happens any time I apply a package, and if I don't catch it in time with system restore, the only way I've been able to undo this is by a complete OS reinstall.
32 Reply 22 Referrals
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Essencay
Reply #1 Monday, October 22, 2007 6:28 AM
IconPackager 3.20.128(x86) installed thru SDC.

I have the exact same thing happening on my pc, except I didn't notice it until I saw it here and I didn't attribute it to IP.

I'm also running Vista Home Premium and the problem I'm having is that IP locks up (not responding) every time it's applying a new set of icons. As an example it happened when loading Icon-A-Day 1.1 by Mormegil. As far as I can tell the icons all get loaded, just the program locks up.

KenzieZero
Reply #2 Monday, October 22, 2007 8:08 AM
So, I'm not the only one affected by this.

While we are discussing, has anyone else had problems with IP/Windows Live Photo Gallery? I think I saw it mentioned elsewhere on these boards, that IP sets system attributes for certain folders, and that causes WLPG to choke, throwing out a "can't add/find this location" error. There is a workaround available via the command prompt (manually un-set the attributes), but I don't want to have to do this everytime I load a package.

Aren't we due for an IP update soon anyway? It would be nice if these issues could be addressed (pretty please)...

KenzieZero
Reply #3 Tuesday, October 23, 2007 9:44 AM
*bump* In the hope that someone from Stardock will respond to this...

bagginz
Reply #4 Wednesday, October 24, 2007 8:29 AM
This issue has now been fixed internally, thank you for pointing it out.

DorkCoffeez
Reply #5 Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:41 AM
Should you have further troubles please contact us at [email protected].



KenzieZero
Reply #6 Wednesday, October 24, 2007 12:44 PM
Thanks for the response, guys. Glad to know it's fixed.

I've sent an email to support, but I'll ask here as well; is there a way to manually restore the start menu associations? I'm making the assumption that you know exactly what got messed up, and hoping it can be reversed.

Thanks once again.

bagginz
Reply #7 Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:23 AM

DannyDPX,

Simply deleting the below two subkeys should address the problem for you until an updated IP build is release.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER, _T("Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\CLSID"),

Remove these 2 keys:
_T("{2559a1f4-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}"));
_T("{2559a1f5-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}")

You will need to logoff and back on again for explorer to notice these changes.


ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #8 Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:54 AM
Good temp fix - but if you reapply any package it returns to same problems. Also have problems with IP in Vista Ultimate with 4 user accts. If we have different icons for each user. The desktop icons are correct - but whoever applies their icons last is what is applied to all users for like inside folders and such... ie, folders or whatever may be not on the desktop and/or the start menu also. Will submit a bug report this evening when I get home from work. Oh this too - which I tried for a fix is I've placed sdc files on C:/ and shared the complete folder with everyone. This helps for other programs I'm running for SDC. But did not do much for IP. Seems IP is changing wrong regs for some reason. That and it may also be the type of package too. I'm presently using the default package that IP comes with. [Aqualix Vista and used other 2 Vista versions for 3 other users.] Problem still exists. More this evening...

SGT

bagginz
Reply #9 Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:14 AM
Shelbygt_the_Car~!, as you mentioned its only a temporary fix. You will need to wait until an update is released to fully address the issue.

With regards to your other user accounts, this is a Windows limitation which we cannot get around. Windows has been designed like that since day one in the way common icons such as folders are stored in a common location in the registry.

KenzieZero
Reply #10 Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:19 AM
bagginz,

Thanks for the manual fix, now I'm eagerly awaiting the update so I can start using IP again   

ZubaZ
Reply #11 Thursday, October 25, 2007 8:31 AM
With regards to your other user accounts, this is a Windows limitation which we cannot get around. Windows has been designed like that since day one in the way common icons such as folders are stored in a common location in the registry.
Is there a way to store each users settings and reapply that pack on each logon (knowing that it would fail on switch user)?

bagginz
Reply #12 Thursday, October 25, 2007 10:20 AM
Zubaz, if the user is running the same package each time, then simply running IconPackager.exe /apply "c:\something.iconpackage" would do what you need.

ZubaZ
Reply #13 Thursday, October 25, 2007 10:27 AM
Thanks bagginz! Time for a cmd on startup.

[if I could remember my wiki creds, I'd add that tidbit there too.

ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #14 Thursday, October 25, 2007 10:49 AM
Great idea and hey Zubaz mail me your script for that so I can see what you have done with it. [if you get a good result?]
{following this from work today!!heheheeee...}
I may want to improve that with another form or so to make it part of IP maybe...??
Sounds like a good way to improve the programs memory too! Gona look at this better tonite.

Thanks again Zubaz and esp. Bagginz !

SGT

oh ya Zubaz...
WWW Link

ZubaZ
Reply #15 Thursday, October 25, 2007 11:22 AM
In notepad I entered
"C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\IconPackager\IconPackager.exe" /apply "C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\IconPackager\Themes\Magic\Magic.iconpackage"
And saved it as Magic.cmd
Dragged it to the startup folder.
Logged out, switched user and logged back in.
Most, but not all icons on desktop applied the suite.  None of the folder Icons did.
Resizing the desktop refreshed all the icons and they could be resized and keep the icon set.
Resizing the folder icons only showed the magic icons in small sizes.  The larger icons showed the Vista default.



So close . . but no cigar.
I am using Vista Business in this test.

ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #16 Thursday, October 25, 2007 3:46 PM
OK Zubaz try this here and see if it helps a bit...
Uninstall your IP and reinstall it to this location:
C:/stardock/objectdesktop/icon packager
and after you install and move your icon packages to that location ; then share the folder with everyone in properties for security. Then give your startup cmd a refresh for the proper location and try it one more time. There may also be a cmd to do so with a delay cmd. this could make the difference. Will see more here when I get home.

SGT

Essencay
Reply #17 Thursday, October 25, 2007 5:09 PM
Thanks for the manual fix!   

ZubaZ
Reply #18 Thursday, October 25, 2007 6:17 PM
SGT,  the package is applying (mostly) so permissions are good.  Also, I am applying them as an admin with UAC turned off.
Further, I can apply the theme through IconPackager and everything is applied as expected.

I'll hold off more testing until bagginz pops back in here with commentary.

ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #19 Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:46 PM
OK Zubaz - I've just had some better luck with the way Vista writes to the regs with files placed other than in program files as with WB6 and others is all I'm saying - but hey thats good to heargona give things a go now that I'm home and see what happens here.

Hey Thanks Zubaz!

SGT

ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #20 Thursday, October 25, 2007 9:16 PM
Ok finished and good quick fix! But with mine I use my stardock programs as I said in a shared folder on c: drive. Thus instead of using the startup folder for the command I placed the command in the registry in two places for each user. With the command files in a folder on c:drive. Thus all you see when the system loads is system 32 command.exe with the command text it is executing till it is finished executing the command. I could of written more to the command to include a registry command to delete those keys that it creates when the package is applied to resolve the other problem. That with the wrong text being applied to the start menu items for IE and Mail. But it also changes the icons to a default windows icon. Thus I'm not happy with that fix. So I've made a zip folder with copies of my text type files of the registry values changed and where they where changed at. Plus a sample of your command you have written earlier - which I also used.
Very nice idea I'll say~!!
Anyway thanks a million - this has save me a few more headaches about whats what with icons for users. That and the other users richly like the whole of the idea. With me being the true administrator of this Vista Ultimate account via group user policies - makes it better this way no one can just change the icons without consulting me first.
File can be downloaded and viewed here at this link
WWW Link

Thanks~!
SGT

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