Explorer Backgrounds feature doesn't work on XP in WB 6.1
Thursday, May 8, 2008 by Will Rose | Discussion: WindowBlinds
I just updated to WB6.1 via SDC because it looked like such a nice upgrade. I was especially looking forward to the return of the "explorer backgrounds" feature that was removed years ago.
Unfortunately, although the interface is there to change explorer backgrounds, and it all seems to work properly (including the little warning about explorer background transparenct on XP) when I click apply changes, nothing happens.
My explorer backgrounds do not get skinned. Period. Standard white.
Any ideas? Is this feature actually supposed to work on XP SP2, or is it still Vista only at this time?
Thanks...
Philly0381
Reply #2 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:47 AM
Reply #2 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:47 AM
Well let me update what I just typed, wrong. 
Make you selection and then play with the Opacity. That really seems to be the key. If that doesn't work then possibly your download of WB 6.1 may have gotten messed up.
Make you selection and then play with the Opacity. That really seems to be the key. If that doesn't work then possibly your download of WB 6.1 may have gotten messed up.
Will Rose
Reply #3 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:59 AM
Reply #3 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:59 AM
Thanks for responding Philly...
Unfortunately, what you suggested did nothing for me. Resetting to default first did nothing, and playing with transparency had no effect.
Judging from what you described, it would appear there are some "issues" with this feature.
Does anyone have this working 100% correctly on XP that can make a suggestion?
Unfortunately, what you suggested did nothing for me. Resetting to default first did nothing, and playing with transparency had no effect.
Judging from what you described, it would appear there are some "issues" with this feature.
Does anyone have this working 100% correctly on XP that can make a suggestion?
Neil Banfield
Reply #4 Thursday, May 8, 2008 4:30 AM
Reply #4 Thursday, May 8, 2008 4:30 AM
Can you post your WB system information please.
Will Rose
Reply #5 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:08 PM
Reply #5 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:08 PM
Here you go, Neil... Thanks!
I did the update through SDC, and WB was not running/active when I updated, so there should have been no problem replacing files. Have rebooted several times since, of course. And "I want skins to be able to apply textures to the back of explorer windows" in Advanced User Settings IS checked. I've tried with that setting both ways.
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 55 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra
Wblind.dll 2008/05/06 15:25:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/04/29 21:02:32
Wbload.exe 2008/04/28 11:35:14
Wbhelp.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:07
Wbui.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:05
Tray.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:21
Screen.exe 2008/04/28 11:35:18
I did the update through SDC, and WB was not running/active when I updated, so there should have been no problem replacing files. Have rebooted several times since, of course. And "I want skins to be able to apply textures to the back of explorer windows" in Advanced User Settings IS checked. I've tried with that setting both ways.
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 55 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(Default Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra
Wblind.dll 2008/05/06 15:25:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/04/29 21:02:32
Wbload.exe 2008/04/28 11:35:14
Wbhelp.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:07
Wbui.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:05
Tray.dll 2008/04/28 11:35:21
Screen.exe 2008/04/28 11:35:18
tcruver
Reply #6 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:40 PM
Reply #6 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:40 PM
In explorer, go to Tool/Folder Options and make sure that "Show common tasks in folders" is selected in the Tasks section at the top of the panel. Then, if you also want the folder tree visible justpress the folder button.
neophil78
Reply #7 Thursday, May 8, 2008 2:53 PM
Reply #7 Thursday, May 8, 2008 2:53 PM
Hop hop, i take the thread ... 
Neil, will there be an option to have both Explorer Backgrounds AND a way to accord with "special shell Images" ?
Neil, will there be an option to have both Explorer Backgrounds AND a way to accord with "special shell Images" ?
NeriuZ
Reply #8 Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:56 PM
Reply #8 Thursday, May 8, 2008 9:56 PM
Same problem here. Explorer backgrounds does not work on my system either. Nothing happens, i have clicked and done all settings there are now.
Im using XP Pro with SP3
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 55 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(LG L197W(Analog)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Wblind.dll 2008/05/06 11:05:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/04/29 21:58:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/04/29 21:58:32
Wbload.exe 2008/04/26 16:14:14
Wbhelp.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:07
Wbui.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:05
Tray.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:21
Screen.exe 2008/04/26 16:14:18
Im using XP Pro with SP3
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6.1 (build 55 x86)
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
(LG L197W(Analog)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
Wblind.dll 2008/05/06 11:05:20
Wbsrv.dll 2008/04/29 21:58:10
Wbconfig.exe 2008/04/29 21:58:32
Wbload.exe 2008/04/26 16:14:14
Wbhelp.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:07
Wbui.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:05
Tray.dll 2008/04/26 16:14:21
Screen.exe 2008/04/26 16:14:18
tiomio
Reply #9 Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:43 PM
The shell style images look terrible when you enable an explorer background. Otherwise this would be a great feature. Perhaps an option can be added to disable the shell style images for special folders?
Reply #9 Thursday, May 8, 2008 11:43 PM
Neil, will there be an option to have both Explorer Backgrounds AND a way to accord with "special shell Images" ?
The shell style images look terrible when you enable an explorer background. Otherwise this would be a great feature. Perhaps an option can be added to disable the shell style images for special folders?
Neil Banfield
Reply #10 Friday, May 9, 2008 3:54 AM
Reply #10 Friday, May 9, 2008 3:54 AM
tiomio: The shellstyle images are now disabled when you use an explorer background.
neophil78
Reply #11 Friday, May 9, 2008 9:53 AM
That's was my request ...
Should it be a way/option to get them back ? (which implicate you to find a way for transform the .bmp's as transparent tga's i can imagine ?)
Reply #11 Friday, May 9, 2008 9:53 AM
The shellstyle images are now disabled when you use an explorer background
That's was my request ...
Should it be a way/option to get them back ?
(which implicate you to find a way for transform the .bmp's as transparent tga's i can imagine ?)
Will Rose
Reply #12 Friday, May 9, 2008 1:22 PM
Reply #12 Friday, May 9, 2008 1:22 PM
Thanks Shadowjack...
Turning on the tasks pane DID cause the folder backgrounds to show up. But is this supposed to be required? I didn't read anything about it. And it seems to be a high price to pay: I keep the tasks turned off because I don't like losing all that real-estate to that junk.
Can explorer backgrounds be used WITHOUT the folder tasks enabled??
(And neophil, get your own thread! :/ )
Turning on the tasks pane DID cause the folder backgrounds to show up. But is this supposed to be required? I didn't read anything about it. And it seems to be a high price to pay: I keep the tasks turned off because I don't like losing all that real-estate to that junk.
Can explorer backgrounds be used WITHOUT the folder tasks enabled??
(And neophil, get your own thread! :/ )
neophil78
Reply #13 Friday, May 9, 2008 2:35 PM
Threads are for everyone
Reply #13 Friday, May 9, 2008 2:35 PM
(And neophil, get your own thread! :/ )
Threads are for everyone
Neil Banfield
Reply #14 Friday, May 9, 2008 3:25 PM
Reply #14 Friday, May 9, 2008 3:25 PM
We will look into allowing explorer backgrounds without the tasks pane in future builds.
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Reply #1 Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:38 AM
I went and changed the background and hit apply, nothing happened. I then hit reset default, selected a new background again and hit apply. It changed for me. Each time I wanted to change the background thought I had to start from the default.
I'm on an XP Home System and just downloaded SP3. It was working with SP2.
Not sure if this helps any.