IP on Vista X64.. WTF
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 by Phoon | Discussion: Icons
After several months of NOT using IP due to the problems with it when you uninstall it, I thought I would give it another try.
OS is Vista Ultimate x64 installed via Impulse.
Upon applying the first package the damn program once again borked several of my icons to unknown types. Even some default windows apps like remote desktop connection. It even turned the IE icon on my start menu to Firefox icon. (yes FF is installed on the system).
All I can say at this point is WTF? If the application is not 100% usable on x64 why do you even write it so it will install on it.
Seems like every time I try it that it screws something up. Now I'm stuck with shitty icons that aren't fixed by an uninstall of IP either.
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 17, 2009 5:42 PM
Phoon I though IP was one that was working okay with Vista X64 bit, I guess it isn't. I can't help, still on XP.
EDIT: Just checked the product page and it shows that it should work, so have you started up a ticket with support?
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 17, 2009 5:45 PM
No Philly I haven't, nor am I going to. The last time I addressed issues with IP borking my icons like this the official answer from support was " re-install your OS ".
Looks like I'm going to have to do that anyway.
This will be the last time I install IP on a production system.
I am going to set up a vista ultimate x64 virtual machine, take snapshot of a clean install and then see if it breaks when I install IP.
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:21 PM
That does sound drastic. Usually when something happens with one on the Stardock programs a simple uninstall, reboot and reinstall is all that is needed to get it working correctly. Wonder what the thought was behind the suggestion to reinstall the OS? I kind of think logic would say the OS was working ok before you downloaded any software, like IP, or you would have fixed any problem before doing that.
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:30 PM
Lots of folks have reported problems with IP and Vista 64, myself included. Look at the forum for Stardock Support-Object Desktop-IconPackager. I could not find a workaround for the same problem before my Object Desktop subscription expired, so am left with no functioning IP program.
Reply #6 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 8:38 AM
I hear ya bmetelsky.. here is a good example. https://forums.wincustomize.com/309116
I would really like to know why this application is written to allow an install on Vista x64 when the developers know full damn well that there are issues and the only resolution is to tell customers to re-install their OS.
Re-installing the OS on this particular system is a thorough pain in the ass and will cause quite a hit in productivity today.
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Reply #7 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 11:55 AM
We are looking a permananat solution now.
Until we get a permanant fix here is a bat file that will unregister the shellext.dll file and address the issue.
Save the file to your desktop, right click on the ip.bat file and then select Run As Administrator. Once run, the shellext.dll file will be unregistered and a reboot will be required.
https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=downloadfile&downloaditemid=3
Reply #8 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:18 PM
I had this problem a couple weeks ago.
I uninstalled and reinstalled in Impulse a few time but was unable to fix it. I figured that the install was borked so I took the cleaner tool and deleted everything I could that pertained to IP4. I then installed Stardock Central and installed IP4 through it. It still didn't work right nor was I able to get all of my original icons back. Frustrated, I finally said the hell with it and left it installed.
A couple days later I updated my video card drivers and my icons came back. I had no idea why or if it was just a coincidence but Icon Packager 4 is now running fine on my Vista Ultimate SP1 64bit install. Since it’s now running right, I doubt I’ll try updating it until the next major update or OS reinstall. I hate it that I spent all that time screwing with it and letting it kick my ass and then it fixes itself and I’m not sure of why.
Just so you know, I have a Nvidia card and I always uninstall my video drivers prior to installing new ones.
Reply #9 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:21 PM
Which version of IP are you using?
I am using version 4.10.177 (x64) on a machine running Vista Ultimate Service Pack 1-x64. No Problems here.
I did, however, run into this very problem almost a year ago when I first tried it. IP and Vista x64 seem to only have been playing well together (for me) for about the last 2 months.
Reply #10 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:51 PM
For me to get IP working correctly I need to install it though SDC, reboot and update it through Impulse. Once I do this IP works fine. Using Vista x64 as well by the way.
..But thats to install it, after you uninstall it I simply delete the IconHandler folder in the registry (located in: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex) and then I apply a registry backup of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (I highly suggest everyone do this for best results when uninstalling IP) that I made before installing IP so any remaining corrupt icons will be fixed. For some reason if I don't reapply the registry backup after uninstalling IP certain filetypes will be set to the default Windows icon, filetypes like DLL and so on.
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:12 PM
Just curious to know why people are uninstalling IP ![]()
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:23 PM
Until we get a permanant fix here is a bat file that will unregister the shellext.dll file and address the issue.
Save the file to your desktop, right click on the ip.bat file and then select Run As Administrator. Once run, the shellext.dll file will be unregistered and a reboot will be required.
Zubaz,
Once again I have to ask.. If such drastic measures are needed to make IP work correctly on v64 then why is it written to even allow one to install it on v64?
I'm simply done with IP.
Fuzzy, this time it happened out of the gate, not when I wanted to uninstall it.
I've had IP do some very strange things to my system over the years. Uninstalling would correct the other issue and put my icons back ok, until V64.
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 2:39 PM
I don't use Vista much, but IP works ok for me. Maybe this variability between setups is making the problem difficult to track down and fix?
If support get as much information as possible from people about their setup, I'm sure they'll get it sorted.
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:49 PM
And yes Fuzzy, support needs to know. Posts in the forums are good but it's hard to judge how widespread an issue is when you see a few posts now and again (if they even get seen).
If users that are having a problem post back here that the fix above worked, it can be incorporated. But without more input . . we got nothing.
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 4:25 PM
I hope you guys can understand my personal frustration level with this.
I have already reinstalled my OS prior to seeing the response in #7. However, since the problem happened this time before I uninstalled I remain skeptic as to it fixing the problem. I will try to duplicate it on a virtual and test.
I'm sorry, but if tech support flat out tells me that the only fix for a problem is to re-install the operating system then the app should not be permitted to be installed on x64 vista systems when it has been reported that the issue happens with multiple individuals. At least there should be a prominent splash screen or warning of the probable consequences of proceeding with that install.
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:38 PM
Until we get a permanant fix here is a bat file that will unregister the shellext.dll file and address the issue.
Save the file to your desktop, right click on the ip.bat file and then select Run As Administrator. Once run, the shellext.dll file will be unregistered and a reboot will be required.
https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=downloadfile&downloaditemid=3
Zubaz,
I have uninstalled IP after it caused the above problem with my icons. I did a system restore to bring my icons back. Will the use of the above file allow me to install IP on Vista 64 and have a working program? Do you think Stardock would send me a copy of IP 4 since I messed up and did not archive the product? My OD subscription just expired at the same time I migrated to a new computer with Vista64.
Reply #17 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 6:46 PM
I uninstalled it because it "borked" my icons on Vista64. After installing IP on Vista64 multiple icons on the computer were just blank. I could manually change some of them back, but then they would revert back to blank. I had to do a system restore to get all my icons back.
I like IP and have used it for many years, it just didn't work on my new computer.
Reply #18 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 7:44 PM
Did everyone just jump over my post which had a complete solution until Stardock fixes this? ![]()
Reply #19 Wednesday, February 18, 2009 9:29 PM
Ditto. I post to tell y'all that I got it working fine on Vista Ultimate x64, and nobody says a thing. I mean, that's what we're talking about, right?
I didn't do anything fancy; just updated through Impulse and installed. But noone probably cares since I'm not having any problems. 
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Reply #1 Tuesday, February 17, 2009 5:41 PM
I'm also hesitant to even change my icons, likes to lock everything up and require an explorer kill. XP & Vista 64