WindowBlinds application compatibility issues
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by Neil Banfield | Discussion: WindowBlinds
It has come to our attention that some people may have had issues with some apps and WB and opted not to tell anyone about it.
Obviously we would like to know about them so we can resolve the issues.
If you have had an issue with an app caused by being skinned by WB, please post the following information in this thread:
1) The app name
2) The OS you are using
3) The theme you are using
4) The problem you have encountered
5) If you did report it to support a ticket number would help.
If the issue is visual a screenshot would help and where the app is more unusual we would like to know where we may be able to obtain a trial or demo version of it from.
Please note that we are not looking for bug reports on making skins here. This is specifically for application issues.
Reply #62 Monday, January 30, 2012 7:50 AM
I'm having problems with the new 7.31 (build 317 x64) on Windows 7. Things work OK for a while after a fresh system start, then everything just goes crazy. Firefox and Opera are especially susceptible to problems, with Windowblinds drawing the title bars and caption buttons all funky when maximized, and not at all when in windowed mode. WB also stops removing window boarders when some apps are made full-screen.
Eventually the problems migrate to the taskbar and other areas.
I've experienced these problems with both 7zone and VXP 2010, the only two skins I use. Switching to Aero or some other theme then back to one of these helps for a while, but it seems the problems crop up again after some time.
Rolling back to the latest official release seems to help, but I'm so very happy that the Directory Opus blacklisting has been removed in the beta, that I hate to roll back ![]()
Reply #63 Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:00 AM
garbanz0: It sounds like something is leaking GDI resources, but tests here are not showing any problems.
Without more information on what is being leaked and by what we have nothing to go on. The taskmanager processes tab should be able to show you resource usage of each of the apps (use the view menu to select the columns required, GDI and USER Objects would be useful). Given the symptoms I would imagine some app is using 7000+. Knowing what that app is would be very useful.
Once you have found it, the GDIView tool from here : http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/gdi_handles.html should let you see what type of handle the process has. This information would greatly help us.
Is anyone else having similar problems?
Reply #64 Wednesday, February 1, 2012 6:49 PM
OK so it happened just now. I checked task manager, the process using the most GDI Objects and User Objects was AirVideoServer, which I use to stream video to my iPad. This was followed by explorer.exe. Neither was using more than 1000 combined objects.
I looked it up in GDIView but I'm not quite sure what info you need from there. The column with the most objects is labeled DC. If this isn't helpful let me know and I'll do what I can to help ![]()
~~ EDIT ~~
OK, my computer is a mess. I just booted, and my taskbar wasn't skinned. I re-applied the WB and all was well, so I restarted again - taskbar not skinned. Open firefox - title bar all messed up.
All these problems started last week when I formatted my system drive and installed Windows 7 Enterprise X64. I just started a new job and I got a MAK license from work, so I thought I'd try it out. I think maybe I'll go back to Home Premium...
Reply #65 Tuesday, February 7, 2012 12:28 PM
Issue 1:
1)cisco webex
2)Windows 7
3)All of them, including just basic windows Aero
4)If i have windows blinds running, when i maximize a window i do not have access to the share window button
5)I did not report it because it is a nuisance, but something i can work around.
Issue 2:
1)Display Fusion
2)Windows 7
3)All of them
4)An extension of the previous problem. with windows blinds running in a webex meeting, i dont have the switch screens button. Without windows blinds i have both buttons.
5)I did not report it because it is a nuisance, but one i can work around.
Reply #66 Wednesday, February 15, 2012 7:52 PM
I just received a new workstation at the office with W7 & MS-Office 2010. I am not sure if this is an application problem or if I need to implement a specific configuration to make it work:
1) MS-Office 2010 suite; any product..Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.
2) WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.3 (build 310 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 3470 (Microsoft Corporation WDDM 1.1)
(Generic PnP Monitor) 2 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 3470 (Microsoft Corporation WDDM 1.1)
(USB Adapter) 3 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 3470 (Microsoft Corporation WDDM 1.1)
Wblind.dll 2011/10/17 11:18:20
Wblind64.dll 2011/10/17 11:18:48
Wbsrv.dll 2011/09/26 15:10:56
SevenConfig.exe 2011/10/13 17:33:52
Wbload.exe 2010/10/20 16:08:35
Wbhelp.dll 2011/10/04 10:01:37
Tray.dll 2009/10/23 20:12:19
Wbload.dll 2010/06/07 15:59:25
Screen.exe 2010/06/07 15:59:43
3) All themes
4) None of the MS-Office applications skin.
Thanks
Reply #67 Wednesday, February 15, 2012 8:01 PM
Could you post a screenshot showing what you mean.
I am wondering if that vga usb adapter is turning the DWM off in which case office would revert to its own frames.
Reply #68 Wednesday, February 15, 2012 10:24 PM
Below is a snapshot of MS-Word while using vStyler's Frontier skin. The results are the same, regardless of which of the 3 monitors that MS-Office application is on. Thanks

Reply #69 Wednesday, February 15, 2012 11:07 PM
I have found that I'm having some funtionality issues with one of my most used graphic software program called IcoFX.
It seems that a few of the windowblinds that I have used, don't let me expand the work palette in several directions. I do not know if this is a problem specific to windowblinds in conflict with this software or if it is just the way a few of the blinds were put together. Below is a screen showing the areas of inoperability as far as stretching the work palette. I've had to work around it by simply changing to a different blind that I know it will work with, but this is frustrating because I use it a lot and I can't enjoy some of my favorite blinds because they simply won't work with this software. The blind in the screen shot is the latest called Dragon Master and it also does not work with this software. I would love to get this problem resolved, as it has been a major area of frustration for me. Thank-you. -- Ace --
------- ----- ----- ----- ---- -----------
Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9 Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 6.8
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.31 (build 316 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC (HP w2207 Wide LCD Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Wblind.dll 2012/01/25 10:25:20 Wblind64.dll 2012/01/25 10:25:07 Wbsrv.dll 2011/09/26 14:10:56 SevenConfig.exe 2012/01/14 15:21:58 Wbload.exe 2010/10/20 15:08:35 Wbhelp.dll 2011/10/04 09:01:37 Tray.dll 2009/10/23 19:12:19 Wbload.dll 2010/06/07 14:59:25 Screen.exe 2010/06/07 14:59:43

Reply #70 Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:15 AM
Reduced 77%Original 776 x 277
So what is your issue then? Microsoft Office does not get skinned by Windowblinds, it has its own skin and Windwoblinds cannot skin it.
Reply #71 Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:16 AM
It seems that a few of the windowblinds that I have used, don't let me expand the work palette in several directions. I do not know if this is a problem specific to windowblinds in conflict with this software or if it is just the way a few of the blinds were put together. Below is a screen showing the areas of inoperability as far as stretching the work palette. I've had to work around it by simply changing to a different blind that I know it will work with, but this is frustrating because I use it a lot and I can't enjoy some of my favorite blinds because they simply won't work with this software. The blind in the screen shot is the latest called Dragon Master and it also does not work with this software. I would love to get this problem resolved, as it has been a major area of frustration for me. Thank-you. -- Ace --
------- ----- ----- ----- ---- -----------
Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9 Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 6.8
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.31 (build 316 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC (HP w2207 Wide LCD Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT
Wblind.dll 2012/01/25 10:25:20 Wblind64.dll 2012/01/25 10:25:07 Wbsrv.dll 2011/09/26 14:10:56 SevenConfig.exe 2012/01/14 15:21:58 Wbload.exe 2010/10/20 15:08:35 Wbhelp.dll 2011/10/04 09:01:37 Tray.dll 2009/10/23 19:12:19 Wbload.dll 2010/06/07 14:59:25 Screen.exe 2010/06/07 14:59:43
Reduced 42%Original 1410 x 893
If it is only certain skins causing your issue, then you need to contact the skins author as it would not be Windowblinds causing the issue.
Reply #72 Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:10 AM
O.K. I will do that, thank-you so much LightStar for your feedback ,I very much appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.
-- Ace ---
Reply #73 Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:54 AM
Reduced 77%Original 776 x 277
So what is your issue then? Microsoft Office does not get skinned by Windowblinds, it has its own skin and Windwoblinds cannot skin it.
The image does not seem to be working right now, but I should correct something here.
Office 2007/2010 WILL skin the titlebars of the main office window if the DWM is enabled. This should be enabled on all modern machines unless an app is running that is incompatible or the video hardware is old.
The client controls inside the main office window will use the office skin as thats how the app works, but any child windows will again skin with the WB skin.
On Windows XP it will always use the Office skin on the main window as there is no DWM.
Reply #74 Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:18 AM
Did not know that Neil, thanks! Next question... what the heck is DWM and how do you enable it?
Reply #75 Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:20 AM
The DWM is the Desktop Window Manager. I.e. the thing that provides glass on Windows Vista / 7.
Without that functional you would get no animations on opening / closing / min / restore windows plus no thumbnails when you mouseover the taskbar buttons.
Reply #76 Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:37 AM
Quoting LightStar, reply 74Did not know that Neil, thanks! Next question... what the heck is DWM and how do you enable it?
The DWM is the Desktop Window Manager. I.e. the thing that provides glass on Windows Vista / 7.
Without that functional you would get no animations on opening / closing / min / restore windows plus no thumbnails when you mouseover the taskbar buttons.
OK, guess I got it enabled then, thanks.
Reply #77 Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:49 AM
This is WB on Office 2007 : http://cdn.thetechjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/24306-windowblinds-7.jpg
Reply #78 Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:59 AM
Quoting LightStar, reply 74Did not know that Neil, thanks! Next question... what the heck is DWM and how do you enable it?
The DWM is the Desktop Window Manager. I.e. the thing that provides glass on Windows Vista / 7.
Without that functional you would get no animations on opening / closing / min / restore windows plus no thumbnails when you mouseover the taskbar buttons.
OK, guess I got it enabled then, thanks.
Two easy ways to start it if it's not working... Run your Windows Experience Index.
And the easier? Start Menu> dwm.exe> click it.
Reply #79 Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:07 PM
Just a criticism... Its a little disheartening to have my issue ignored for 8 days but to see that you responded to someone else all of 10 minutes after he posted on here! If nothing can be done about my issue, so be it (like i said in my original post, it was a nuisance, but easily one i can work around) but i feel like i should at least have been acknowledged. I know you are doing this as a courtesy, and i appreciate that, so im not really mad, its just kind of weird, is all...
Reply #80 Saturday, February 18, 2012 3:06 PM
rec'd notifcation through hp action center that wb compatability issues were causing IE9 to crash. advised to visit stardock to update wb, but can't find a way to update the software, only to buy. not willing to buy new, since this is software I already have.
using Windows 7, just updated IE to v9. The theme is considered "unnamed" and was preinstalled on my netbook when I bought it.
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Reply #61 Thursday, January 26, 2012 11:18 PM
2) The OS you are using: Windows 7 SP1 x65
1) Windowblinds would not cause this.
2) That's a bit too much.
3) OK
4) Caused by high CPU usage, not by WB.