Had to uninstall ZIPPO theme...
Monday, February 9, 2004 by rookwood | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I am using several themes and have had no major issues recently until I installed the ZIPPO theme this weekend. My system slowed down noticably with minor problems until I got to work today and began using some of my more intensive programs (Autodesk REVIT). The program would not open then I would get the dreaded blue screen and would have to hit the KILL button.
Otherwise, everything just slowed down, even when browsing the windows explorer or just opening small document files. I also noticed jerkiness in ObjectDock items when I had the Windows Media Player (with the zippo theme) open. Close Media Player and all was well.
I have a new Dell INSPIRON 8500 notebook with 2.4GHz, 1GB ram, 80G HD and NVIDIA GeForce4 4200 adapter w/64mg.
Otherwise, everything just slowed down, even when browsing the windows explorer or just opening small document files. I also noticed jerkiness in ObjectDock items when I had the Windows Media Player (with the zippo theme) open. Close Media Player and all was well.
I have a new Dell INSPIRON 8500 notebook with 2.4GHz, 1GB ram, 80G HD and NVIDIA GeForce4 4200 adapter w/64mg.
Essencay
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:38 AM
And your running a Win9x OS? My guess. Since I haven't seen a BSOD since I've used WinXP
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:38 AM
| dreaded blue screen |
And your running a Win9x OS? My guess. Since I haven't seen a BSOD since I've used WinXP
rookwood
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:49 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:49 PM
I'm running WindowsXP SP1. I could understand 'TOO MANY OPEN PROGRAMS' if 1) I ran the same number of open programs on an older Dell Inspiron with less capacity/power and 2) this would happen while using themes other than ZIPPO. Only with Zippo do I get a noticable decrease in all around performance and crashes with certain AutoCAD software.
Stumpy
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:57 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:57 PM
Not all programs sit happy with WindowBlinds, there are some that you may have to exclude, try checking out the "Per Apps" section of the "WB Config" 
Koasati
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:15 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:15 PM
He says he has the problem only while using the Zippo theme, so it doesn't appear to be a WindowBlinds problem.
Essencay
Reply #6 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:17 PM
Reply #6 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:17 PM
I am running the full Zippo theme, obviously I've got different proggies running, but I am having no issues with it.
SelfExiled
Reply #8 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:41 PM
Windowblinds is not an intensive porgram. Therefore, it is not windowblinds or Zippo which is causing your problems, but the "intensive" programs. This should be obvious.
If you close Object Dock and Autocad and look at your available memory in any sysmetrix skin you will see what I mean(with Zippo installed). Then, compare that memory to the memory you have available with AutoCad and ObjectDock running. Then you want to add Window Media Player too?!
Look, here's another way to see exactly what I am saying about your intensive programs. Ctrl-Alt-Delete and in the process tab check memory usage for the open programs. Mine shows Windowblinds "with Zippo Running" using 2.8 MB.
I know you may want to have a totally beautiful desktop, run intensive desktop modules, listen to music, work in your most intensive programs, and not experience any lag. With a 2.4GB processor, and 1GB memory, maybe should be able to. There are many things you can do to try to optimize your system. This is where I believe the problem may lie. But mostly, it is the "intensive" programs; not Windowblinds, not Zippo.
Reply #8 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:41 PM
| I got to work today and began using some of my more intensive programs (Autodesk REVIT). |
Windowblinds is not an intensive porgram. Therefore, it is not windowblinds or Zippo which is causing your problems, but the "intensive" programs. This should be obvious.
If you close Object Dock and Autocad and look at your available memory in any sysmetrix skin you will see what I mean(with Zippo installed). Then, compare that memory to the memory you have available with AutoCad and ObjectDock running. Then you want to add Window Media Player too?!
Look, here's another way to see exactly what I am saying about your intensive programs. Ctrl-Alt-Delete and in the process tab check memory usage for the open programs. Mine shows Windowblinds "with Zippo Running" using 2.8 MB.
I know you may want to have a totally beautiful desktop, run intensive desktop modules, listen to music, work in your most intensive programs, and not experience any lag. With a 2.4GB processor, and 1GB memory, maybe should be able to. There are many things you can do to try to optimize your system. This is where I believe the problem may lie. But mostly, it is the "intensive" programs; not Windowblinds, not Zippo.
rookwood
Reply #9 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 4:34 PM
Reply #9 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 4:34 PM
Latest update:
I had windowblinds loaded with the Ketix theme, ObjectDock with the GT2 theme, Sysmetrix, Rainlendar and a few Desktop Objects. With Outlook, windows explorer, Excel and AutoCAD loaded, everthing works fine. I open Autodesk REVIT (Similar to 3D Studio Max) and all is well.
Then: I replace the desktop wallpaper with the ZIPPO (extremely large file relative to most wallpapers) and all is still well. I replace the Window Media Player skin with the Zippo and my system slows down. ObjectDock is slow to react, windows open slowly, etc. Change skin for Media Player back to original to get good system performance and change windowblinds to Zippo. Close down all applications and start REVIT....CRASH!
I had windowblinds loaded with the Ketix theme, ObjectDock with the GT2 theme, Sysmetrix, Rainlendar and a few Desktop Objects. With Outlook, windows explorer, Excel and AutoCAD loaded, everthing works fine. I open Autodesk REVIT (Similar to 3D Studio Max) and all is well.
Then: I replace the desktop wallpaper with the ZIPPO (extremely large file relative to most wallpapers) and all is still well. I replace the Window Media Player skin with the Zippo and my system slows down. ObjectDock is slow to react, windows open slowly, etc. Change skin for Media Player back to original to get good system performance and change windowblinds to Zippo. Close down all applications and start REVIT....CRASH!
kongit
Reply #10 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 7:18 PM
Reply #10 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 7:18 PM
There might be some module of the zippo theme not present in the ketrix theme that is causing problems. My suggestion is to figure out the differences and play around with the zippo theme until you get it to work. Most likely a dx object or a objectdock docklet interferes with it.
SelfExiled
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 4:19 AM
Reply #11 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 4:19 AM
Try closing everything and installing the zippo theme. Close ObjectDock, AutoCad, sysmetrix, rainlender and anything DX. Then see if Zippo and WMP work together. I believe everything will be fine. The problem is that windows doesn't unload dll's when they are no longer being used. Windows doesn't give you back your memory. Object Dock will just keep building memory usage, and AutoCad won't unload its Dll's either when closed. This speeds up the restart of a program. But, it will keep chewing your memory until you have none(I.E. crash). There is a option to force windows to unload dll's but that doesn't always work, especially for desktop applications. Try checking your memory usage like I said before. Believe it or not, it is a memory usage problem.
retiredmaster
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:16 AM
Reply #12 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:16 AM
Sounds like Windows Media Player Zippo skin that's the problem rather than the WindowBlinds stuff. Does the WMP skin have animations? I know that WMP can have scripts running to do lots of clever stuff (which is on a per-skin basis - different skin, different scripts).
paxx
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 8:26 AM
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 8:26 AM
I had a skin once that I couldn't run because it made my computer extremely slow; even affected the Internet speed. I never figured out why that particular skin was like that, and it seems I was the only one cause nobody else ever said anything about it. I guess that for some strange reason certain skins don't like certain computers. *shrugs*
SelfExiled
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 2:52 PM
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 2:52 PM
He did mention that he has a Dell. Dell has been known to hack the OS to add its advertisement in the start menu of its users computers and its nearly impossible to remove it. Whether its a legal hack or not, its still a hack. I have a gateway and it was the same. They modify the operating system and its just not the same. Maybe you should try getting a unhacked version of WindowsXP. Windows Media Player should have problems like this. It is integral to the Operating system. Is WMP updated fully?
Also, he hasn't reported back to any of the suggestions that I have made. So, what's the use really? My last suggestion would have helped to determine whether it was a Problem with WMP or memory as I suspect. One has to narrow down the possibilities and one can't do it alone. My first suggestion would have helped to determine how much memory he had available just before a crash.
[Message Edited]
Also, he hasn't reported back to any of the suggestions that I have made. So, what's the use really? My last suggestion would have helped to determine whether it was a Problem with WMP or memory as I suspect. One has to narrow down the possibilities and one can't do it alone. My first suggestion would have helped to determine how much memory he had available just before a crash.
[Message Edited]
NightTrainthedark
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:36 PM
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 11, 2004 6:36 PM
Paxx is right by me. Wierd things happen. I thought it was only me.
joetheblow
Reply #16 Thursday, February 12, 2004 10:31 AM
I say yes to both.
Some skins are more intense than others. Windows Media Player can have a skin that uses more CPU time and RAM (as well as other things) because of how it is made or some special feature that takes up memory.
Reply #16 Thursday, February 12, 2004 10:31 AM
| #12 by essorant - 2/11/2004 6:16:15 AM Sounds like Windows Media Player Zippo |
| #13 by paxx - 2/11/2004 8:26:14 AM I had a skin once that I couldn't run because it made my computer extremely slow; even affected the Internet speed. I never figured out why that particular skin was like that, and it seems I was the only one cause nobody else ever said anything about it. I guess that for some strange reason certain skins don't like certain computers. *shrugs* |
I say yes to both.
Some skins are more intense than others. Windows Media Player can have a skin that uses more CPU time and RAM (as well as other things) because of how it is made or some special feature that takes up memory.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:26 AM