WindowBlinds 5 BETA released
Bring Glass to Windows XP
Tuesday, October 4, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Stardock has released the first BETA of WindowBlinds 5. WindowBlinds is a program that can completely alter the look and feel of the Windows GUI. It does so by applying visual styles (skins) to your title bars, push buttons, Start bar, borders, etc.
The most anticipated new feature of WindowBlinds 5 is its ability to deliver glass effects to Windows XP user. Technically speaking, WindowBlinds can do full alpha blended user interfaces now, that means that skins can have a variable level of transparency. Numerous new features have been added to allow skinners to do reflective effects, shadows, smooth edges and more to their WindowBlinds skins.
WindowBlinds 5 also eliminates any dedicated processes to it. When running WindowBlinds 5, no additional processes are needed anymore, it runs as part of the system. WindowBlinds 5 BETA currently requires Windows XP (32-bit edition). A 64-bit edition will be available with beta 2. It should run on any reasonably modern video card.
WindowBlinds 5 is currently only available on Object Desktop. To get Object Desktop visit: www.objectdesktop.com.
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culverSE
Reply #22 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:10 PM
Reply #22 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:10 PM
I am having the same issue where nothing is happening and it is stuck on Classic Mode (although the normal XP themes from MS work).
I have 2 systems I have tried, one with ATI card but the other has INTEL chips (laptop). Both have the exact same problem.
I have also noticed that sometimes between installing the list of skins does not always appear on the Appearance tab of the Display properties as it has in the past. Sometimes its there and others its not.
Hope you guys fix it fast, can't wait to start using it.
I have 2 systems I have tried, one with ATI card but the other has INTEL chips (laptop). Both have the exact same problem.
I have also noticed that sometimes between installing the list of skins does not always appear on the Appearance tab of the Display properties as it has in the past. Sometimes its there and others its not.
Hope you guys fix it fast, can't wait to start using it.
Drop125
Reply #23 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:16 PM
Reply #23 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:16 PM
OMG I was so scared after reading all the problems, but I started by unloading 4.6, then I Installed the 4.9eta, then I restarted, and everything works beautiful..I think maybe the fact that I unloaded 4.6 first might be why it went so smooth...
My system
Fujitsu C2210 lifebook, running 1.7Ghz P4m, with 64meg DDR ATI radeon IGP chipset for video, and I have 768megs of ram...runs super smooth and very fast, much faster then before..Im so sorry alot of the kids are getting weird issues. It makes me feel bad that you aren't getting the most out of a much awaited update..I know though, my brother has a copy of that 64bit XP and only programs specifically written for it will work on it....He cant get any of his old 32 bit proggys to work so he scrapped it...I hope all you guys get the bugs out soon, This new version has some really supersweet new perks and I just want everyone to look cool and have a great looking desktop...Don't worry guys, Im sure the ubersmart codemonkeys here will get it tuned up realatively soon....
Oh also forgot to add I am running this on an external monitor too...not the screen on the laptop, I was doing dual, but I saw a few were having issues that way, so I turned it off..
My system
Fujitsu C2210 lifebook, running 1.7Ghz P4m, with 64meg DDR ATI radeon IGP chipset for video, and I have 768megs of ram...runs super smooth and very fast, much faster then before..Im so sorry alot of the kids are getting weird issues. It makes me feel bad that you aren't getting the most out of a much awaited update..I know though, my brother has a copy of that 64bit XP and only programs specifically written for it will work on it....He cant get any of his old 32 bit proggys to work so he scrapped it...I hope all you guys get the bugs out soon, This new version has some really supersweet new perks and I just want everyone to look cool and have a great looking desktop...Don't worry guys, Im sure the ubersmart codemonkeys here will get it tuned up realatively soon....
Oh also forgot to add I am running this on an external monitor too...not the screen on the laptop, I was doing dual, but I saw a few were having issues that way, so I turned it off..
indigonecro
Reply #24 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:20 PM
Reply #24 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:20 PM
OH well. Guess my theory is out the window. I dunno. Somethings weird with the people having problems. Everyone with issue done all of their Windows Updates?
j dott
Reply #25 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:44 PM
Reply #25 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:44 PM
It installed and works well on my system. So far, I've had two issues. First, logonstudio stopped working. That's easy enough--I just set it to the default Windows login. The other problem is that MS Access (2003) doesn't work with any of the transparency effects (neither the glass effects like in Aura or the transparency in the other two included skins). Other than that, it works very well and looks great.
JDavidHarper
Reply #26 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:02 PM
Reply #26 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:02 PM
Wow... this looks really awesome. It's still buggy at the moment (the joys of Beta), so I'll wait for a stable vesion for now.
Great things a-comin'.
Great things a-comin'.
levi989
Reply #27 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:08 PM
Reply #27 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:08 PM
I hope a more stable version comes out soon!!
Looks really great!!
Looks really great!!
ajtoz
Reply #28 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:15 PM
Reply #28 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:15 PM
Installed without problems here. (Dell Inspiron 6000 with ATI Radeon X300). The beta is much slower to change skins than WB4.6 but this could be associated with the new skins. As per post #25 above, Access 2003 doesn't show the transparency effects on the borders, but all the other Office 2003 apps do show transparency (using Arrow skin).
So far so good.
So far so good.
Melanie Harrison
Reply #29 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:18 PM
Reply #29 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:18 PM
Have similar problems as everyone else.Logon Studio will not work and the new Beta will not support the Vista blinds that I downloaded previously.looking forward to next improved version.
rgerrans
Reply #30 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:20 PM
Reply #30 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:20 PM
I had the same problem of being stuck in classic mode. I uninstalled WB and reinstalled WB5Beta and it now works. Nice job
hashonboat
Reply #31 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:36 PM
I had that but i remembered I got a block notice from windows one care so I rt clicked on WB5 in Stardock Central and chose activate application..all was well it did get stuck a few times changing skins but it seemed to settle in after a restart....
P-4 2.8GHZ HT
1.0 GB DDR400 RAM
GeForceFX5200 w/ 77.77 drivers
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.
Video Information
You have one monitor in total.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
Reply #31 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:36 PM
| I am having the same issue where nothing is happening and it is stuck on Classic Mode (although the normal XP themes from MS work). |
I had that but i remembered I got a block notice from windows one care so I rt clicked on WB5 in Stardock Central and chose activate application..all was well it did get stuck a few times changing skins but it seemed to settle in after a restart....
P-4 2.8GHZ HT
1.0 GB DDR400 RAM
GeForceFX5200 w/ 77.77 drivers
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
If you suffer visible corruption (overbright) on the frames and have a NVIDIA board then please be aware this is a NVIDIA bug. It has been seen on GeForce 4 cards and some FX series cards.
Video Information
You have one monitor in total.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
'NetMeeting driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV1', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
'RDPDD Chained DD' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV2', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.
indigonecro
Reply #32 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:38 PM
Reply #32 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:38 PM
Gotta love how programs pick and choose which computers to work on, and which ones not to work on. I'll just pray I'm fortunate I suppose. But, as a techie of sorts I would still like to find out what's causing it.. If that's possible when about 7 million things factor in. Lol
rustyb22
Reply #33 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:44 PM
Reply #33 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:44 PM
Installed WB5 beta, installation was fine and will diaplay the included skins quite well. Creates significant visual corruption on the menu bar of internet explorer and the base of the taskbar when using my preferred skin which is Kol's Windows Vista. Dell optiplex gx240, p4 2.6ghz, 1gb Ram, Gforce Fx5200 128mb dual head graphics card. I think it may be the NVIDIA bug issue. Either way I removed the beta and went back to WB4.6 pending the next release.
R3alest
Reply #34 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:10 PM
Reply #34 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:10 PM
I get that same Rundll error, but once I get those windows out of the way, it works fine...no biggie.
VC2000
Reply #35 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:12 PM
Reply #35 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:12 PM
OK had my share of issues, but now it's running like MINT, beautiful, deleted the old version of WB 4.6, updated my Vid Drivers, and it was worth the extra work and time, thanks guys for a beautiful product well done, and I can see it only getting better:
Alienware Notebook w/ATI Mobility Chipset 9600/9700 Catalyst Drivers 5.9, 1GIG RAM,
Alienware Notebook w/ATI Mobility Chipset 9600/9700 Catalyst Drivers 5.9, 1GIG RAM,
starkers
Reply #36 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
I have a problem when applying a skin with LogonStudio, after clicking apply my screen goes to a blank blue with no access and I have to reboot from the tower. Upon reboot, the selected logon screen is applied as normal but I get the following message:
LogoniuX.exe Application error.
The instruction at "0x00000000" referenced at"0x00000000" The memory could not be read. Click ok to terminate the program. Click cancel to debug the program.
I'm running Windows XP Pro SP2; P4 2.8; 1.5 DDRRAM; ATI 9800 256mb (Catalyst 5.8); Geforce GA-81PE1000 Pro2 mobo.
Apart from that small snag, WB 5 is as smooth as a babys bottom and applies all pre 5 skins without issue. Thank you Stardock, this version is by far the most awesome and I'm confident it'll get better and better.
Reply #36 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
| interestingly enough, I seem to be having a problem with the LogonUI since I installed WB5. it's causing my system to crash whenever coming out of a hibernation or standby state. |
I have a problem when applying a skin with LogonStudio, after clicking apply my screen goes to a blank blue with no access and I have to reboot from the tower. Upon reboot, the selected logon screen is applied as normal but I get the following message:
LogoniuX.exe Application error.
The instruction at "0x00000000" referenced at"0x00000000" The memory could not be read. Click ok to terminate the program. Click cancel to debug the program.
I'm running Windows XP Pro SP2; P4 2.8; 1.5 DDRRAM; ATI 9800 256mb (Catalyst 5.8); Geforce GA-81PE1000 Pro2 mobo.
Apart from that small snag, WB 5 is as smooth as a babys bottom and applies all pre 5 skins without issue. Thank you Stardock, this version is by far the most awesome and I'm confident it'll get better and better.
depl0y
Reply #37 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
Reply #37 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
At this moment it is more than I expected. Because it runs without flaws on my laptop as well as on my desktop.
My laptop is a Dell D800 (Pentium-M 1.7, 1GB of ram) with a Geforce 4600, with Windows 2003 installed. My desktop is a custom build P4 D830, with a Geforce 7800GTX.
It runs really smooth on both machines an I really love the shadows + transparent borders.
My laptop is a Dell D800 (Pentium-M 1.7, 1GB of ram) with a Geforce 4600, with Windows 2003 installed. My desktop is a custom build P4 D830, with a Geforce 7800GTX.
It runs really smooth on both machines an I really love the shadows + transparent borders.
xxZeroVirusxx
Reply #38 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
Reply #38 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:30 PM
Has anyone had specific problems after rundll crashes?
indigonecro
Reply #39 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:38 PM
Reply #39 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:38 PM
Hmm,
I wonder if running: (Before WB 5 Beta Install)
regsvr32 /u jscript.dll
regsvr32 /u vbscript.dll
Would help correct some issues?
I've seen the commands correct everything from Windows Update issues, to Codec issues in WMP and other various WMP issues. Who knows? The Shadow I suppose.
Damn jscript and vbscript DLLs. Lol
I wonder if running: (Before WB 5 Beta Install)
regsvr32 /u jscript.dll
regsvr32 /u vbscript.dll
Would help correct some issues?
I've seen the commands correct everything from Windows Update issues, to Codec issues in WMP and other various WMP issues. Who knows? The Shadow I suppose.
Damn jscript and vbscript DLLs. Lol
--Gabriel
Reply #40 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:39 PM
Reply #40 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:39 PM
Cheers to alpha blending, jeers to pretty much everything else.
This could just be me, but it feels like you de-user-friendlied the hell out of Windowblinds. I loved the tray icon. I used it to edit the current skin, and to reload the current skin when working with SKS, or when I encountered an error. Plus being able to launch the WBConfig w/o having to go through the Display Properties was very handy.
As I've been fighting with WB5 to install correctly, I've tried to do an uninstall but whatever hidden process you've got it running as now won't release the DLLs in the WB folder. I can't kill the process because of the added ultra useful feature of hiding it from me. Looks like I'll have to do yet ANOTHER system reboot before I can delete those. Often when I've been working on a skin for hours WB tends to get ahold of a file (usually the block UIS) and refuse to allow me to edit it... being able to kill the WBLOAD was the solution.
I don't see what was gained from adopting the "zero footprint" feature... besides it looking at 1st glance not to use resources.
Errors encountered: (system info in screenshot) http://s91158756.onlinehome.us/Error.jpg
This could just be me, but it feels like you de-user-friendlied the hell out of Windowblinds. I loved the tray icon. I used it to edit the current skin, and to reload the current skin when working with SKS, or when I encountered an error. Plus being able to launch the WBConfig w/o having to go through the Display Properties was very handy.
As I've been fighting with WB5 to install correctly, I've tried to do an uninstall but whatever hidden process you've got it running as now won't release the DLLs in the WB folder. I can't kill the process because of the added ultra useful feature of hiding it from me. Looks like I'll have to do yet ANOTHER system reboot before I can delete those. Often when I've been working on a skin for hours WB tends to get ahold of a file (usually the block UIS) and refuse to allow me to edit it... being able to kill the WBLOAD was the solution.
I don't see what was gained from adopting the "zero footprint" feature... besides it looking at 1st glance not to use resources.
Errors encountered: (system info in screenshot) http://s91158756.onlinehome.us/Error.jpg
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Reply #21 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:08 PM