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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hashonboat
Reply #83 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:04 AM
Reply #83 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:04 AM
Wow! I couldn't edit my last comment after only 5 minutes....
I forgot to report...My laptop runs measurably faster now...I used to have to run windows XP style most of the time because Windowblinds/Dell would clock my CPU down to 797 MHZ...With this new WB5 it runs GREAT and FAST!!
I forgot to report...My laptop runs measurably faster now...I used to have to run windows XP style most of the time because Windowblinds/Dell would clock my CPU down to 797 MHZ...With this new WB5 it runs GREAT and FAST!!
crissy14
Reply #84 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:24 AM
Reply #84 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:24 AM
Upgarded to v5 and all is well so far. 
Ive tried the new Stealth os and Capice skins and both work fine. All my pre-WB5 skins work fine also. here is my WB troubleshooting report.
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 Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
'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.
I still have one question. Im showing two installations of WB4.90a(
.002 in SDC. Is this normal. Do I need to delete one of them? The first one is showing a new(?) update available 4.60.048 which doesn't make any sense.
Ive tried the new Stealth os and Capice skins and both work fine. All my pre-WB5 skins work fine also. here is my WB troubleshooting report.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 Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
'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.
I still have one question. Im showing two installations of WB4.90a(
.002 in SDC. Is this normal. Do I need to delete one of them? The first one is showing a new(?) update available 4.60.048 which doesn't make any sense.
lmgppag
Reply #85 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:36 AM
Reply #85 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:36 AM
Video Information
You have one monitor in total.
(Monitor Plug and Play) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
'Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.
'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
Right click the desktop and select "Properties" caused the same "RunDll32.exe" error.
Themes "Arrow", "Aura" etc... excellent.
You have one monitor in total.
(Monitor Plug and Play) 1 is attached to Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
'Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.
'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
Right click the desktop and select "Properties" caused the same "RunDll32.exe" error.
Themes "Arrow", "Aura" etc... excellent.
lmgppag
Reply #86 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:37 AM
Reply #86 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:37 AM
Windows XP Home SP2 HP Pavilion dv 1000 Notebook PC
Gallus
Reply #87 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:44 AM
Reply #87 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:44 AM
Alberto's XP SP2 is Italian (post #62), my XP is Portuguese-Brazil and we're having the same RunDll32.exe error...
Was WB5 tested on a non English XP?
By the way, I tested WB 4.90a[b].002.
Was WB5 tested on a non English XP?
By the way, I tested WB 4.90a[b].002.
lmgppag
Reply #88 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:58 AM
Reply #88 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 10:58 AM
My XP SP2 is Spanish. And the same RunDll32.exe error 
Threi
Reply #89 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:53 AM
Nope.
Reply #89 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:53 AM
| Not to sound like a jerk, but I paid for OD and you will too if you want it's benefits. |
Nope.
Yo_Adrian
Reply #90 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:57 AM
Reply #90 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:57 AM
Laoran,
Not all owners of ATI cards are having problems; my system runs great (Radeon 9700 128mb)
My only issues revolve around msstyles not showing up on the WB selector. My workaround is to apply via Skinstudio. I'm sure the Stardock team will fix this eventually.
If interested, I'll trade my 9700 for your ATI X850XT Platium Edition
Not all owners of ATI cards are having problems; my system runs great (Radeon 9700 128mb)
My only issues revolve around msstyles not showing up on the WB selector. My workaround is to apply via Skinstudio. I'm sure the Stardock team will fix this eventually.
If interested, I'll trade my 9700 for your ATI X850XT Platium Edition
df123456
Reply #92 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 12:15 PM
Reply #92 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 12:15 PM
Have a Radeon 9700 Pro on a GA-8PE667 Ultra.
I get a crash from loginuiX.exe upon boot, and upon shutdown, skins get applied with alpha working.
Processes launched with rundll32.exe crash.
Have Catalyst 5.9 (latest) installed, version with the .NET Control Center.
loginguiX.exe crashes remind me of some crashes I had a bit over a year ago, which if I remember correctly were caused due to ATI Catalyst, the Control Center and the .NET Framework, I think I had a beta of some .NET Framework version, or a developer version, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with .NET.
I will now download the non-controlcenter version of the catalyst and then reinstall WB5Beta to test.
well, let me tell you that it did not fix the problem. but I had the chance to take a look at the 5imple skin again, NICE! Can't wait till it works!
ps: using 2 monitors.
ps2: that "...m Files\Stardock\SDCentral\installed\WB5.xml 0 (file not foun..." error also came on my machine.
I get a crash from loginuiX.exe upon boot, and upon shutdown, skins get applied with alpha working.
Processes launched with rundll32.exe crash.
Have Catalyst 5.9 (latest) installed, version with the .NET Control Center.
loginguiX.exe crashes remind me of some crashes I had a bit over a year ago, which if I remember correctly were caused due to ATI Catalyst, the Control Center and the .NET Framework, I think I had a beta of some .NET Framework version, or a developer version, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with .NET.
I will now download the non-controlcenter version of the catalyst and then reinstall WB5Beta to test.
well, let me tell you that it did not fix the problem. but I had the chance to take a look at the 5imple skin again, NICE! Can't wait till it works!
ps: using 2 monitors.
ps2: that "...m Files\Stardock\SDCentral\installed\WB5.xml 0 (file not foun..." error also came on my machine.
Kevin_C
Reply #93 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 1:26 PM
Reply #93 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 1:26 PM
On my work machine, WB5 seems to work just fine. Except there are some oddities like my cursors seems to go behind the parts of skins that are using per-pixel transparencies. Also, windows no longer roll up, I have the right-click button set to always roll-up/down the window and that no longer seems to work.
Specs (that matter):
P4 3GHz 2GB RAM
ATI Radeon X300 Dual-Monitors @ 1600X1200
XP Pro SP2
Specs (that matter):
P4 3GHz 2GB RAM
ATI Radeon X300 Dual-Monitors @ 1600X1200
XP Pro SP2
laurentfr
Reply #94 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 1:32 PM
Reply #94 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 1:32 PM
Only bad behaviour I have. In explorer, Arrow installed, the content of the window is not linked to the border of the frame. So when I drag the window, the border stays still and the content moves !!!
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.
(Écran par défaut) 1 is attached to RADEON X300/X550 Series
'RADEON X300/X550 Series Secondary' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.
'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.
PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report, especially anything related to per-pixel skinning. We don't know what's in that Dell you bought last July or the notebook the office gave you. Per-pixel skinning requires your drivers to at least claim to support the functions needed for it.
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.
(Écran par défaut) 1 is attached to RADEON X300/X550 Series
'RADEON X300/X550 Series Secondary' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.
'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.
PLEASE report all this information when submitting a problem report, especially anything related to per-pixel skinning. We don't know what's in that Dell you bought last July or the notebook the office gave you. Per-pixel skinning requires your drivers to at least claim to support the functions needed for it.
theleader
Reply #95 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 2:25 PM
Reply #95 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 2:25 PM
Installation went very well, no errors, rebooted. But not any possibility to apply a skin. Can click what i want to, but nothing happens. Uninstalled it, rebooted, installed it again, but it doesnt't work. Here the report:
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 en Play-monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro (Microsoft Corporation)
'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.
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 en Play-monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro (Microsoft Corporation)
'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.
aufisch
Reply #97 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 3:15 PM
Reply #97 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 3:15 PM
WB5 runs well here on my VAIO (Geforce 420 to go), with the exception of the rather unusual logonui.exe error.
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.
Congratulations to the developpers for the great new preview option in wbconfig I love the fact that I am now able to see the startmenu in the preview. I also found that wbconfig loads much faster and seems to be much more responsive. What a big improvement!
However, I would love to see an option to put wbconfig back in the system tray. I used the 'reload current skin' and the 'edit current skin' options so many times I, really miss them!
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.
Congratulations to the developpers for the great new preview option in wbconfig
I love the fact that I am now able to see the startmenu in the preview. I also found that wbconfig loads much faster and seems to be much more responsive. What a big improvement! However, I would love to see an option to put wbconfig back in the system tray. I used the 'reload current skin' and the 'edit current skin' options so many times I, really miss them!
Bolthus
Reply #98 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 3:36 PM
Reply #98 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 3:36 PM
Booooo. No Win2k support
Has anyone tried running this on a Win2k box yet? What happens if you do?
- No change, looks the same as 4.6?
- Skins look funky?
- WB5 crashes?
- Loss of skins?
- BSOD?
- Win2k gets screwed up and needs to be reinstalled?
- PC punches you in the head before catching fire?
You know, a lot of us still run Win2k, even though we have upgraded or new hardware (and 49% of all business PC's still run Win2k)...
I ask because I forsee that many/most/all of the upcoming skins will or might require WB5 and those of with Win2k might have to upgrade to be able to use them.
Has anyone tried running this on a Win2k box yet? What happens if you do?
- No change, looks the same as 4.6?
- Skins look funky?
- WB5 crashes?
- Loss of skins?
- BSOD?
- Win2k gets screwed up and needs to be reinstalled?
- PC punches you in the head before catching fire?
You know, a lot of us still run Win2k, even though we have upgraded or new hardware (and 49% of all business PC's still run Win2k)...
I ask because I forsee that many/most/all of the upcoming skins will or might require WB5 and those of with Win2k might have to upgrade to be able to use them.
df123456
Reply #99 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 4:35 PM
Windows XP Pro German
Reply #99 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 4:35 PM
| Have a Radeon 9700 Pro on a GA-8PE667 Ultra. I get a crash from loginuiX.exe upon boot, and upon shutdown, skins get applied with alpha working. Processes launched with rundll32.exe crash. Have Catalyst 5.9 (latest) installed, version with the .NET Control Center. loginguiX.exe crashes remind me of some crashes I had a bit over a year ago, which if I remember correctly were caused due to ATI Catalyst, the Control Center and the .NET Framework, I think I had a beta of some .NET Framework version, or a developer version, I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it had to do with .NET. I will now download the non-controlcenter version of the catalyst and then reinstall WB5Beta to test. well, let me tell you that it did not fix the problem. but I had the chance to take a look at the 5imple skin again, NICE! Can't wait till it works! ps: using 2 monitors. ps2: that "...m Files\Stardock\SDCentral\installed\WB5.xml 0 (file not foun..." error also came on my machine. |
Windows XP Pro German
Frogboy
Reply #100 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 5:11 PM
Reply #100 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 5:11 PM
There is no Win2K support for transparency effects. Sorry. 
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Reply #81 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:59 AM
Pentium-M
1.60 GHZ
512 MB RAM
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.
(Dell P1230) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
'Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAY2', but is not attached to the desktop.
'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.
'LapLink Mirror Driver' also exists as device '\\.\DISPLAYV3', but is not attached to the desktop and is a mirror driver.