WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1B released
Lots of fixes and tuning
Wednesday, October 5, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1B was released today. It is a major update and improvement over yesterday's beta and should clear up most of the issues for those users who ran into problems. But it's more than just a bug fix, additional performance improvements have been put in as well.
Users of WindowBlinds 5 have also reported that it is significantly faster than WindowBlinds 4.6 (which in itself was already very fast). That's because WindowBlinds 5's engine has been further optimized for drawing and resizing and taking advantage of the latest video cards.
A few notes about WindowBlinds 5 Beta 1b (4.90b):
- We don't recommend using it with WindowFX yet. We have a new WindowFX about to go up that has been optimized to work with WindowBlinds 5.
- Skin changing should be faster.
- Right-Click on title bar override to make it roll up the window has been added for Alpha-Blended title bars.
- RunDLL32 issue resolved.
- WinZip issue resolved.
- Min/Max settings respect settings.
- WB Config now has support for helping those with ATI 9000 that have corrupted mouse buttons.
- Corruption with Kol's WinVista skin has been resolved.
- Taskbar corruption (graphical) issues should be fixed.
- LogonStudio compatibility issue resolved.
All in all, a busy day for the WindowBlinds team. You need to have Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com) in order to get access to the beta.
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Drakknar
Reply #102 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:11 AM
Regarding the corrupt titlebars, I just tried once in order to see if it could solve my problem, too, but currently and at the time I submitted the problems, I had not that option enabled.
Well except for the task manager, I'm quite sure that while loading the other applications I haven't pressed any the ctrl key; I'll see if I am able to replicate the problem and then I'll report here
.
Reply #102 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:11 AM
| Drakkner: Only enable the option for corrupt titlebars if you have that problem! Regarding the unskinned apps, are you sure you didn't have ctrl pressed when they loaded? |
Regarding the corrupt titlebars, I just tried once in order to see if it could solve my problem, too, but currently and at the time I submitted the problems, I had not that option enabled.
Well except for the task manager, I'm quite sure that while loading the other applications I haven't pressed any the ctrl key; I'll see if I am able to replicate the problem and then I'll report here
.
pcdoc1
Reply #103 Friday, October 7, 2005 6:19 AM
Reply #103 Friday, October 7, 2005 6:19 AM
Lastshot - Turn off auto-archive in sdcentral........
_02
Reply #104 Friday, October 7, 2005 6:48 AM
Reply #104 Friday, October 7, 2005 6:48 AM
Well, I set a restore point and updated!!! So far so good. It said it was installed correctly and my computer supports pixel by pixel. I love the way the skins are grouped into categories. Also the preview that shows my actual desktop with the skin. A very nice update, indeed. I am using the 5imple Alpha skin and it looks great. Thanks!! 
BobW
Reply #105 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:29 AM
Reply #105 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:29 AM
When double clicking on a downloaded wba, the balloon comes up in the sys tray, but clicking on it does not load the skin.
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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.
Robbie_Boy
Reply #106 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:40 AM
Reply #106 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:40 AM
Well for me "Aura" skin is fantastic 
But is there a chance that you can make the same in black?? Please Mike
Great work guy's
don't seem to have many problems HERE!!
But is there a chance that you can make the same in black?? Please MikeGreat work guy's
don't seem to have many problems HERE!!
_02
Reply #107 Friday, October 7, 2005 9:58 AM
Reply #107 Friday, October 7, 2005 9:58 AM
I am loving this new version. I did want to let you know that if I open the start menu while I have a web page up, the web page is behind and slighltly around the outside of the start menu next time I use it with just my desktop showing. Kind of looks like a frame around it, but behind it. It can bee seen through the start menu as well.
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(KDS Visual Sensations XF-70/XF-7e/XF-7p/XF-7i) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(KDS Visual Sensations XF-70/XF-7e/XF-7p/XF-7i) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
'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.
[email protected]
Reply #109 Friday, October 7, 2005 4:15 PM
Reply #109 Friday, October 7, 2005 4:15 PM
Ignore the error about being unable to archive on the initial install (or just untick the box to auto-archive). As it's never been installed before, it's confused.
[email protected]
Reply #110 Friday, October 7, 2005 4:17 PM
Reply #110 Friday, October 7, 2005 4:17 PM
And the skin not applying when you click the tooltip is a known issue.
Mirical Bernd
Reply #111 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:06 PM
Reply #111 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:06 PM
here is my trouble report:
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV- HLP- UI+
WindowBlinds is not installed correctly on this PC. If you did not reboot after installing WindowBlinds 5 for the first time, then please reboot and try this again.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine does not support per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
This is because :
Your computer graphics hardware does not support acceleration of per pixel alpha. WindowBlinds requires this for per pixel alphablended borders as without it performance would be poor. Please see if you can obtain new drivers for your graphics hardware. Recent ATI & NVIDIA boards should support this feature. Onboard graphics tend not to.
You have 2 monitors.
(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 1 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 2 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
'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.
got it with the new c-Update. hope it helps
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV- HLP- UI+
WindowBlinds is not installed correctly on this PC. If you did not reboot after installing WindowBlinds 5 for the first time, then please reboot and try this again.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine does not support per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
This is because :
Your computer graphics hardware does not support acceleration of per pixel alpha. WindowBlinds requires this for per pixel alphablended borders as without it performance would be poor. Please see if you can obtain new drivers for your graphics hardware. Recent ATI & NVIDIA boards should support this feature. Onboard graphics tend not to.
You have 2 monitors.
(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 1 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
(LG StudioWorks/FLATRON LCD 570LS) 2 is attached to Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
'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.
got it with the new c-Update. hope it helps
Neil Banfield
Reply #112 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:34 PM
Reply #112 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:34 PM
You are missing 2 key WB files. WindowBlinds is not going to run without them.
Please try reinstalling WB.
Your lack of perpixel alpha is normal for the G450 though. They don't support it and never will do.
Robbie_Boy
Reply #113 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:37 PM
Reply #113 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:37 PM
updated to WB 490c(
and it messed up but when i uninstalled it first and reinstalled it it worked ok but still have the goast tabbs on task bar dose anyone have the same problem???? 
and it messed up but when i uninstalled it first and reinstalled it it worked ok but still have the goast tabbs on task bar dose anyone have the same problem???? 
sos
Reply #114 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:58 PM
Reply #114 Friday, October 7, 2005 7:58 PM
Hey Neil,
Great work as always. Is there a plan to emulate the blur that vista does on titlebars and borders as well as the transparency?
sos
Great work as always. Is there a plan to emulate the blur that vista does on titlebars and borders as well as the transparency?
sos
lilstarfish
Reply #115 Friday, October 7, 2005 8:26 PM
Reply #115 Friday, October 7, 2005 8:26 PM
Robbie_Boy,
Yeah, I tried it but it nuked my firewall
Gonna try a clean install...brb.
UPDATE:
Ahhh..now it works again =D
Tip for people trying to get the thin fonts look good
in Vista and Arrow skins;
Right-click on desktop and chose Properties.
Go to Appearance tab and click Effects button.
Check the "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:"
and chose Clear Type.
Yeah, I know it's usually best to go with Standard on CRT monitors but
with these two skins the thin fonts get a lot more readable with Clear Type
Yeah, I tried it but it nuked my firewall
Gonna try a clean install...brb.
UPDATE:
Ahhh..now it works again =D
Tip for people trying to get the thin fonts look good
in Vista and Arrow skins;
Right-click on desktop and chose Properties.
Go to Appearance tab and click Effects button.
Check the "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:"
and chose Clear Type.
Yeah, I know it's usually best to go with Standard on CRT monitors but
with these two skins the thin fonts get a lot more readable with Clear Type
JDavidHarper
Reply #116 Friday, October 7, 2005 10:11 PM
Reply #116 Friday, October 7, 2005 10:11 PM
This is awesome; my problems from the first beta are gone now. I love it! Awesome!
Chef Garry
Reply #117 Friday, October 7, 2005 10:16 PM
Reply #117 Friday, October 7, 2005 10:16 PM
FWIW, build c doesn't resolve my issue (post 83) re other users being able to use WB.
Robbie_Boy
Reply #118 Saturday, October 8, 2005 12:27 AM
chears for that it's a lot better
Reply #118 Saturday, October 8, 2005 12:27 AM
| Tip for people trying to get the thin fonts look good in Vista and Arrow skins; Right-click on desktop and chose Properties. Go to Appearance tab and click Effects button. Check the "use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts:" and chose Clear Type. |
chears for that it's a lot better
Makaveli213
Reply #119 Saturday, October 8, 2005 1:35 AM
Reply #119 Saturday, October 8, 2005 1:35 AM
Finally it works. It is so lovely to see this on XP. The onyl things i have found is with Arrow theme the Right Click goes "fuzzy" and you lose part of the window at the top near the row of drop down menus. 2 minor things. They dont [hase me much i still love this. Cant wait to se more skins available for this.
d0g0n46
Reply #120 Saturday, October 8, 2005 1:56 AM
Reply #120 Saturday, October 8, 2005 1:56 AM
Great program team! javascript:editor_insertHTML('ucCommentForm_comments_txtBody',' ')
The transparency looks seamless and by having it now we will be rather 'Ho-hum, so what?' when Vista becomes available in a years time.
The interface still has some text display bugs. The text on the "My Toolbars" and "My Animations" screens is completely obscured by blacked bars on my version, the buttons and images on those pages are fine.
Also two buttons on the "My Skins" screen could do with mouse-over descriptions.
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(Philips 170B (17inch LCD MONITOR 170B6)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
'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.
Cheers
David
')The transparency looks seamless and by having it now we will be rather 'Ho-hum, so what?' when Vista becomes available in a years time.
The interface still has some text display bugs. The text on the "My Toolbars" and "My Animations" screens is completely obscured by blacked bars on my version, the buttons and images on those pages are fine.
Also two buttons on the "My Skins" screen could do with mouse-over descriptions.
WindowBlinds 5 BETA Troubleshooting Report:
STATUS : WB+ SRV+ HLP+ UI+
WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC.
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.
You have one monitor in total.
(Philips 170B (17inch LCD MONITOR 170B6)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
'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.
Cheers
David
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Reply #101 Friday, October 7, 2005 4:31 AM
j dott: It sounds like you have the first beta installed. The winzip extraction problem was specifically fixed in the 4.9 beta 1b build.