Windows Explorer Crashes on 64-bit OS

from Stardock Forums

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the Object Desktop Suite.  All the software I've tried so far runs with no problems on my PC except WB7.  WB7 works as advertised when I apply a UIS0 skin but when I try a UIS2 skin Windows Explorer crashes and I get a werFault message and then all my desktop icons and the taskbar disappear.  Has anyone else run into this problem or got any ideas on how to correct it? 

Here’s my About WindowBlinds info

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9

Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 6.7

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.01 (build 247 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

(SyncMaster 245B/245BW/245BPlus(Digital)) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS

Wblind.dll           2010/02/15 12:09:20

Wblind64.dll       2010/02/15 12:09:05

Wbsrv.dll             2009/12/03 11:44:41

SevenConfig.exe               2010/02/15 12:09:57

Wbload.exe         2010/02/02 12:33:18

Wbhelp.dll          2009/10/07 13:35:07

Tray.dll                2009/10/21 07:13:19

Wbload.dll                         2009/09/25 06:41:28

Screen.exe           2009/12/03 11:43:26

Thanks,

Mike Cline

windowblinds
3,677 views 11 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

No.  All that's on the screen is the wallpaper.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
End of quote

I've seen that card in a lot of posts over several years Neil.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Mike,  I thought of one possibility.  Are you sure the video driver is up to date?  If not, you might want to update it.  If it's been updated recently, you might want to try rolling it back and see what happens.  NVidia has pulled some drivers from their web site lately due to problems with overheating, etc.  Otherwise, I have no clue what it could be.  I have an NVidia GTX 260 here and have had no problems but I am also running in 32 bit. 

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the suggestion Cameochi but I've been there done that.  I'm currently running the lastest NVidia driver 197.13 but I also tried 196.21 and 195.62 with the same results.  I really think the conflict is between WB7 and Windows Explorer based on the error message I keep getting.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

are you using nview? Past versions of Windowblinds have conflicts with nview.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

No I'm not using nview, but I think I've figured out what's happening I just don't know how to fix it. I spent some time yesterday surfing the web looking for info on Windows Explorer.  I found a site that showed how to shutdown Windows Explorer so I gave it a try.  When I shut it down the taskbar and all the desktop icons disappeared just like when I try to apply a UIS2 skin with WB7.  So as a test I re-booted my PC and started WB7. Then I shutdown Windows Explorer and tried applying a UIS2 skin and it worked.  The skin applied with no problem where before I would get an error message.  So based on this experiment I'd say that WB7 is some how causing Windows Explorer to shutdown when I apply the skin.  Now how to fix it................I have no idea.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have the same problem. Windows 7, 64 bit and Windowblinds 7 registered version.  I am using a vertical toolbar, with sabretooth skin. My problem usually occurs when I try to open Control Panel. Windows Explorer has to restart.

I discovered I still had the same problem after reverting back to the standard Aero Skin

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you have the same problem with the standard Aero skin then the issue isn't a WindowBlinds one.

There should be a new WB beta build up today with some tweaks so if anyone is having problems then please try the build out to see if it helps.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

I've been working with Stardock support for a couple of week on this issue and they're stumped.  I just got an e-mail saying they were sending it to the developer for further analysis.  Hopefully the dev can solve the problem.  All the really cool skins are UIS2 and I can't run any of them.  

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

I've got the same problem as you; UIS0 works fine but not UIS2. If I try to apply one it crashes the explorer process and causes werfault errors with some other windows processes.

I was able to apply the UIS2 themes on the same computer within a VM, the only difference between that and my standard OS was software and driver versions. – Haven’t been able to look further, but I suspect Nvidia may be causing the conflict as the VM is using the standard VMware SVGA 3D driver.