'Theme Manager' - fails to apply themes, never gets past 'contacting server'

from WinCustomize Forums
I installed ObjectDesktop for the first time with all components working ok except 'Theme Manager'.

When trying to apply a theme it NEVER proceeds past 'Contacting Server'. I have tried all the included themes with the same result. When selecting 'Featured Site' it manages to get the preview image!, but fails when trying to apply it. I have also tried downloading themes manually from wincustomize.com. Once installed they appear in Theme Manager ok but end up having the same result, when it tries to connect to get the missing aspects. If I leave it trying to contact the server for long enough, the popup disappears (as though it has timed-out) with no error.

Stardock Central works fine, never having a problem in any mode (soft,doc,news,disc,etc).

I am using Windows XP Professional with all the latest updates and latest hardware drivers. I have tried connecting with 2 ISPs (both dialup). I have firewall disabled. I have reinstalled more then 3 times including after using windows restore to jump back, and deleting all leftover stardock files. I have not experienced any problems with other internet applications (irc/ftp/email/web/news). I have tried disabling all other startup applications to avoid conflicts. I have been trying to apply themes over the last 24 hours with no success. I am going nuts >

Any help would be appreciated,
thankyou

trocat



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wincustomize
6,324 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
1st - do not disable your firewall for any program
2nd - your dialup connection ....curious...did you connect to you ISP and then open 'Theme Manager'?
3rd - did you go thru Display Properties to enter 'Theme Manager'...or the Start Menu?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanks for your feedback yrag

1. point taken
2. yes, although i have tried it the other way
3. i have opened 'Theme Manager' from the start menu, from display properties and from stardock central, but the result is always the same.



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Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What version of 'Themes Manager' and/or 'WinStyles' do you show installed in SDC?



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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
'Theme Manager' - Version: 2.00.004 Date: 11/18/2003
'WinStyles' - Version: 2.00.004 Date: 8/22/2003




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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok...you're not set to a Proxy or on a network...correct?



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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
...this couldn't be this easy, but you never know. Go in SDC Tools/Settings/Connection and change server. Restart SDC and go to same setting and hit refresh. Close SDC and open Theme Manager and try it.



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Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
tried it... same result.

I find it strange that Theme Manager is able to download the preview of 'Featured Site'. Its also able to download other programs lik cursorXP when it finds that i dont have them. But contacting the server for themes never works...



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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Look in your Firewall Programs that are allowed access and see if 'Themes Manager' is there.



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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
'thememgr.exe' is set to 'permit all'
earlier i disabled my firewall briefly to test... it didnt help
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok...it has to be in TM settings. Open Themes Manager and click on settings...set to your liking, but on the 'Load On Apply' only chick the programs you have installed. Now go to 'Create Suite' and click on 'Use Current Desktop' It will auto fill your files. Save under whatever name you want. Close TM and change something on your desktop. Open TM and apply the theme you saved. If it installs correctly then Theme Manager is working correctly and the problem is your Internet connection. That dial up could be the problem. Some background processes, associated with SDC, startup on a re-boot and seem to look for an open Internet connection and some have reported problems if it's not there....what ever you do, if the above worked don't un-install/re-install.

....might have to do some further research on this



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Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
EVENT 2.
I tried what you said multipe times... when applying...

if it includes a WMP-skin i always get:
"The file format you have passed for Windows Media Player is not valid."

the first time i tried it, it failed to open an icon package... (dont recall the eaxct text of the error)
but it has succeded since.

however....

EVENT 1.
prior to that test, i was trying to apply the terminator theme (from server) and the result was different then before...
it popedup with the error:

"The file format you have passed for WindowBlinds is not valid."

followed by

"The file format you have passed for Wallpaper is not valid."

since then i have tried the same skin again, most of the time the 'Contacting...' popup disappears with no error as before
but the "...not the valid" error has occured a 2nd time.

that skin only contains wallpaper and windowblinds - both failed with the same error
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Start to save your WB file and WMP file again and see if it's saving it as WB= UIS and WMP= WMZ.........don't save anything, I just want to know if that's what it says.



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Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well...I'm outa' here for the night...I think you have a faulty file assoc problem involving Theme Manager. You need to un-install 'Theme Manager' (and/or 'Winstyles' if it still shows after the TM un-install) thru SDC and then delete the Winstyles folder in the Stardock folder. Re-boot and re-install Themes Manager (only that, even if Winstyles shows) thru SDC and re-boot.

Hopefully that will fix your problem....



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Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmmm
do you mean in skinstudio?
i have not been saving WB or WMP files yet, i have only had objectdesktop for a day or so...

the themes i made were cominations of the provided IconPackager/ObjectBar/WindowBlinds files with a WMPlayer file (blackgold.wmz) from wincustomize.com
i made the themes as you said, by clicking "use current desktop" so i have not dealt with specific WB/WMP files directly.

-applying local themes works, except WMP (wmz)
-applying themes from server never works..... it either fails to contact the server or occasionally it gets the files but finds them "...not valid"
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NOTE: message #15 is a reply to message #13 (not 14)

I will try what you you suggest in #14...
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried what you said in #14, the result was the same.
(when you said delete 'Winstyles' in stardock dir, i dont have that dir but i deleted the 'ThemeManager' dir).

Also...

I tied uninstalling Theme Manager, then installing winstyles old version(1.50b) but the result was the same

Also...

I use 2 installations of WindowsXP.
-WinXP TEST: used to test that all software i intend to use is stable and compatible.
-WinXP CLEAN: my reliable OS only used with software that i have tested.

until now i had only used ObjectDesktop on TEST...

I just tried it on 'WinXP CLEAN' and the result was the same:
-first attempt to apply a theme and the 'contacting...' popup disappears with no error
-2nd attempt to apply the same theme sometimes results in 'the file you have passed for ******* is not valid' (*******: windowblinds or wallpaper etc)

At this time 'WinXP CLEAN' is basicly a fresh install of WinXP Professional version with about 4 progams installed. This windows has never crashed or experienced a program malfunction of any kind. It also doesn't have the latest windows updates yet unlike 'WinXP TEST'.

-2 seperate installations of windows, ObjectDesktop fails the same way...
-2 seperate ISPs, ObjectDesktop fails the same way...
[Message Edited]
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow...this is turning into a real mission!! Since I've had OD for years, I had folders that you don't...one I guess being Winstyles'. Theme Manager was started as a stand alone about 2 or 3 weeks ago and for those that had it, it shows up as Winstyles remake....having said that I think there are still some bugs in TM and the reason most aren't getting it is that it is still working part and parcel on our systems as Winstyles and Theme Manager. I had no idea that Winstyles had been taken off the menu for new customers. For what it's worth, I would sit tight with this proggie until they have a better handle on it...it's not worth going thru what you're going thru until they update it. Stardock has an outstanding track record in getting to the root of problems and fixing them in a timely fashion...so be patient. It will work . In the interim, you can just load each proggie separately and it will work and look the same.



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Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok

Being new to ObjectDesktop, Theme Manager seemed like a good place to start and become familiar with what OD can do. It concerns me that I cant find mention (support/discuss/chat) of other people having similar problems. If there were I would have more confidence that it would be fixed by future updates.

You mentioned that ObjectDesktop appears to have problems with Dialup connections. Broadband may be common in the US, but OD is being sold internationally where Dialup is still very common. Having paid for ObjectDesktop just a few days ago, its very fustrating to find that I am unable to use what I see as the flagship progam of the package, since it ties everything together.

Good thing OD comes with a year of free updates
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So that we're clear...the dial up problems involved MCP installs that have since been fixed, so dial up per se is not a problem with any of the proggies (I don't think that's the underlaying problem you're having with TM). As info, there is a lot of action going on in the developement area of Stardock software of late (all for the good) so don't be alarmed if there's a few hiccups....all and all it's a hoot, so enjoy it........
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
trocat - it is being reported today in the newsgroups that others are having server problems akin to yours involving Theme Manager, so hang in there and I will keep my eye on it....



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Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In looking through this thread, because of the same problem w/my desktop styles, tried the same "fixes" had the same effect, none. I have un/re-installed the styles portion of the OD, no change. I had previously email this problem to Stardock for a resolution a couple of months ago and got no reply from support? I have since dropped trying to get styles to work again. I did not seem to have any problem until I subscribed fully to OD & WinBrowse.

[email protected]



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