Major Issues with Desktop X and WB

The WindowBlinds error is a totally unreported and extremely odd report.  What else were you running when you rebooted?  What theme were you running (or didn't you load a theme before rebooting?)

With DesktopX, that sounds like a corrupted install or theme.  Have you tried reinstalling or unloading Desktopx and deleting the theme that it was trying to load?

What else are you running?  What other Object Desktop programs are you running?  What versions of the Object Desktop programs do you have installed?

See not to say I told you so, But I have the same issues also, This is directed to Karma Girl, I was told out of thousands of people why did no one else have these issues..I know of 3 people and we all see the same problems..All im sayin is that WB is not very user friendly to install or repaair..This is just my observations, Not to be taken as a hostile attack..I suggest to Chs that you move and delete all files your self then try to reinstall the non Beta 4.00 I installed 4.00b and had more troubles than I knoew what to do with...

Drop125, please do not try to help here.  You really are not qualified for this, and you do not understand what it is related to.  what he is reporting has absolutely nothing to do with the issues that you had.  He is also not running the Component Manager, he uses Stardock Central.  Please don't give tech support when you are not qualified to do so.  Especially when people are having severe issues.

It is extremely doubtful that this has anything to do with WindowBlinds, and it does not sound like he is running a beta.  he has sent additional info to support email. 

It is *never* a good idea just to delete files.  If you need to remove them, you need to uninstall them to make sure that you are getting the registry clean.

Again, this is most likely a totally unrelated issue to WindowBlinds.  It's most likely a corrupted DesktopX theme that has simply hid your desktop icons and start menu.

Karma Girl - I bought/installed stardock centerl *yesterday* and used that application to install windowblinds, desktopX, and the rest. I'm at work now and can't verify version numbers. All the most recent stuff, though.

The DesktopX issue - can't resolve it by using the program to delete themes; every time I run the program I get the error message described.

All was installed on a *brand new* clean install of windows XP pro.

Current status: this morning before coming in to work, I rebooted in "safe" mode, and was able to get into the stardock central application. From there, I uninstalled both DesktopX and Windowblinds, then rebooted. I was then able to see my normal XP taskbar and start menu at that point. I won't be able to reinstall either DesktopX or Windowblinds until I return home. Frankly, I'm scared to.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

By the way, what is the relationship between Stardock and this site?

thanks...

Stardock owns this site.

I am "Angie" from support.  (I think that I emailed you today).  (I also wear other hats around here as well as helping with support.)

I would reinstall DesktopX and not run it.

Find out what theme is shown in the default theme (in the desktopx directory) and delete the default theme and the theme (as it will most likely aslo sit on it's own).  Then double click on a different theme in that folder.  (The desktopX folder should be located in program files>Stardock> Stardock Central)

If you need help when you get home, please use the "chat" feature in Stardock Central then type in the following: /join #stardock   This will get you into the area that the developers and other high end users hang out in.  They can talk you through anything.  As I will be in the office hit and miss during the next few days, please email Kris at [email protected] if you need more support.  He also works with the developers, so he can help you out.

I have a feeling that you just have an incompatible theme and things will work well once we get it sorted out.  We will do whatever we can to get it straightened out.  And, like always, if we can't, we'll get you a refund.

Angie, thanks -- yes indeed I did get your email this morning.

Thanks for the clear description of suggested next steps; I will try them later today. I did try the chat boards within Stardock Central, but it was way over my head. I will keep Kris's email handy.

I assume from your note that I have not experienced any irreparable damage to my system (good) and that I should be able to re-install both DesktopX and WindowBlinds from within Stardock Central. Correct?

Once that is done, and I've gone into >program files>Stardock> Stardock Central>DesktopX to do a manual deletion of both the default "theme" and the theme file itself, what should my experience be? Should I then try and "run" DesktopX? (scared)

And what about WindowBlinds. Once re-installed via Stardock Central, is it your sense from what I've described that it will work normally?

One other last point, feedback for the gang at Stardock: this is pretty cool stuff, sexy enough for me to pay good $$ for the software. But it's very tough, and not for the faint of heart. Also, there are really too many different components at work here (all the names of the programs, each with its own version number, etc.), your own way of installing,not to mention your own version of Zipping files, etc. Yikes. Isn't there a simpler way? I like the idea of being able to customize the interface of XP, but the learning curve and frustration price is pretty high...

thanks again for you suggestions! much appreciated.

There should be no "damage" to your system. 

Since you were able to uninstall and get back to your desktop, it totally points to a corrupted theme.  Once you delete that theme, you should be able to load DesktopX and run a different theme and all should be fine.

I don't think that the issue that you had was related to WindowBlinds at all.  I think that it is a DesktopX issue.  I would suggest installing and running one at a time to make sure where the issue is, however.

I suggest to anyone new to this to start out slow and learn about it.  Start with one program (like WindowBlinds, Iconpackager, etc.) and use it and get comfortable with it.  Then add another one and do the same until you have the whole package installed.

KarmaGirl...

Thanks again for your suggestions. My system appears to be back on track. I was able to follow most of your suggestions except one: you advise that I

"Find out what theme is shown in the default theme (in the desktopx directory) and delete the default theme and the theme (as it will most likely aslo sit on it's own). Then double click on a different theme in that folder. (The desktopX folder should be located in program files>Stardock> Stardock Central)"

I am uncertain how to complete the first part of this suggestion. How do I "find out what theme is shown in the default theme" without actually launching DesktopX? I am wary of launching the program due to the issues I raised, namely that my attempts to launch the program resulted in a continuous error-message loop. I would prefer to take care of this "default theme" issue before launching DesktopX.

Can you advise further? I have successfully uninstalled, and then re-installed, all the Object Desktop programs (from within Stardock Central).

thank you

ps - is there any way to quickly and in one step restore *everything* back to WinXP defaults?