WB5 won't load on startup! Please help

Published on November 25, 2005 By chilly_james In WindowBlinds

Hi there, i'm having problems with WB5 beta 2 (4.99.006) I've just purchaced object desktop, mainly because of WB5 to be honest, and it doesn't even load on startup, or manually, so i'm a bit annoyed!

The problem is that every time i reboot the computer I get an error message saying:
'WindowBlinds cannot start'
'WindowBlinds is not installed properly.
If you have just installed WindowBlinds, please ensure you rebooted after the installation as the installer suggested.'

I have rebooted, re-installed (to different directories aswel), and rebooted some more but no luck. I thought it might be due to Panda Internet Security 2006, as i read something about conflicts on these forums, but even after uninstalling that it still won't load. I have only formatted my computer last week so I dont think there are any conflicts - my only running programs are activesync and nvidia tray apps.

Please help as i'm dying to give WB5 a whirl, it looks great!!

ps my email is chilly_2002 at msn dot com

Comments (Page 1)

Neil Banfield

on Nov 25, 2005

You may have to reinstall WB after removing panda.

scorpio-logic

on Nov 25, 2005

Neil has a good suggestion...

chilly_james

on Nov 25, 2005

I did that today..no luck

Ive also created a new user account and tried to load WB5 on there. Nothing.

Any other suggestions?

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

Neil Banfield

on Nov 25, 2005

Please post the dates, times & sizes of wblind.dll, wbconfig.exe and wbsrv.dll

CaptainWin

on Nov 25, 2005

This might be out in left field, but did you download WB5 through SDC? I ask this as I had a problem similar to yours with the first beta release. It was only until I made sure I had the latest version of Stardock Central that I finally got WB5 to work.

CaptainWin

on Nov 25, 2005

A clarification of what I meant by "getting WB5 to work". After installing the latest version of SDC I uninstalled WB5 through it and then downloaded and installed WB5.

bfoot045

on Nov 25, 2005

Uhh, Are you on Windows x64?

If so, you have to go to the windowblinds directory and run wbinstall64.exe. Other than that it won't work (It's been like that for the last couple betas, looks like us 64'ers are Stardock's last priority.)

chilly_james

on Nov 25, 2005

Uhh, Are you on Windows x64?

No, im not. WIndows XP Home sp2 (x32)

did you download WB5 through SDC?

Yes, I downloaded the latest version of WB5 through the newest SDC a few days after a fresh format and getting the essential apps installed.

I've just notcied after uninstalling WB & restarting, there are a few dll files left in windows/system32 folder, which i cant delet as it says they are in use. Ill try and boot in safe mode, delete them, re-install and see what happens. Wish me luck!

Corky_O

on Nov 25, 2005

Good luck, and failing that, you might try installing the "official release" of Stardock Central v2.20.357 and not the beta that is offered.

If you decide to do this, you can do the following:

Uninstall all programs using > uninstall SDC > reboot > reinstall SDC > start SDC, and close the dialog that pops up offering to install the recent beta version > go to Tools/Settings/select "Check for Stardock Central Release updates on startup" and "Prompt before updating Stardock Central" > close SDC, and then restart SDC > accept the offer to install v2.20.357 > reboot computer when prompted > restart SDC, and register your products > install the programs you want.

Hoping all went well and the procedure above is not needed.

scorpio-logic

on Nov 25, 2005

where's that ODNT_zapper.exe? I used that one time and had success in getting rid of those persist dlls.

chilly_james

on Nov 25, 2005

hmmm, i removed the dll's and reinstalled, and still getting the same error. Weird and frustrating.

Cheers corky, ill try that tomorrow. Fingers crossed, im running out of ideas

Please post the dates, times & sizes of wblind.dll, wbconfig.exe and wbsrv.dll

Neil, here they are:

wblind.dll - 500kb, 25/11/2005 19:52
wbconfig.exe - 605kb, 23/11/2005 19:48
wbsrv.dll - 168kb, 25/11/2005 17:22

Hope this helps

Very frustrated

Corky_O

on Nov 25, 2005

Zapper = https://www.stardock.com/files/ODNT_zapper.exe

This will only remove Object Desktop programs, and not Stardock Central - but is useful for clearing all files.

chilly_james

on Nov 25, 2005

Quick update - i disabled all start-up entries so that no apps ran when I start my computer and i STILL get the same error. Ive uninstalled SDC beta, rebooted and installed official version, and then re-installed WB5 - same error.

Lastly, whilst looking for solutions on the internet I came across a patch for WB5, and being very frustrated and desperate I decided to try it (i know, i'm naughty) But to my surprise, it allowed wbconfig to start and I had the WB5 screen up! But sadly it didnt let me apply any themes, and in the troubleshooting section it said WB5 wasn't installed correctly on my system.

Well ive uninstalled WB5 again, rebooted, and reinstalled again and am back to square one and waiting for advise! Am i the only one that's had this problem?

Cheers, James

scorpio-logic

on Nov 25, 2005

oops, edited...wrong thread

chilly_james

on Nov 26, 2005

Bump

Can anyone help? WIll I have to revert back to using WB4?

Fingers crossed the official WB5 release will work is all i can say now..

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