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Join Date 02/2006
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Object Dock Problem

Great Program, Big Problem

April 27, 2006 7:32:25 AM from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
Hi,

If it wasn't for one big problem (for me anyway) with this program I would definetly buy it.

This was true of the last version I tried and the new version just released.

Whenever I have Object Dock loaded, and run any 3D based game windowed (maybe even any game, haven't extensively tested), the game crawls to a stutter. Even with your own Gal Civ 2!

So it shouldn't be too hard to narrow down the problem, especially since it exhibits itself with another one of your flagship products, galciv2. Basically no matter what I've tried, when I load GalCiv2 while Object Dock is running, even if I set Object Dock to hide, the Gal Civ 2 runs at about 1 frame per second, even though my pc (AMD 3500+, X800 XT) can run it perfectly using only 60% cpu without Object Dock loaded.

Any chance of a solution? Perhaps even if it could be issued some sort of inactive status while a DirectX/Open GL application was focused? Is it possible this problem is just with Gal Civ 2? Or do I have some odd conflict?

Thanks in advance!
wincustomize
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WebGizmos
Join Date 09/2003
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Reply #1 April 27, 2006 8:39:44 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
Its most likely a docklet you might have on your dock somewhere. I've been running ObjectDock for quite awhile now, and I never notice a slowdown in any of my games. So if you have any docklets on your dock remove them and see if it makes a difference.
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Reply #2 April 27, 2006 9:09:49 AM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
Just to clarify:

1) This is ONLY regarding running games in a windowed mode, unfortanutely using fullscreen is not a solution I will accept.

2) This is with a plain, vanilla, fresh, install of Object Dock. No added/custom docklets. Just the default set.
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Reply #3 April 28, 2006 6:09:29 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
32 hours... maybe premature, but I was hoping for some sort of response from a dev, forums are usually so instantaneous! Shouldn't be too rare that someone would have GalCiv2 and this program (it's free after all), and could attempt running GalCiv2 windowed to confirm/deny the above problem on another machine.
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Chris TH
Join Date 02/2003
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Reply #4 April 28, 2006 7:45:16 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums
No added/custom docklets.


It's been such a long time since I've done a fresh install of OD, but ISTR it installs a couple of docklets by default (weather & clock?). You don't mention whether you already removed these...

I don't have GC2 either, but have you tried the 'Temporarily Disable Docklets' option under 'Dock Settings...'->'General'->'Advanced' ?

Failing the above, actually remove the installed docklets i.e just leave program shortcuts (again, if not already done).

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Corky_O
Join Date 04/2004
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Reply #5 April 28, 2006 8:21:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It should be noted that ObjectDock uses some type of "overlay" that has been responsible for various game and/or video player issues.

I do not code, so I am unsure where the fault actually lies, but I do know that in the instance of Windows Media Player the user can select an option to not use overlay for video which removes any conflict with ObjectDock while loaded.

I am not running the new 1.3 build, so am not sure what changes have been made to this issue. It sounds like the issues may still remain.

The obvious workaround has been to unload ObjectDock previous to playing video or games that conflict with ObjectDock. Not an ideal remedy for users who have their game shortcuts on the dock.

Just some information from someone who has seen numerous posts concerning ObjectDock and overlay enabled programs.

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Reply #6 April 28, 2006 8:38:31 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums
Thanks! That's the answer I was looking for. If it's true (which it sure sounds like), it makes perfect sense then.

I figured this kinda of situation to be an inherent fault of Windows (it's really dated these days, compared to Mac OS X it's like light years behind), but I had hope with all the talk on how great Windows Blinds interacts and makes the OS faster in some ways, that they'd be able to carry over the coding techniques to get Object Dock to work in a way that doesn't cause conflicts with video overlays.

Everything works so nicely in Mac's Tiger... it's a shame Windows has quirks like this in this day and age, these things really make one feel like it's time for an update to the OS.

Well there's always Vista, that should improve the situation... i hope.
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