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Join Date 09/2001
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Desktop Windows Manager

December 26, 2010 6:25:43 AM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I have a problem lately. Sometimes (often) when I minimize windows and/or switch back and forth between them, I'll get a big black square in the middle of my primary screen that won't go away even with an F5 refresh. There are no dialogue boxes indicated and the only way to get it to go away is to end the dwn (desktop windows manager) process. I have to do that twice and then the black box goes away. Problem is, that so does my WindowBlinds skin. I'm currently using Aero Brushed Metal. Haven't tried it with any other skins yet.

What to do?

(I accidentally posted this in the deskscapes forum as it was the only one that had a thread dealing with dwm). Sorry.

windowblinds
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DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #1 December 26, 2010 7:04:50 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

From your startmenu, type in "run" (without the " "). Open it and type in "msconfig" (again, without " ").

Choose the Services tab and scroll down until you find the item outlined in red. Make sure to choose it and make sure it's checked.

You then choose "Apply" and close it. You'll probably get a reboot message. Reboot. Does this solve your problem?

If not, I would suggest going to the Elevated Command Prompt and typing in  sfc /scannow  to verify your system files have not become corrupted.

Please supply your information from the "About Windowblinds" tab in your Windowblinds Configuration window also your computer brand, drivers RAM and video card so that if I can't help, someone else might see a correctable problem.

Hope you're having a good holiday season.

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Reply #2 December 27, 2010 11:34:33 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Yes, that's checked. I'm running Win7Pro_64 btw. I have to STOP dwm in order to make the big, black, focused, unmoveable, screen-eating square go away. It comes on any time I activate an Aero visual style, as well as most (all?) others. Some skins like the Aero skins will unload when I stop dwm, others will remain loaded (Aquarium and Blackcomb for example)

Intel DX58SO, Intel i920, 6GB DDR3 RAM, and 2x ATI 4870s NOT in Crossfire mode. ATI Driver version 8.782

I'm running the scannow and am going to see if there are any newer drivers available for my ATIs that might fix the problem.

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DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #3 December 27, 2010 11:47:16 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

The driver thing might just be the problem. You didn't post the info from "About Windowblinds". That could be important. You might have updated to a beta that doesn't agree with your system.

That square might also belong to some nagware or splash screen from software whose startup you disabled, or even uninstalled (not completely).

Is that a possibility?

What did you do with your computer just prior to this problem appearing?

 

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Reply #4 December 27, 2010 12:29:26 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

From About WB:

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 7.4

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.1 (build 273 - Windows 7 Edition) - 64 bit OS

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(SyncMaster 206BW(Digital)) 1 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series       

Wblind.dll      2010/06/07 13:10:20
Wblind64.dll      2010/06/07 13:10:52
Wbsrv.dll      2010/06/07 13:10:56
SevenConfig.exe      2010/06/07 13:10:02
Wbload.exe      2010/04/01 15:40:18
Wbhelp.dll      2010/04/01 15:40:07
Tray.dll           2010/04/01 15:40:19
Wbload.dll           2010/06/07 13:10:25
Screen.exe      2010/04/01 15:39:26

Updating to ATI 8.801 drivers didn't fix the problem. Gonna reboot to get second display recognized again.

 

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Reply #5 December 28, 2010 9:24:20 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Reattempted to upgrade to 8.801. I had to completely uninstall all ATI software and then use the phyxion.net Driver Sweeper program to get rid of all ATI software. Then I ran CCleaner to get rid of anything that missed. I'll never understand why a software writer that writes a program to make changes to your system can NOT write an uninstall program to unmake each of those changes. It should be simple, just write it backwards.

Whatever... So far, installing the 8.801 drivers seems to be working. I initially installed the new Windows 7 Catalyst program but there still seems to be some issues with it, at least on my system. Using the Vista/Win7 executable, everything was recognized right away.

If there are any changes, I'll update.

R

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