With the WindowBlinds 11 Public Beta 2 release, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.
Obtaining WindowBlinds Beta 2
Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager
Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval
Reporting an issue
Please include the following for anything found:
Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making WindowBlinds a better product.
Sean DrohanStardock Support Manager
All that said, Neil, I know what I'm about to say isn't gonna scare Stardock in any way, but I will totally abandon Windowblinds if this isn't fixed in some way. Then, most likely, I would eventually drop Stardock altogether because the ObjectDesktop apps go hand in hand.
Where might I find this option?
It is on the advanced page in the settings in beta 2.
As I have said there were other tweaks so if it feels a skin is sufficiently dark already then in beta 2 it will not automatically generate suitable parts.
I suspect this will be sufficient for your needs.
As far as the issue go, I'm willing to accept them. I thrive on problems if it crashes my entire system meh I just reformat install and start again. I've crashed my entire system numerous times over the decades trying to do something that it wasn't supposed to. I've also crashed my system numerous times because of alcohol intervention.
😏 would really like a chance to play with the beta 2.
I expect the frames and titlebar buttons to remain as the skinner intended. Just like they did in WB10.
Maybe when you apply a theme and it does not supply dark mode images, a popup should appear when applying the theme asking if you would like to darken some of the elements like it does currently. Selecting No would just apply like it has done so in past WB versions. This should help since there are tons of themes in the gallery that probably wont be getting updates and might alleviate the issue of them not having dark mode images.
Better would be to have a single option to just turn it off. I.E. WB10 mode. I wouldn't want to have to dismiss a popup each time I load a skin. Perhaps with the option set to on then it can ask but disabling it entirely should still be an option. Like you said I'm sure the vast majority of the few hundred skins I have will never get an update so it's unlikely they will ever support the option.
Yuck, back to explorerpatcher it is then.
Just to add to the tab alternative methods...
https://www.neowin.net/guides/how-to-disable-tabs-in-file-explorer-in-windows-11/
Tabs could look good with the right art style, but so far no artists are on board yet.
Just to add to the tab alternative methods...https://www.neowin.net/guides/how-to-disable-tabs-in-file-explorer-in-windows-11/Tabs could look good with the right art style, but so far no artists are on board yet.
They render as semi transparent. The themes have to match the look to not look out of place. Not the case with many themes I tried out there including my windows xp theme. I pretty much just reverted back to windows 7 command bar. Sad that things are going down this route. Though it is written in xaml. Some users on reddit figured out how to modify the taskbar via debug mode so maybe stardock can look into this type of methood. If anything give us also an option in windowblinds settings to not skin the taskbar and start menu. Make it so it ignore those when activated for those who want to use alternatives to start 11. I prefer startallback as it actually restores the original taskbar and start menu. Has been working fine since windows 8 and I dont see it breaking any time soon. Issue is windowblinds messes with the taskbar and startmenu looks. This causes explorer to crash loop when you touch the taskbar. Its why I would like stardock to add an option to disable touching the taskbar and start menu looks.
Is there a way to skin windows that may (or may not?) use OwnerDrawn mtehod for Title bar, like the windows Terminal App (the app with the tabs, not the default cmd/console window - that one works), the Snipping Tool or all the Jetbrains stuff, Visual Studio and so on?
I added them to the "per application" setting and played around with all the options aviable, but had no luck at all.
Like this:
Edit: when resizing the Terminal Window fast enough i can get a glance to the themes titlebar buttons but they are getting instantly overwritten
I am afraid the clue there is ownerdrawn. If the app opts to do that then you would need to speak to the devs of those apps and request a standard titlebar option.
Typically those apps are not even matching the OS correctly as they have pictures which look like the OS controls rather than the real titlebar controls.
Win Vista/7 cammand bar works only in StartAllBack. Tweaks from regedit and explorer patcher do not work.
I have question. Explorer Patcher works with WindowBlinds 11 beta2 ?
Any updates on when beta 2 will be re-released?
click start run and paste this line in C:\Windows\System32\sdclt.exe /BLBBACKUPWIZARD saves a lot of recovery time, only win 10 and 11
This is not correct. Explorerpatcher works fine with windows 11 22h2 and Windowblinds 11. The Windows 10 taskbar option does have a few bugs (mostly with multiple monitors) but the option to tweak on either a windows 7 or 10 command bar works as intended.
I think you just need start 11 also running as well atm...
This is not correct. Explorerpatcher works fine with windows 11 22h2 and Windowblinds 11. The Windows 10 taskbar option does have a few bugs (mostly with multiple monitors) but the option to tweak on either a windows 7 or 10 command bar works as intended.I think you just need start 11 also running as well atm...
No WB11 not work correct on 22h2 22623.8xx and Explorer Patcher the same.
Thats an insider build though. Explorerpatcher does not usually make release's for those builds. 22H2 and moment 1 with explorer tabs are on the release channel now. All you are getting on beta channel is a more tablet friendly taskbar; it might not be worth the payoff if you want to play around with non-Microsoft software.
Win10 v21H2(OS Build 19044.2130)WindowBlinds 11.00 BETA (007 - Windows 10 Edition) - 64 bit OSStart11 v1.31
Note that I'm still on the 1st WB Beta, but I don't think this has been mentioned. No idea when it may have started.
It looks like the entire Show Desktop button area and any taskbar image beneath it is becoming transparent upon mouseover of the button. Seems to be on any skin. These are images of Diamond and Lantana upon mouseover of the Show Desktop button area:
Thanks.
Little late to slip an edit in, so I'll tack on regarding the ShowDesk button-
It's not displaying the button in its Normal state either. This is Lantana which should have a visible Normal state:
Thanks again.
Showdesktop button won't show no matter what skin I choose.
Unfortunately I missed the window of getting beta 2 before it was pulled. If anybody has it and is using it, can you tell me. Does now work with HDR enabled?
that worked for me
WindowBlinds and SkinStudio have been updated (for real this time 😉).
Please see the changelog for details.
https://forums.stardock.com/515260/get;3867934
Thanks again for all the feedback and support.
Sean DrohanStardock Product Lifecycle Manager
WB 11 Beta 2 isn't showing skins on some titlebars like control panel and settings app
Have you signed out and back in again since applying the skin?
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