Vista - hangs on boot/logon with error

"Microsoft is searching for a solution to the problem"

So, I installed Windowblinds and started it, then when I went to reboot Windows sort of hangs just after the desktop shows up. Everything looks skinned, but nothing has been loaded in the taskbar, and there is an error message from Windows that says "Microsoft is searching for a solution to the problem" but it doesn't say what the problem is, and it just sits there (for over 10 minutes before I switched off the machine). There is only very basic interaction with the UI - I can get the start menu, but no programs will start (nothing happens when I click anything) and when I try and right-click on the desktop I get that horrible Vista hour-glass thingie.

The only solution I have found at this point is to power off the machine (by pressing and holding the power button - Windows is not responsive enough to shut down) and start in Safe mode, disable the Stardock Windowblinds service, then restart and Window boots as normal - though with only the basic Windows Classic UI. At that point I can manually start the Windowblinds service and everything seems to be working ok - until I go to restart Windows again (unless I leave the Windowblinds service disabled or on manual).

I tried to set the Windowblinds service to "Delayed Start" but it wouldn't let me do that - I get the cryptic error message, "The delayed auto-start flag could not be set. Error 87: The parameter is incorrect."

Here is my system information:

Windows Vista (TM) Ultimate
Build 6000.vista_ldr.070207-1500

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 4.2

Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 4.3

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 5 (5.51 (build 110 x86 - Vista Edition))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

(SONY GDM-FW900) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
(SONY GDM-FW900) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS

Wblind.dll 2007/06/18 15:11:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/06/12 17:56:39
Wbconfig.exe 2007/06/19 10:43:03
Wbload.exe 2006/03/13 16:54:14
Wbhelp.dll 2004/09/18 16:37:07
Tray.dll 2006/04/28 19:27:49
Wbload.dll 2007/05/26 12:35:56

What now?????

windowblinds

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

If you press ctrl-alt-del can you get taskmanager up?

Successfully updated karma reason!

Same problem here. I thought I was going nuts until I saw your post. I'm using Vista Business, WGE rating of 5.5. Unless someone knows of a solution, I think I'll just uninstall/restore and try the next version.

Neil - On my machine, no. The computer pretty much locks up.

Update - Booted into safe mode and uninstalled Stardock Central. After reboot all the Object Desktop programs I have installed work fine. Is Stardock Central the problem? Also, after the first reboot after installing Stardock Central, I got an error saying the Logon Studio had crashed and once I was booted an "Advanced Configuration" box came up, but there was nothing inside the frame of the box.

Successfully updated karma reason!