RupeeClock

Join Date 07/2007

Explorer repeatedly crashing

Suspected cause is converted MSStyle

I recently upgraded to Windows 7 and WindowBlinds 7, and been enjoying it. My skin of choice is Luna Element 5.1 Black, and using the MSstyle converter the skin looks amazing on Win7, despite being designed for WinXP.

Unfortunately though, it occasionally causes explorer.exe to crash, this is not limited to one system either, both my desktop PC and laptop are effected. Specifically, sometimes the taskbar freezes up, doesn't respond, and has to be closed. And it reboots a few seconds later. I don't know how to reproduce this, but it seems to be most frequent when I am multi-tasking.

The same thing also happens with the blue version of Luna Element 5.1. I haven't tried any other skins, but I believe the MSStyle conversion may be causing this bug.

The skin conversion is also not compatible with things such as transparency, and I set my desktop to Windows Classic before applying skin through WindowBlinds.

Is there an immediate fix available, or do I need to wait for a software update?

Thanks

Laptop:
Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.1
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.5

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.0 (build 230 - Windows 7 Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Wblind.dll         2009/11/16 12:43:20
Wbsrv.dll         2009/11/12 09:19:07
SevenConfig.exe         2009/11/12 11:16:53
Wbload.exe         2009/11/10 13:53:12
Wbhelp.dll         2009/06/04 15:14:07
Tray.dll              2009/10/23 19:12:19
Wbload.dll              2009/09/25 07:41:29
Screen.exe         2009/11/07 12:39:26

Also, the crash details for explorer.exe if it helps

Description:
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:    AppHangB1
Application Name:    explorer.exe
Application Version:    6.1.7600.16404
Application Timestamp:    4a765076
Hang Signature:    5afe
Hang Type:    0
OS Version:    6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID:    2057
Additional Hang Signature 1:    5afe2631333b2f1a53d841d4fc88eda2
Additional Hang Signature 2:    7b61
Additional Hang Signature 3:    7b61afbce4f16d51db8992873f2355d7
Additional Hang Signature 4:    5afe
Additional Hang Signature 5:    5afe2631333b2f1a53d841d4fc88eda2
Additional Hang Signature 6:    7b61
Additional Hang Signature 7:    7b61afbce4f16d51db8992873f2355d7

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My computer keeps crashing explorer.exe too with Windows Vista Home Premium and matter of fact it causes the cursor to freeze quite a bit. I had to uninstall it for now until they fix it. It was so bad that when it started windows vista it started to crash right after logging into vista.

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I can say I notice minor graphical glitches with my cursor too, like when mousing over links the cursor appears to distort and stretch, sometimes be miscoloured.
But no flat over cursor freezing.

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

Quoting RupeeClock,

reply 2

I can say I notice minor graphical glitches with my cursor too, like when mousing over links the cursor appears to distort and stretch, sometimes be miscoloured.
But no flat over cursor freezing.

Any problems with the cursor will be video driver related as WindowBlinds cannot impact that in anyway.

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Well, now the problem has evolved.

Since today's windows update, explorer still crashes, but it crashes differently.
Now instead it displays a "Windows has crashed" error and allows you to restart, rather than becoming unresponsive.
The error is also becoming more frequent, and the fault is directly coming from WBLIND.dll

I can tell what causes the taskbar to crash now, it's thumbnail previews.
It is also possible to crash windows by trying to use Flip 3D Win+Tab, this crashes without fail.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:    APPCRASH
Application Name:    Explorer.EXE
Application Version:    6.1.7600.16404
Application Timestamp:    4a765076
Fault Module Name:    WBLIND.dll
Fault Module Version:    7.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp:    4b018bfb
Exception Code:    c0000005
Exception Offset:    0007014c
OS Version:    6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID:    2057
Additional Information 1:    0a9e
Additional Information 2:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
Additional Information 3:    0a9e
Additional Information 4:    0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

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Add me to the group with Windows 7 Explorer problems. I had repeated issues with Windows Explorer until I uninstalled Windowblinds. No problem since then. Looks like Windowblinds is not quite ready for prime time with Windows 7. I'm not re-installing it until these problems are fixed.

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Well, I can't stop using WindowBlinds now, I just love using Luna Element too much.

I bet these explorer crashes could be fixed with a minor update though.

I've noticed that if I set my skin to work ontop of Windows Aero, instead of Windows Classic (which I'd prefer), then the thumbnail/flip 3d crashes stop. I'll have to see if the other crashes still happen though.

edit: disabling desktop composition seems to be prone to causing instability too, something I need to do for Flash CS3.

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

If you use the included corporate skin does the problem continue?

BTW starting from classic or aero before applying a skin makes no difference to WB.

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I applied the Corporate Skin and encountered no problem.
But as soon as I disable desktop composition (which treats Window effects more like XP), the same problems occur.
Looks like that was the culprit, as I always disable desktop composition for working in Flash.

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I have the exact same problem with explorer.exe constantly crashing. It typically does it when IE is open, and then when I have more than one tab running. It doesn't seem to make a difference what WB I use. I have used Diamond and it still crashed. The error points to the same DLL listed above. (WBLIND.dll)

______________________________________________________________

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.5
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.5

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.0 (build 230 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS

Wblind.dll     2009/11/16 11:43:20
Wbsrv.dll     2009/11/12 08:19:07
SevenConfig.exe     2009/11/12 10:16:53
Wbload.exe     2009/11/06 11:44:12
Wbhelp.dll     2009/10/07 14:35:07
Tray.dll          2009/10/21 08:13:19
Wbload.dll          2009/09/25 07:41:28
Screen.exe     2009/11/07 11:39:26

______________________________________________________

I have Vista Ultimate (32bit)

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

Quoting happycamper88,

reply 9

It is very important you provide the crash address as RupeeClock did as it allows us to look further into the issue.

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Windowblinds just crashed on me after changing skins and closing it.

It might be related, it might not, but here's the crash details.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name:    APPCRASH
Application Name:    sevenconfig.exe
Application Version:    7.0.0.0
Application Timestamp:    4afc334e
Fault Module Name:    sevenconfig.exe
Fault Module Version:    7.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp:    4afc334e
Exception Code:    c0000005
Exception Offset:    0002e420
OS Version:    6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
Locale ID:    2057

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Phoon

Join Date 10/2001

+382

do you folks have firefox installed?

If so, uninstall it and see if it fixes your explorer.exe crashes. I was having the issue when I wasn't even running firefox. Found a thread somewhere that suggested this and it did solve my problems.

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Yes, I'm running Firefox, but can you explain how this could possibly resolve any issues?

Because there's no way I'm about to uninstall Firefox just like that, however gingerly.

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Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

Quoting RupeeClock,

reply 13

Yes, I'm running Firefox, but can you explain how this could possibly resolve any issues?

Because there's no way I'm about to uninstall Firefox just like that, however gingerly.

This was just a suggestion from one member of the community to another. Here though is a thought, Firefox can easily be reinstalled. All uninstallng it will do is provide you a check to see if your problem is Firefox related.

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Quoting Phoon,

reply 12

do you folks have firefox installed?

If so, uninstall it and see if it fixes your explorer.exe crashes. I was having the issue when I wasn't even running firefox. Found a thread somewhere that suggested this and it did solve my problems.

Phoon

Which version/build of FF are you using?

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

I believe the issue should be resolved in future WB updates.

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I see that you said it should be fixed in a future update, but here is my crash log from one instance anyways (as requested)

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Application Error
Date:          12/9/2009 6:10:10 AM
Event ID:      1000
Task Category: (100)
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic

Description:
Faulting application Explorer.EXE, version 6.0.6002.18005, time stamp 0x49e01da5, faulting module WBLIND.dll, version 7.0.0.0, time stamp 0x4b018bfb, exception code 0xc0000005, fault offset 0x0001852d, process id 0x7a4, application start time 0x01ca78c1b372ece8.

Hope this helps some

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Phoon

Join Date 10/2001

+382

i don't recall which version of firefox it was. It was in the 3.5 line though.

My problem didn't seem realted to firefox either but lo-and-behold after reading the thread I found which suggested removing it I was desperate enough to try it. Issue was resolved.

RupeeClock... you can always reinstall it. It's worth a shot anyway. It may or may not resolve your issues.

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This is a crash report for AFTER the latest WB7 update of 12/10/09

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: APPCRASH

Application Name: EXPLORER.EXE

Application Version: 6.0.6002.18005

Application Timestamp: 49e01da5

Fault Module Name: WBLIND.dll

Fault Module Version: 7.0.1.0

Fault Module Timestamp: 4b216657

Exception Code: c0000005

Exception Offset: 00015b88

OS Version: 6.0.6002.2.2.0.256.1

Locale ID: 1033

Additional Information 1: fd00

Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Additional Information 3: fd00

Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Extra information about the problem

Bucket ID: 1600588552

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I've applied the 7.0.1 update for WindowBlinds, and that has resolved my issue.

Explorer no longer crashes when desktop composition is disabled, great.

It's only been 10 minutes though, so if anything does come up I'll post it here.

Edit: If Desktop Composition is Disabled, explorer seems to become slow, as in long delays when trying to open My Computer.
Otherwise everything is A-OK, composition on or off.

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

Quoting happycamper88,

reply 19

This is a crash report for AFTER the latest WB7 update of 12/10/09

Are you sure you rebooted after installing?

Also what version does WindowBlinds show in the About WindowBlinds box?

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Okay, maybe another issue has come up.

Now when Windows 7 boots, the login screen loads normally, but the display picture and password box load after an abnormally long delay, this has only begun since I updated to WB 7.0.1

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

Quoting RupeeClock,

reply 22

Okay, maybe another issue has come up.

Now when Windows 7 boots, the login screen loads normally, but the display picture and password box load after an abnormally long delay, this has only begun since I updated to WB 7.0.1

This is probably nothing to do with WindowBlinds as thats well before WB starts to skin anything.

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Curious, it wouldn't have anything to do with LogonStudio Vista would it?

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Hi Neil

I did reboot, yes. Below is what is in the Windowblinds screen

(I think this is what you wanted???)

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 3.5
Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 3.5

WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 7.01 (build 234 x86 - Vista Edition)

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC
WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC
(Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GS

Wblind.dll     2009/12/10 16:58:20
Wbsrv.dll     2009/12/03 13:44:30
SevenConfig.exe     2009/12/03 13:43:22
Wbload.exe     2009/12/03 13:43:12
Wbhelp.dll     2009/10/07 14:35:07
Tray.dll          2009/10/21 08:13:19
Wbload.dll          2009/09/25 07:41:28
Screen.exe     2009/12/03 13:43:26

I only had one crash last night, which is much less than usual. If I have anymore I will post the crash dump here again.

Thanks for helping!

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