Stardock Central is a program that integrates the Object Desktop programs, of which WB is a part.

You purchased the "stand-alone" version, so your link went to the download for the stand-alone, which I do not believe has been updated to the newer "beta" version using the ".ini" file I mentioned. If I were a coder, I would include more information as to why this is more compatible with users systems.

I do know that after releasing the current "release" version 5.00.001 - some users ran into problems with the program finding the data source path for ODBC. This was indeed an oversight of sorts - which the developer has indicated as well.

Therefore, the move to the ".ini" file, which has been released in the "beta" version. My understanding is that Stardock is working on this update, and will release it as a full release version to the "stand-alone" version holders as soon as testing is completed (again, I do not work for or represent Stardock).

Registered Object Desktop subscribers (of which I am one) use Stardock Central to install the programs, and have access via this same program to the beta releases. I do not know if you will be able to access the pre-release (beta) versions due to owning the stand-alone version, but you may be able to.

You are entitled to use Stardock Central as a purchaser of Stardock products, and can go here https://www.stardock.com/sdnet_login.asp to enter your account information and receive a download link for the program.

Note - I apologize for any hard feelings between us, as I am only trying to help.

That clears that one.

Outside of uninstall / reboot / reinstall - which I would probably try first due to a possible information reading issue (due to possible leftover files from previous version) - I can only think of video drivers.

There have been some posts indicating the older drivers work better for alpha-blending support on older cards.

I run ATI X700 Pro AGP on homebuilt desktop, which has proven to work better with the 5.9 version drivers, than with the 5.10 - 5.13 versions in all applications. My notebook is a Dell machine with ATI X300 Mobility adapter and of course Dell specific drivers, but they work well.

Not experienced with a lot of nVidia products, but have read a few threads indicating their 77.72 drivers work well.

Here is a thread that requested users list their adapters, drivers, and issues - or lack there of https://www.wincustomize.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=167&AID=96587&p=1 

HELP - ok, now that ive done everything as many times as i could - Maximum activations exceeded - can you fix this?

ronw1961@cox.net

The main difference is the support for "alpha-blending" or "per-pixel blending" which allows the use of transparency in the Taskbar, Titlebars, and menu backgrounds (except the Favorites menu).

WB 4.6 supports Start Menu transparency due to the lack of need to resize dynamically.

If you have Stardock Central, you should be able to update to WB 4.6, which is a nice step up from 4.51 due to support for many of the skins designed for that version.