Stardock Software (windows users)

Discussion in 'Support!' started by maxpowerz, October 31, 2013.

  1. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    Anyone who uses Stardock software's like :
    • WindowsBlinds
    • WindowFX
    • Deskscapes
    • Modernmix
    You will most likely need to uninstall these programs before playing PA.
    This is because these stardock titles/programs/Hacks hook into the DWM (desktop Window Manager) to render/implement their effects.
    This is causing PA.exe to stop functioning for me and i don't think uber can do anything about it from their end and it's in no way thier fault for it not working with stardock hacks.
    (i will ask a dev about seeing if there is anything they can do, im pretty sure they can't!!)

    I hope this will assist some windows users who use stardock software's and get crashes and dont know why <-- well now you do :)
    Last edited: October 31, 2013
    Ortikon and SXX like this.
  2. BulletMagnet

    BulletMagnet Post Master General

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    I did a very quick Google of the subject reveals that the terms Coherent UI and Stardock or Coherent UI and Windowblinds, and found nothing on the Internet.

    The idea is sensible, but I would have expected that if this was the case, another program would have suffered a similar problem in the past.
  3. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    I had stardock software installed, my game crashed.
    I uninstalled them, and the game worked.
    So i installed Deskscapes and windowFX and PA crashed again.
    coincidence .. hmm, i think not! .. lol
    cwarner7264 and SXX like this.
  4. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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  5. BulletMagnet

    BulletMagnet Post Master General

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    Ahh, well I can't argue against that.

    Better go put that in the Bug Tracker.
  6. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    It's really interesting find. I'll check it with people who have crash on start currently.
    Please check which(exactly) of their software conflicts with PA and post proper crash report on bugtracker.
  7. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    I'm sure it "windowFX" sxx. but i will do some controlled testing and post PA.exe crashes if you think it good idea :)
  8. SXX

    SXX Post Master General

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    It's should be useful if you can check what exactly crash PA or not.
  9. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    :) i will re-download my stardock suite and test each of stardock programs (i have paid subscription to all of stardocks programs)
    i will do it :) soon as i wake from quick sleep. eyes sore from forum surfing . lol
  10. cola_colin

    cola_colin Moderator Alumni

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    "PA is using the operating systems window manager for creating and rendering its indivual parts"
    Wait what? How? Are there any sources for that information? So far in my understanding PA just creates a window and renders stuff inside of it by combining the image from coherent with the image from the 3D rendered game. What has this to do with the window manager? I at least only see one window. Can anybody clear up my confusion? xD
  11. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    i think the 2 layers are merged like you say, but it still originally still 2 seperate layers.
    DWM handles everything that not full screen. <-- i think so, not %100 sure.
  12. cola_colin

    cola_colin Moderator Alumni

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    Do you need the DWM to handle 2 opengl contexts? Sounds not impossible, but also not very optimal.
    Any concrete info from Uber would be interesting.
    maxpowerz likes this.
  13. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    OK This may be just Stardock in general nothing to do with PA.
    i will see evryone in 4-5 hours when my OS reinstalls .. yay
    iudwftlncinipucfweNIUYANY;O
    GRRR HATING STARDOCK RIGHT NOW...
    OMG CRASH
    OMGcrash win8.jpg

    you wont believe how hard it is to use a corrupted OS to post pictures of crash before you wipe pc with the out of the box button*sighs*
    OMGcrash win82.jpg

    Enjoy everyone i will see you all very soon i hope.
    :'( :'( :'( :'(
  14. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    OMG the sweet sanctury of Safe Mode,
    When my pc crashed i lost use of the Charmbar, Start8, and the metro UI, and my touchscreen :(

    It seems installing and uninstalling then installing stardock stuff can be bad or have very undesirable effects.
    Last edited: October 31, 2013
  15. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    If they were separate independent windows i would assume yes.
    if one was a child of the main window i would assume it was no. <-- if the child window was embedded in the main window
  16. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    Grrr darn window 8 charm bar still not functioning, WHY did i ever install install these dirty hacks for prettiness..

    no love to you today stardock . no love
  17. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    I've had to file a bug report to Stardock..
    It appears certain stardock software's and software combo's are unstable on certain hardware and operating systems.

    Stardock software doesn't seem to directly affect PA as much as it affects system stability.
    This would be most likely cause of PA.exe crash for users who use things like windowFX and windowsBlinds on Intel HD 4000 chipsets and maybe other hardware combo's

    i defiantly do not want to try doing that again :(

    Bug testing for PA = fun
    Bug testing for Stardock = boredom :p
    Uninstalling almost everything and rolling back drivers, really sucked! thank-you stardock
    Last edited: October 31, 2013
  18. cwarner7264

    cwarner7264 Moderator Alumni

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    Science!
  19. maxpowerz

    maxpowerz Post Master General

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    worst thing is that trying to replicate the issue didn't appear to have an effect on PA at the time, but affected my whole system :(
    Last edited: October 31, 2013
  20. warrenkc

    warrenkc Active Member

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    Just exclude PA from the programs you mentioned. You should be able to do that. I used to have window blinds.
    See:
    http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/docs/perapp.asp

    Of course if your computer isn't really fast and with tons of RAM it won't do much good either if your system can't handle the load.

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