Fences Support FAQ
Stardock Forums
How can I get my registration / product key information
Activation Issues and Questions
- How do I use snapshots in Fences
- How do I back up Fences snapshots
- How can I enable list view
- How can I reset Fences to the default state
- Fences and Multi Monitor / Docking Stations
- Can I get a Steam Key for my version of Fences
- Stop folder portal navigation from opening in a new Explorer window
- How do I force Fences to English
- Disable Fences on a per user basis
- Disable crash reports to DropBox
- Disable update check in Fences
- Fences won't activate
- Fences is not starting after boot
- Install Error: "This Operation has been cancelled due to the restrictions in effect on this computer."
- My icons are missing
- Microsoft Office Files are getting tossed out of my Fences
- Shortcuts or icons are being sent to the wrong monitor
- Fences going to wrong monitors
- I cannot switch between desktop pages
- I cannot move, resize, or access the options of my fences
- Why is my Steam version (purchased there) asking for a product key
- Why are my folder portals empty sometimes
- Fences 4 Peek feature not working
Fences 4 specific
- Fences Clean Boot
- Test in Windows Sandbox
- Purging and re-installing
- Fences Crashing In Corporate Controlled Environment
- Fences Extended Crash Reporting
- Manually Collecting crash dumps
Information and Usage
Backup and Restore the Layout of Fences
In Fences 2, 3, & 4, backup and restoration of the Fences layout can be found under “Layout features & Snapshots” in the Fences configuration menu. In Fences 5, these options can be found under “Layout”.
Restore a Backup (Fences 5)
Right-click on the desktop and select "Configure Fences..."
Click on "Layout" on the left-hand side of the configuration window that appears.
Select “Restore a backup” to bring up a list of saved layout backups to revert to.
When a saved backup is clicked, a preview window will appear showing you what the layout will look like on your desktop.
4. Click ‘Restore Snapshot’ to set your Fences layout back to this preview.
Save Backup (Fences 5)
To save a backup file of your current Fences layout for a future restoration, select “Save backup” from the Layout tab:
From this location, you also have the option to maintain daily backups of you Fences layout. To keep the most recent 7 days of backups available, you can ensure this box is checked.
Restore a Snapshot (Fences 2, 3, and 4)
Right-click on the desktop and select "Configure Fences..."
Click on "Layout and snapping" on the left-hand side of the configuration window that appears.
Select a snapshot you wish to revert to. A preview window will appear showing you what the desktop will look like.
4. Click ‘Restore Snapshot’ to revert the desktop to this preview.
Take a Snapshot (Fences 2, 3, and 4)
If you wish to take a snapshot instead, Select Take Snapshot.
Also from this location you have the option to turn on automatic daily backups of you Fences layout
Backups of your Layout/Snapshot are stored in the following directory:
In Windows 7/8/10/11: C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Stardock\Fences\Backups
You will need to replace USERNAME with your user account name for Windows.
Alternatively, you can import the following registry key into the new machine's registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Stardock\Fences
How can I enable list view?
The list view is only supported on folder portals. If there are items in another fence that you wish to view like this, you could create a new folder, move the shortcuts into that new folder and create a folder portal linking to that folder.
Instructions
You can create a folder portal by doing the following:
Click and drag a box on an empty area of the desktop and then release the mouse button
Choose 'Create Folder Portal here:
Select which folder you would like to display
Click the menu button in the upper left of the newly created folder portal and choose the following:
Cannot move, resize, or access the Fences options
Problem
Cannot move, resize, or access the options of Fences
Solution
It could be that the Fences are locked. Try right clicking on an empty area of the desktop → View → and ensuring that ‘Lock Fences’ is not checked:
Once that has been done, see if you can use the controls on the fence or move or resize it.
If this does not help, make sure you have the latest version of Fences installed. The latest installer can be accessed when you sign into your account here: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
How can I reset Fences to the default state?
Resetting Fences to the default state is useful if you want to get back to the original setup so you can start over. It also can help when troubleshooting issues with Fences.
Instructions
To reset Fences to its initial install state
Right click on an empty space on your desktop and select 'Configure Fences'
Select 'Layout and snapping' and 'Perform automatic layout' then select 'Yes':
Fences and Multi-Monitor with Docking Stations
Problem
With some multi-monitor setups, with various connection types and the inclusion of docking stations, Fences can have some issues rendering Fences and icons on the expected monitors.
Possible Solutions
Restart Windows Explorer
You can use this batch file to do that easily:
https://sd.stardock.com/Support/Utilities/restartExp.zipDisable 3rd party apps
DisplayFusion
Actual Multiple Monitors
Nvidia nView Desktop Manager
In versions of Fences before Fences 5, try turning on the setting “Store my Fences' positions on a per-screen-resolution” under "Layout and snapping".
In Fences 5, this option will be noted as “Store my layout on a per-monitor-configuration basis,” located under “Backups”.
As of 5/22/2024, new installations of Fences 5.53’s UI will appear as below, and have this option enabled by default. Existing installs will need to select it manually.
Fences Backup/Snapshots
To mitigate the efforts needed to get your desktop the way you want it in different monitor environments, it would be prudent to backup your layout with a snapshot based on your circumstances (docking station with multiple monitors vs without).
In versions of Fences predating Fences 5, this feature is notated under the “Layout & Snapping” setting. In Fences 5, this is found under “Backups”.
Creating a Snapshot (Pre Fences 5)
Creating a Backup (in Fences 5)
To restore a Backup/Snapshot
Right-click on the desktop and select "Configure Fences..."
Click on Layout and snapping (or Backups in Fences 5) on the left-hand side of the configuration window that appears.
Select a snapshot you wish to revert to. A preview window will appear showing you what the desktop will look like.
Click Restore Snapshot to revert the desktop to this preview.
Winkey + P
Using Windows Key + P provided a menu to select what monitors are active at any given time.
If you have an issue on boot, where Fences \ icons are on the wrong monitor.
Set Fences ‘Layout auto-adjustments’ to: ‘Store my Fences positions on a per-screen-resolution basis’
In Fences 5:
Winkey + P and select ‘PC screen only’
All Fences & icons should migrate to the Windows ‘Primary’ monitor.
Once complete, set it back to ‘Extend’ and see if your Fences are properly placed.
Fences Rules
You can set up a bucket Fence that exists on any monitor you like. With that, any icons you want to go to a specific monitor will do so based on the rule and where the Fences exists.
How do I stop folder portal navigation from opening in a new Explorer window
Instructions
From hamburger menu on folder portal title — select/check "Allow navigation"
In Windows, search file explorer options - "General" tab - select/check "Open each folder in the same window" & click Apply
Under folder options "View" tab — unselect/uncheck "Launch folder windows in a separate process" & click Apply
Please ensure that all three are done to stop folder portal navigation from opening up in a new Windows Explorer window
How to Enable / Disable Fences for other users
Startup
Fences will load for every user on the PC unless set not to in the Startup:
User Level
Manual
Done manually, you can disable Fences in the UI itself:
Registry
If you wanted to control it at a Registry level, you would add a ‘Disabled’ entry here:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Fences
You can use this registry export with just that value if you like:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/disableFencesHKCU.reg
How do I disable update check in Fences?
Stardock Version:
Periodically, you may see an automatic update check popup to notify you an update is available to download and install:
To stop this popup from reappearing, the following batch file can be downloaded to disable it. This will only work on Fences 3.05 or greater:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/UpgradeCheck.zip
Steam Version
Fences 4 or greater. Use the ‘Stardock version’ for Fences 3.
For our software products sold via Steam the update check is handled differently than the versions sold via Stardock directly
If there is an update available, the update check would look like this:
You can disable these checks by disabling the scheduled tasks, to do so:
Run Task Scheduler via Windows
Look for the product you are looking to disable (they will all start with Stardock)
Right-click on the item, and select Disable
If you do, you will have to use the Steam client to manually update.
Troubleshooting
Fences won't activate
Problem
Fences won't activate
Stardock Purchases
Steam Purchases
This will happen for Steam purchases
Solution
Stardock Purchases
The most common reasons for this are:
Using the wrong key for the wrong version of Fence
Using the wrong email / not the same one you initially activated Fences with.
Use the link below to ensure you have the correct version installed, the proper key for it, and the correct email address (try all you know):
Fences is not starting after boot
Problem
Fences is not starting after boot
Solution
Fences should have two entries in Taskmanager / Startup:
Ensuring that both are 'Enabled' will ensure Fences starts at boot under all users.
Desktop icons or Fences are missing
Problem
Desktop icons or Fences are missing.
Solution
First, as a test, disable the Quick-hide feature:
In Fences 5, this feature can be found under the “Hide” tab of your Fences Configuration application:
Other versions of Fences may have the quick-hide setting located under the “Vanish” or “Quick-hide” tab:
If this does not help, please make sure you have not inadvertently put the Fence on an alternate “desktop page” using Pages. Ensure Pages is disabled to see if the Fence \ Icon returns to your main desktop:
Automatic Layout
If all else fails, try evoking the Automatic Layout option in Fences:
https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1331396652
Then restore a recent Fences layout Backup/Snapshot:
https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1331331082/How+do+I+use+snapshots+in+Fences
Shortcuts or icons are being sent to the wrong monitor
Problem
If you have shortcuts or icons you create that are not being sent to the "Primary" monitor while using Fences, please follow the instructions below.
Solution
Double check your display settings to make sure your primary monitor is set correctly”
Example:
If your primary monitor is set correctly, you may have a registry entry with an incorrect key.
If you're comfortable with editing your registry, open regedit.exe, to see if Fences has your "PrimaryMonitorLast" set to your actual primary:
I cannot switch between desktop pages
You must first have an icon or a Fence on an alternate Desktop Page before you can navigate to it. See the 'How to move icons or fences between desktop' help option in Fences to see how to do this:
Cannot move, resize, or access the Fences options
Problem
Cannot move, resize, or access the options of Fences
Solution
It could be that the Fences are locked. Try right clicking on an empty area of the desktop → View → and ensuring that ‘Lock Fences’ is not checked:
Once that has been done, see if you can use the controls on the fence or move or resize it.
If this does not help, make sure you have the latest version of Fences installed. The latest installer can be accessed when you sign into your account here: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
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Self Support Options
Fences Clean Boot
Performing a Clean Boot
A "clean boot" starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs, so that you can determine whether a background program is interfering with your game or program. This is similar to starting Windows in Safe Mode, but provides you more control over which services and programs run at startup to help you isolate the cause of a problem.
Creating a new Windows Administrator Account
For testing, please create a new Windows Administrator account.
Its important that it is an Adminitrator account to ensure the PC has all associated privilages.
Windows 7
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-7
Windows 8
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-user-account#create-user-account=windows-8
Windows 10 & 11
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10
Log in under that account and try. If it fails, and while still under that account, please click the link below for performing a 'clean boot' under it:
Windows Clean Boot Documention
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929135
Enable Stardock Software
Keep the Fences entry enabled:
After you've loaded Windows in a clean state, please try once again.
Fences purging and re-installing
Create a current Fences Snapshot
After the purge and reinstall of Fences, you will want a current snapshot to restore once it’s complete. For how to create one, please see:
https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1331331082/How+do+I+use+snapshots+in+Fences
Obtaining the purge file
Please follow this link:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/Purge_Fences.zip
Save the file to your downloads folder.
Purging the application
**IMPORTANT** Please save any open documents/work and close out all of your applications including browsers. Your PC may restart after running this .bat file.
Double-click the downloaded purge file and select "Run as Administrator" if you're on Windows 7/8/8.1/10.
For Windows 11, you need to select, ‘Show more options’ to get to the menu.
If you are running Windows 8/10/11, you may be notified that Windows is protecting your PC. Select "More info" and then "Run anyway".
Reboot the computer and reinstall the application. It is important to get the most recent version of the application.
Reinstalling
For trials:
Please ensure you have the most recent trial available:
https://www.stardock.com/products/
For Stardock direct purchases
For getting your product and key, please see the following:
https://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval
For Steam Purchases
Even after using the purge file, you still need to use the 'uninstall' option in the Steam client:
After, re-Install from Steam and Steam only.
Please DO NOT change any of the default settings until you verify that the application is running as expected in its default state.
Fences Extended Crash Reporting
This should only be done if directed to do so by a Stardock support representative.
As with any app, there will be crashes. When Fences becomes unstable, some users will see such a message indicating a crash:
Some may never see this but have Windows Explorer crash (which Fences run under) for no apparent reason.
To help see if Fences is the cause, Fences has the capability to capture more data when there are crashes.
To enable it, the Fences registry needs to be changed. One can do so by downloading and running this registry edit file:
https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/FencesAllCrashesNew.zip
Opening this file will add a registry entry:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Fences] "ReportAllCrashes"=dword:00000001 "CrashReportingEnabled"=dword:00000001
Which will ensure any crash in explorer will be captured by Fences. Thereafter, if you can reproduce the crash, it will be logged here:
C:\Users\YourWindowsAccountName\AppData\Roaming\Stardock\Fences\TroubleshootingLog
YourWindowsAccountName is the name of the Windows account you are using.
Zip up that entire folder, upload it to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, OneDrive, DropBox, etc), and provide a shared link to it in the thread you reported the crash(s) in or in the ticket you created.
This should also trigger the 'BugSplat' prompt. Please also fill it out and use the email address for the forum account here so we can look them up as well.
Manually Collecting Fences Crash Dumps
Software Crash Collection
If you are experiencing crashes that you believe are caused by one of Stardock’s products, we would really like a dump file from a crash if you are willing to use WinDBG to capture it.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/windbg-preview/9pgjgd53tn86?activetab=pivot:overviewtab
Once installed, you would make it the default postmortem debugger (click for larger image):
When a crash happens, it will pop WinDBG and PC could become rather slow while it works through it.
Example of what you would type there using your Windows account name instead of ‘sdrohan' and the specific product name if different than 'Fences’:
.dump /mf c:\users\sdrohan\desktop\Fences_RiverComb_04062022.dmp
The dump command (with the period), the /mf switch, where you want it put, and a name that indicates what app
that it's yours, and the date.When it is done, you can click the red 'Stop Debugging' button:
The resulting file will likely be BIG, perhaps hundreds of MBs, too large to send uncompressed.
Please ZIP the file, upload it to a cloud drive service, and paste a shared link in a thread (existing or new), that would be much appreciated.
Stardock Games Crash Collection
Most all Stardock games have an in-game popup that asks for some details about the crash (what you were doing in-game, is it repeatable, etc).
Email address: Completly optional and we only ever use them for cases where we want to reach out to you for more information and help with resolving any particular issue.
If you do end up creating a forum thread about your issue, note in it that you submitted a crash report and the 1st portion (or some portion) of your email address so we can look it up here. For example, if your email address is [email protected], you can write ‘Crash report look up: jim555’ and we can use that partial. If you are not comfortable posting any portion of it, when we respond, you can private message the one of us that responds with what it is.
If for some reason this in-app crash prompt is no longer showing for you, click here.