Fences settings window keeps opening randomly

from Stardock Forums

Lately the Fences settings windows has been opening up on its own, this is strange behavior, no other app is doing this. Even if I reboot it is opening up the settings window on startup, I even tried disabling Fences in the startup list in task manager, it still opens up on its own. If I close the window and leave my pc idle for a few minutes it’ll open right back up, please help! I’m using the latest version of fences, any help would be greatly appreciated. I also would like to know where I can retain my settings file so I can copy them to another folder in case I can’t restore my old settings if I reinstall. Where are the backup files stored? Please help.

fences
17,800 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please try purge and reinstall steps as mention here : [Link]. Just make sure to redownload the latest version from your account page. Reboot after the purge. Reinstall and reboot again after the installation. Retest and report back here.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi Jaymitch23, the next time this happens, could you please send us your debug log? (And as well feel free to upload a copy of the debug log now as well?). You can find it in the folder "%appdata%\Stardock\Fences\TroubleshootingLog"; the file is "fences_debug_info.txt". 

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm having more serious issues, after running the purge file, and rebooting, fences was unable to uninstall the app completely because some files were used by another program, and when I attempt to run the latest trial installer, I receive the error "invalid start mode : archive offset", so I can't reinstall. And even when I was uninstalling, I couldn't uninstall because some files were being used by another program. I don't want to get rid of Fences, I was just want to reinstall. How can I start the installer without getting the "invalid start mode : archive offset" warning? I've already disabled Fences in the startups folder in task manager (both apps are disabled) so how can I resolve this?

 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, when you ran the purgexxx.bat file did you run as Administrator? If you did not please run purge and reinstall again. Also make sure to reboot after the purge is done.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I chose run as administrator. Every time I click the setup file I'm receiving this error. Is it because the application is open in another program?

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Did you try running the purgexxx.bat again?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
I have forwarded your problem/question to Stardock Support Team for their assistance. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patience.

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Try getting a new installer as that may have been corrupted.  Please get the new installer from you account page:

https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

https://store.stardock.com/createaccount

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Neither of those installers are working either. I'm still receiving that irsetup error. I'm beginning to believe Fences wasn't completely uninstalled.

 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Beastmodebeats, reply 10

Neither of those installers are working either. I'm still receiving that irsetup error. I'm beginning to believe Fences wasn't completely uninstalled.

 

As a temporary test, use this information to create new local Windows Administrator account:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/manage-user-accounts-in-windows-104dc19f-6430-4b49-6a2b-e4dbd1dcdf32

Try to install Fences under it.  If it works, Fences will also be installed under your normal account.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

+1 Loading…
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

I tried that, it didnt work, even with a new local admin account I still receive the irsetup error when I click the installer.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Great, glad you came back to this thread. Please wait for Support to come back for more suggestion.

As an added information. Is this a corporate system with special security software installed. Such as Forcepoint/Websence?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Beastmodebeats, reply 12

I tried that, it didnt work, even with a new local admin account I still receive the irsetup error when I click the installer.

Post an image of the error, please....

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 14


Quoting Beastmodebeats,
reply 12

I tried that, it didnt work, even with a new local admin account I still receive the irsetup error when I click the installer.

Post an image of the error, please....

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Quoting Beastmodebeats, reply 15

No
 

Ok, when you change your mind, let is know.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jaymitch23, reply 3

How can I start the installer without getting the "invalid start mode : archive offset" warning?

Hi @jaymitch23, I'm from the development team. I see you're working on some installation issues with the customer support team, but once you have those resolved -- we have a new installer that we'd like you to try that has some extra debug logging capability. It'll allow you to do a couple things. (1) Enable a new "advanced logging" capability, and (2) Submit an error report package for us to inspect. Both can be accessed via the "Troubleshooting" menu in the advanced dialog.

https://cdn.stardock.us/support/uploads/Fences5_5.8.4.5-j138-Setup.exe

From the sound of it- it's just a guess, but I'm guessing this issue is coming from a botched installation. Some files got leftover in %programfiles(x86)%\Stardock\Fences from a prior install, and for some reason are still in use. If you see files in that folder and they're locked, one way to get rid of them in addition to the support team's usual recommendations is to rename the files in explorer, reboot, and upon reboot they should be unlocked. You're then ready to reinstall a new version.

 

Thank you! Let us know how it goes, and yes otherwise please continue to work with the support team on getting the installation itself fixed up.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi all, 

Fences beta has been updated to 5.84 (5.8.4.7)

For details, please see:

https://forums.stardock.com/529942/get;3940572

As always, thank you for your time, feedback, and support.

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

I can't run the new installer because I still receive the IRSetup error, this is ridiculous!

 

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Possible to share screenshot? I'm not with the installer team but can try to look into it.

 

Assuming you've uninstalled the app, try navigating %programfiles(x86)%\Stardock\Fences and deleting any files leftover there. If any files are locked, should be able to rename the files, and then on next reboot they won't be locked / you can remove them. 

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Beastmodebeats, reply 21

no, this is not a corporate system with special security software installed.

That is interesting...  It's very possible that there are corporate policy restrictions regarding the installation of 3rd party software.  If possible, can you reach out to your IT people to get their feedback on this.

This is not an attempt to punt the issue; we really have never seen an issue like yours, an 'IRSetup error'.

At the very least, and right after you see the error, we would need the installer log that's created here:

C:\Users\seand\AppData\Local\Temp  (you would replace 'seand' with your Windows account name)

There is no sensitive data there so you can upload it to a shared drive of your choice (OneDrive, GoogleDrive, etc) and post a shared link here.  Alternatively, you could PM the link to me

If its not creating the log file at all, we REALLY would want to know what your IT people have said about installing 3rd party software.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager