Window Blinds and System Standby

I'm an OD purchaser/user/subscriber. Have noticed a problem lately on my system. Dunno if it's a global prob with WB4 or not; but, whenever I put my system into standby and reactivate a few hours later, portions of my WB skin (XP Start Panel, Drop down menus, and some program windows) do not come back on line. I have to go to Appearances, select a different skin, then select the skin I'm using, and hit apply. Why, if anyone knows, is this happening?? I have the very latest edition of WB4 which was automatically upgraded by Stardock. Any help will be appreciated.



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6,887 views 16 replies
Reply #1 Top
Standby has always been weird. Why not just shut down and save electricity? That will solve your problem and help the worlds resources too.

Standby is like a quick boot. Things are bound not to get drawn properly coming out of it like that.
Reply #2 Top
standby, i personally dont like, it doesnt work too well with me. i prefer shut down and then wait 30 seconds for the computer to start again. 30 seconds is nothing.
Reply #3 Top
however, i am sure that to reapply your skin, it takes somewhere around that time too, not to mention the quick boot, it comes out somewhere same time, i think.
Reply #4 Top
I agree Evil. Plus it saves your computers life too. Standby, keeps power running into it, and a power surge could wipe the whole system out. Save the Dinosaurs too.
Reply #5 Top
Reply #6 Top
Maggot, make sure you are using WindowBlinds 4.2. 4.2 addresses that issue. Basically, targa images were getting lost on restore from standby. Had same problem.



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Reply #7 Top
If anyone would know for sure, it is Frogboy. Believe him.
Reply #8 Top
Frogboy, Yes, using 4.2. Seems like more than just TGA types not redrawing though. I guess, from what I've read, that Standby ain't the way to go! How about Hibernating?? I haven't tried that; but, will, and see ifn I got the same probs with WB. My DX and ODock, Trillian, and rainlendar all come back ok; just WB, and not all of it. Think TGAs for sure; but, maybe some bmp types too not redrawing without me re-loading the skin. Will try the hibernation thingie. Maintenance guys I used to work with always told me that it's best to keep your 'puter running. Shut downs/restarts supposedly put more stress on the cpu and other "parts" of a computer, than runnin' it full time. Guess that's a debatable issue. Thanks all for your remarks.



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Reply #9 Top
Ok folks, just noticed. Seems I might be too impatient. Came out of standby and WB redrew okay. Guess I didn't wait for it long enough. Didn't have to re-load the skin. Hopefully, my impatience is the majority of the problem?? Will have to wait and see; but, still gonna try hibernation and see ifn there's a difference..Thanks again to all for remarks/recommendations. PS. FROGBOY, would you know why my wincustomize account theme now changes to default instead of my preferred theme???? This has just started occuring the last couple of days......



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Reply #10 Top
Interesting nic, Mr. Maggot.

As for the change in site theme, I noticed that too. They're working on the servers so dunno if that may have something to do with it...



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Reply #11 Top
Yes, mine did that too. But, it just reverted to my custom skin, so maybe the Maintenance Server Guys are making progress. Patience, my friend. All good things come to those who have patience.
Oh yeah, and I had a few friends who computers fried when they weren't home and they had a power surge. I had the same problem myself. I came home one day and my motherboard was fried. I learned my lesson. Luckily, it was still under warranty at the time. Now, I have two surge protectors, and I always turn my computer off when not in use.
Reply #12 Top
Then there are fan issues, that burn out. I lost a fan on my video card and it went kaput. Then there is the power supply. The capacitors in those things wear out too, when power is constantly being supplied to it. Why do you think that WC has to continually replace its servers? They run 24-7 too. Sorry, but I think your maintenance guys are wrong.
Reply #13 Top
Sig101....Hey, thanks for the tip on the servers. Forgot they were gonna install new ones and such. Prob the cause. My theme's kind of been steady most of yesterday and all of today, so far......

ChasUGC, also thanks for your input. I've got two puters on a home network, PC and a Laptop. I'm also on surge protectors (learned that while in Saudi!!). Anyway, have had a pwr outage and the laptop reverts to battery but, the PC just shuts down. I usually always turn off everything if I leave the house but, have been using the standby on the PC when I'm at home and quit computin' and go watch the other tube. I guess it ain't that big a deal to shut down but, as I said, my ol' maintainers used to say that powering off and on does more damage than just leavin' it on. They may have been wrong I guess but, they were my "experts" at the time. Fortunately, power here's fairly stable and usually if it's stormin' out, I'm shuttin down anyway but, thanks for your input. It's always good to get another opinion or 8....



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Reply #14 Top
Chas... any power surge will be stopped with a good UPS. Capacitors, and such components will last longer if left running. Turning the computer off everyday is putting stress on those tiny components. You heat them up and things expand, cool them off and things contract. It like taking a wire and bending it, then straightening it, over, and over.......... it will eventually break. And the comment about WC continually replacing the servers........... Stardock has never lost a server in all the years they've been online, until the 3 *NEW* servers died late last year.



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Reply #15 Top
I won't beat a dead horse into the ground. The horse died. But, we'll be sorry when all the dinosaur fuel is gone. The poor, poor dinosaurs.
Reply #16 Top
I'll say this though. I'll run my computer for a few hours and then shut it down. I'll start mine again in 20 years. He can let his run the entire time. And, in twenty years, we'll see who computer is still working.