Fences 6 Public Beta 1 Feedback

from Stardock Forums

With the Fences 6 Public Beta, we are creating this thread so that users can report any observed issues.  

Obtaining the product

Object Desktop members can get the release from within Object Desktop Manager 

Individual purchases (as well as Object Desktop Members) can also be obtained from your account page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products

For guest check-out purchase (no account), from this link: http://www.stardock.com/support/productkeyretrieval

Reporting an issue

Please include the following for anything found:

  • Exact Windows version \ build (winver.exe)

  • Detailed steps to recreate the issue seen

  • Screenshots and videos are very helpful.  Videos can be uploaded to a cloud drive service (GoogleDrive, DropBox, OneDrive, YouTube), with a shared link included in your post.  Images can be copied and pasted directly into a post.

  • If there are specific apps that the app does not work (well) with, please note what apps and their exact versions.  If any app is not common, a link to a trial version would be appreciated.

 

Thank you for your interest and any time you put into making Fences 6 a better product.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Support Manager

fences
113,640 views 82 replies
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Known issues

While we appreciate all feedback, please remember that we offer no official support for beta \ preview \ developer channel versions of Windows. If you report issues while in any of those early release channels, you should not expect them to be addressed unless it still exists in a retail version of Windows.

  • If you have 'Locked' Fences, tabbed Fences will not be clickable unless you hold Shift down.  This will be addressed with future releases. 
  • There are some reports of clients getting '212' activation errors when going from prior versions of Fences (seemingly from Fences 3 and 4).  We are looking into this and have created this thread to gather your reports and keep you posted on our investigation of them:
    https://forums.stardock.com/535207/fences-6-212-activation-issues
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

***Reserved***

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Where did the option to lock fences go? As someone with OCD I need this option back please.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jrolson, reply 4

Where did the option to lock fences go? As someone with OCD I need this option back please.

Will work for Fences 6 as well

https://support.stardock.com/space/SHC/1621360668/Show+%22Lock+Fences%22+in+Fences+5

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Found a bug with the new tab feature.

While fences is locked, you can't change to other tabs.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Very nice update! Some really cool features. :thumbsup:  :grin:  

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Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting jrolson, reply 6

While fences is locked, you can't change to other tabs.

That is not expected behavior so thanks for pointing it out.  We will have it addressed in future releases.

Internal ref: ODNT-9720

As a workaround for now, you can you shift+click to access the tabs in the locked Fence? 

Adam McGuinness
Stardock Customer Support Specialist

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Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  

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Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 9

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  

Thank you for the kind words. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi,

With new tab function and Folder Portals, if two Folder Portals are in tabs, they will not refresh automatically.
It looks a bit messy and buggy.
I put the view as details and sorted as last modified, for several folders it would not sort correctly and put only last files on top folders at last and not refresh automatically.

I just did some more test and now the folder is shown correctly with correct view and sorting (folder before files).
Now I just see that it refreshes first modification in the folder then no more.
The view is correct though.
But, then I use the refresh action, and now it sorted again all the files on top and folder bottom.

Kind of a mess... nothing makes sense, but for sure, auto refresh is not working correctly.

Even not in tab mode, auto refresh is not working correctly and is not stable.

Win 10 22H2 Build 19045.5608

Regards

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm really glad Stardock chose Tabs as their big new feature with Fences 6. It also shows you went all in with Tabs with additional tweaks such as group snapping / unsnapping and tab personalization. Fences 6 is already a better release then Fences 5 was at this time and so it is nice to turn the page. I am sure I will have more feedback as I test out Fences 6 but so far I am impressed

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Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

I just purchased an upgrade from Fences 4 permanent to Fences 6 subscription but it won't activate. I downloaded the installer from my account, used the product key from my account, and keep getting a 212 error.

Here is the error from the debug log:

Name 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences\Fences.exe'.

[2025-03-12T17:01:06] Error   : SetFilePermissions: Unable to set security info for C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Fences6

[2025-03-12T17:01:06] Info    : Loaded package file 'C:\program files (x86)\stardock\fences\Default.spak', Version '6'.

[2025-03-12T17:01:06] Info    : Initialize: Product ID '2688', Product Name 'Fences6', Version '5.9.8.9', Company Name 'Stardock', Process Name 'C:\program files (x86)\stardock\fences\SdDisplay.exe'.

[2025-03-12T17:01:06] Error   : SetFilePermissions: Unable to set security info for C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Fences6

[2025-03-12T17:01:06] Info    : Loaded package file 'C:\program files (x86)\stardock\fences\Default.spak', Version '6'.

[2025-03-12T17:01:27] Info    : Submitting Serial Activation request...

[2025-03-12T17:01:27] Error   : Unable to save License File.

 

[2025-03-12T17:01:27] Error   : SerialActivate (InvalidLicenseFile) License is not valid for the current machine.

C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Fences6 doesn't exist on my machine.  Neither does %ProgramData%\Stardock\Fences6.

Thoughts?  I submitted a ticket, but I'm not at all sure it's correct - the ticket submittal for failed activations is not at all straightforward.

Thanks!

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TheoGeek, reply 13

I just purchased an upgrade from Fences 4 permanent to Fences 6 subscription but it won't activate. I downloaded the installer from my account, used the product key from my account, and keep getting a 212 error.

I'm not certain but I believe you have to deactivate your Fences 4. Then sign into Fences 6 with 4's product key.

See this thread: https://forums.stardock.com/535182/page/1/#3964161

Reply #1 - sdrohan's.

Please report back.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Locking fences prevents selecting a tab in tabbed fences.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 9

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  


 

How did you select the recycle folder for fences. Every time I try it says invalid name.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TheoGeek, reply 15

So, my account shows fences 4 as deactivated, and Fences 6 as "active", but the app won't register, still gives a 212 error. It also only lets me download 5.98.0 but that installs Fences 6.

I'm at a loss. I can't even register Fences 4 with it's product key anymore.

But my account keeps saying "Activated" even though the app fails activation. Something is pretty borked.

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. The 5.98 is for Fences 6 Beta, which is what everyone get at this moment. I believe it will get the 6.xx when it move out from the beta.

As for your activation issue. Not sure what happen, but, you can try the purge steps: [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 #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting SimplexDesigns, reply 16

Locking fences prevents selecting a tab in tabbed fences.

This is known issue and should be resolve on future release. Appreciate your input.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting SimplexDesigns, reply 17


Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 9

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  



 

How did you select the recycle folder for fences. Every time I try it says invalid name.

I created a separate fence for the recycle bin in Fences 3, 4, and 5 which carried over in each succeeding version. When I installed Fences 6, I made sure to take a snapshot first. After installation I created tab groups and Recycle went where moved it. When I double click on the bin in the fence, it opens. Nothing special...

This one is from 2023. While I generally omit my fences from screenies, I found one which illustrates the above.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Great release, guys.  You can virtually have a modern tabbed dock now. :-) Working great for a beta.

Cosmetical Monk here: The cursor change on mouse over on a tab should be different to that change/edit cursor.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting TheoGeek, reply 13

I just purchased an upgrade from Fences 4 permanent to Fences 6 subscription but it won't activate. I downloaded the installer from my account, used the product key from my account, and keep getting a 212 error.

I answered your ticket, Theo.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 9

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  


Intriguing screen shot.  Did you use the new tabs feature to achieve that grouping across the top?  Presumably you hovered over Graphics and it drops down? 

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting IrwinMFletch, reply 22


Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 9

Excellent improvements to Fences. Very intuitive controls and ease of arranging groups. Light years better in appearance and function over Fences 5. Well done! 5*  :thumbsup:  



Intriguing screen shot.  Did you use the new tabs feature to achieve that grouping across the top?  Presumably you hovered over Graphics and it drops down? 

Yes. I created 3 tab groups and used icon tinting, as well. Clicked the graphics tab, scrolled a bit and voilá. The Windowblind is A Red by adni18 (he has adni18.com which is a beautiful site). The docks are Winstep Extreme Glossy  Burgundy skin by the late WebGizmos. The wallpaper is also adni18's AI work.

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Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 23

Yes. I created 3 tab groups and used icon tinting, as well. Clicked the graphics tab, scrolled a bit and voilá. The Windowblind is A Red by adni18 (he has adni18.com which is a beautiful site). The docks are Winstep Extreme Glossy  Burgundy skin by the late WebGizmos. The wallpaper is also adni18's AI work.

It does look very nice, indeed. 

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

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Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting sdrohan, reply 24

It does look very nice, indeed.

Thanks for the kind words, Sean. I wanted very much to do Fences 6 justice...it really is a big quality jump. It's a real winner. :congrat:  

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