Fences 0.96 - problem with Explorer

Work around

from Stardock Forums
I have installed the 0.96 beta version of Fences. I am running XP-Pro SP3 with Zone Alarm Security firewall and anti-virus plus Network Magic for our home network. Graphics is an NVIDEA GeForce 4 MX420 with driver version 5.2.1.6.
 
Fences 0.96 installed very easily (but only after upgrading Net Framework 3.0 to 3.5) without problem until re-booting. At this stage the screen 'froze'. I had to use alt-ctl-del to bring up task manager and use the shut down option from there. On re-booting, Fences fired up and I was able to re-organise all my icons. Things seem to be working very well.
 
However, I still have problems each time I re-boot my computer. Each time I get a problem with Explorer and a frozen screen. Not only does Explorer have problems, but also Dr Watson. Application explorer.exe 6.0.2900.5512 and component ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.5512 seem to be involved. I have not worked out how to save the Windows de-bug information as everything freezes except alt-ctl-del and task manager. This occurs everytime I switch on my computer.
 
As a work around I now need to use alt-ctl-del to bring up task manager and use the log-off option. On re-logging, things improve. Fences is up and running and so far I do not appear to have had any ongoing problem during normal use. Just the issue of start up each time my computer is switched on or re-booted. Only very occasionally have I had a problem with the screen freezing in about two months of daily use. Log off and log on fixes this.
Because the problem seems to be 'cured' by logging off and re-logging, this suggests to me that the conflict occurs only during start up. Is there any chance that this problem is known about and is being addressed by the Fences development team?
Interestingly I use Fences 0.96 on a second computer and this does not give me any problem at all.
 
Super software. I am looking forward to a bug-free more stable version. I would certainly pay for this software if that was the only option.
 
Regards
 
Chris Raison
thinkdesk
4,923 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top


I have installed the 0.96 beta version of Fences. I am running XP-Pro SP3 with Zone Alarm Security firewall and anti-virus plus Network Magic for our home network. Graphics is an NVIDEA GeForce 4 MX420 with driver version 5.2.1.6.
 
Fences 0.96 installed very easily (but only after upgrading Net Framework 3.0 to 3.5) without problem until re-booting. At this stage the screen 'froze'. I had to use alt-ctl-del to bring up task manager and use the shut down option from there. On re-booting, Fences fired up and I was able to re-organise all my icons. Things seem to be working very well.
 
However, I still have problems each time I re-boot my computer. Each time I get a problem with Explorer and a frozen screen. Not only does Explorer have problems, but also Dr Watson. Application explorer.exe 6.0.2900.5512 and component ntdll.dll 5.1.2600.5512 seem to be involved. I have not worked out how to save the Windows de-bug information as everything freezes except alt-ctl-del and task manager. This occurs everytime I switch on my computer.
 
As a work around I now need to use alt-ctl-del to bring up task manager and use the log-off option. On re-logging, things improve. Fences is up and running and so far I do not appear to have had any ongoing problem during normal use. Just the issue of start up each time my computer is switched on or re-booted. Only very occasionally have I had a problem with the screen freezing in about two months of daily use. Log off and log on fixes this.

Because the problem seems to be 'cured' by logging off and re-logging, this suggests to me that the conflict occurs only during start up. Is there any chance that this problem is known about and is being addressed by the Fences development team?

Interestingly I use Fences 0.96 on a second computer and this does not give me any problem at all.
 
Super software. I am looking forward to a bug-free more stable version. I would certainly pay for this software if that was the only option.
 
Regards
 
Chris Raison

 

I have had the same problem with explorer.exe hanging and then having to use CTRL - ALT - DEL to bring up the Task Manager and then use the Run Command to start explorer.exe again.

I had this problem , only rarely with the Beta 96, BUT with the Fences 98 Beta, it has become worse and more frequent,  It became so unusable that I had to uninstall and clean my registry of all remnants of the frogram.

Usually when I have a program that causes a problem such as this one, I find that if I have it load later on Boot or ReBoot, it will work OK.  (I use the "Delayed StartUp feature of "WinPatrol Pro", to change the offending program to start up after "x" minutes or even Last.

The problem I have found with "FENCES",  is that you can not put the application file 'fences.exe' in the Delayed Start Up, it will not work.  There are 2 entries that appear in the Startup list that seem to indicate that the startup of FENCES is dictated by to lines in the registry (involving "Shell32") and these two startup can not be moved to a Delayed Start, which I think would solve mu problem.

I really like FENCES, so I hope someone has a fix and I can reinstall it again.  It is a great compliment to "ObjectDock Plus".

[ I am running XP-Pro SP3; Intel Core2 Quad; NIS 2009 -Anti-virus\Firewall suite; plus Network Magic Pro for my  home network. Graphics is an NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT XXX by "XFX" with the latest drivers NVIDIA drivers.]

 

I hope that either the next version of FENCES soves the problem, or a reader of the Forum has already dound a work around.

 

Thanks StarDock and all Forum Readers,

Regards,

 

Piscote49

 

 

 

 

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I love Fences as well, but keep getting this explorer issue and frozen desktop.  Please release a solution Stardock, but for now I will keep using the "Run explorer.exe" suggestion from above.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Fences 1.0 is now available.  Are these issues present there?