WindowBlinds Makes Win 8.1 Task Bar Deploy/Hide on Secondary Monitors

from Stardock Forums

Hello:

I purchased WindowBlinds yesterday and found that in any skins other than the Default theme, the task bar in Windows 8 keeps sliding out (deploying), then sliding down (hiding) on my alternate monitors.  This happens on each extended monitor/screen and each one seems to go by it's own specific rhythm; they're not in time with each other.  As you might guess, this is annoying, but I'm also worried that it is causing Windows to use needless CPU resources.

System:

Windows 8.1 Pro, 64

Intel i7 hex-core processor with 64 GB RAM

HIS HD7970 graphic card with the following Monitor configuration:

  • Left (Extended):  Asus PA248Q via Displayport
  • Center (Main):  Asus PA248Q via HDMI
  • Right (Extended): Asus PA248Q via DVI
  • Windows is set up to display task bar on all three monitors.
  • I am not using AMD's Eyefinity
  • "Change the size of text" is set to "smaller - 100%"
  • Monitor resolution for each monitor is set to the ASUS PA248Q native resolution, 1920 X 1200
  • Task bar is set to "autohide" on all three monitors

Behavior:

I can cause it to happen: 

By enabling any of the styles other than "Default Theme", and then by maximizing an application (such as FireFox browser) on on any of my monitors (even the center "main" monitor), the task bars on each of the extended monitors will "slide up" and "slide down" repeatedy.  They are not in sync with each other; each will slide up and down at its own speed independent of the other.

 

What it looks like:

  • The behavior happens even if the style chosen is one of the "Windows 8" WindowBlinds styles.
  • The behavior happens only on the Extended monitors, not on the "main" monitor.
  • The autohide/autoexpose of the task bars on the extended monitors is what's happening, as if there is some system or application asking for attention or seeking a response (causing the task bar to deploy), then saying "oh nevermind" (causing the task bar to close after one or two seconds). 
  • There is no other blinking, movement, or anomalies that seem to be happening.

 

I can temporarily stop it from happening:

By clicking on the desktop background or clicking on one of the "jiggly" task bars, the behavior will temporarily stop.  But when I go back to the app I enlarged to cause the behavior, then they will again begin their dance, sliding up and down, up and down, up and down...

 

I can stop it more permanently from happening:

Once the extended-monitor task bars begin their "jumping bean" behavior, there are three ways to stop them:

  • I can switch to "Default theme" in WindowBlinds.
  • I can de-install WindowBlinds.
  • Restart Windows (but then it will happen again the first time I maximize an application).

None of these options are feasible.

I bought Object Desktop for one PC purely for Fences + WindowBlinds.  If we can't get WindowBlinds to work without dancing taskbars, then I would have rather just spent $10 on Fences only (this is what I did for my laptop).

 

EDIT:  I sent an email to support, directing them to this thread.  I'm very interested in getting this fixed.

windowblinds
68,236 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Very nicely written report.  :thumbsup:

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Why thank you!

I am in IT myself and also have some beta testing experience, so I know how to find bugs and write bug reports.  *_*

There has been no word yet from Stardock, but they ARE in Michigan.  I think it's still snowing there.  From winter 2012/2013.  8C

EDIT:  Oh, lookie there, I have a badge!  I wonder, can I make a citizen's arrest with it?  Freeze!  :jafo:

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for the detailed report. We will respond to your ticket ASAP.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I'm experiencing this issue too.  Please get a fix in place, this is highly annoying.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I, too, have the dancing task bar when I connect a projector to my laptop (running Windows 8.1 PRO 64-bit). The symptom does not recur when the laptop is running standalone (with no connected projectors or monitors). I read in this thread that Support was going to respond to the OP ASAP. Have there been any further developments?

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

It is probably best to open a support ticket with us if you have not already so we can add your info to the internal ticket on this issue.

Please download and run the following utility:

http://sd.stardock.com/SDSupportTool.exe

This is a tool that we use to gather relevant log files and basic information about your computer. Once the utility finishes running, please attach the .zip file it creates on the desktop when you create a ticket here.

Thanks

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