IconPackager Total System Freeze

Frozen Splash Screen - Can't access Task Manager, or anything else

from Stardock Forums

Used IconPacker a few times without issue. Sometimes some icons randomly revert to Windows Default, but usually rebuilding the icon cache fixes that. So anyway, I think I'll just try a different icon set. One that I had applied before, without issue, when I was first checking out IconPackager trying out a few different packages.

This time, when I applied the IconPackage, IconPackager shows the semi-transparent Splash Screen overlay like usual. But then several minutes go by (normally this only takes maybe 10 seconds tops).

After five minutes (at this point I'm sure something is stuck), I hit ctrl+alt+del, and got the normal windows ctrl+alt+del overlay where I selected Task Manager, but the windows overlay just closes and Task Manager never appears. The IconPackager splash screen is still covering the whole display. I left it for a while. Didn't interfere for about 15 minutes, before trying everything mentioned below.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager directly wouldn't work. Win+D to switch to different desktop wouldn't work. Alt+F4 to close the app wouldn't work. Win+R to open the Run dialogue wouldn't work. Couldn't access task bar at all... 

This seems like a major oversight in how this application operates. Surely it is not good practice to lock down the PC with a splash screen that will not allow Task Manager to intercede. The splash screen really should not interfere with alt+tab, or win+tab, or win+d (switch desktop), but most important of all, it should not block ctr+shift+esc (task manager).

Using other PC to search for fixes online... an old google result from stardock support forum suggested turning off the option to show the splash screen when applying icons. Okay, noted. Not going to help me unfreeze my system right now though.

So after trying everything I could think of, gave up and forced my PC to shut down with the power button. Not an ideal solution.

After rebooting my PC, it seems that the icon package was applied. Okay, so disable the splash screen... oops. I don't see that option. I guess that was an older version of the IconPackager app that had an option to disable the splash screen when applying an icon package. If that option still exists, please point it out for me, because I'm not seeing it.

Can I go back to an older version of IconPackager, that still has that option? Because now I'm afraid to apply any icon package. Of course I don't like forcing my PC to power off like that. If I could disable the splash screen, all would be well, because I'm pretty sure that would unlock multiple recovery options in case of software problems, plus, I'm pretty sure the problem was literally just the splash screen failing to close.

I'm using Windows 10, fully updated.

iconpackager help software standards total lockup splash screen other stardock software
3,308 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top


Can I go back to an older version of IconPackager, that still has that option?

If you didn't dl installers for prior versions, these I'm sorry to tell you SD only provides the most recent version for dl.

You can try uninstalling, immediately rebooting, reinstalling and immediately rebooting and it might help, but I'm not a Support person. One should be along soon.

Also, please post your Windows version from running winver.

Might you have other 3rd party customizing software installed?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Windows 10 Version 22H2 (OS Build 19045.4780)

Nothing I have installed touches icons at all. As for customization, presently just other Stardock apps. WindowBlinds (currently not using any WB skin), Curtains (currently not using any Curtains skin), Groupy, Start11.

I did try running IconPackager again and applying a different icon package, and it worked fine (took about 2 seconds).

Still though, having an app completely lock my system like that is concerning. Seems the way that splash screen operates is kinda irresponsible.

Just now I tested setting Task Manager to always on top, and leaving it up while applying an icon package... but Task Manager still can't be in front of IconPackager's splash screen.

Why make this screen like, non-optional, and completely lock out the OS that way? Then if anything goes wrong, and that splash screen doesn't close itself, the user's only option is powering off the system!

Anyway... what was the last version that had the option to disable showing the splash screen when applying icons?

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