Slow Windows startup with WindowBlinds11.

from Stardock Forums

Hello, a few days ago, I installed WindowBlinds11.0.6.0. The problem is that when the program is turned on, it delays Windows' start by an additional 20 seconds. When it is excluded from boot, everything is normal and takes 7 seconds.
I've installed a similar program, UXTheme Patcher, for custom third-party themes, and it doesn't slow Windows startup at all.
What could be the problem with WindowBlinds, and how can I fix it?
Thank you.

 

windowblinds
4,198 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I believe you've created a conflict situation. It's not a good idea to install 2 programs designed to change the same thing.

Your UX theme patcher alters system files,and consequently compromises security and voids your OS warranty. Windowblinds does not.

To repair your files uninstall the UX theme patcher, and from an elevated command prompt (run as administrator)  sfc /scannow

You can read more about it here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/use-the-system-file-checker-tool-to-repair-missing-or-corrupted-system-files-79aa86cb-ca52-166a-92a3-966e85d4094e

Did you immediately restart your system after installing Windowblinds?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry, I didn't make it clear, UXthemepatcher was installed afterwards as a test to see if it slows down the system boot as WindowBlinds do.
Only one program is installed on the system when I make the test, so there is no conflict between these two programs.
Did I immediately restart my system after installing Windowblinds? Yes and No, as I have installed it a few times already..
Also, I forgot to ask the most important question: Does WindowBlinds slow down/have an impact on Windows startup? Because if it does, we are wasting time solving a problem which, in fact, is not a problem with my computer/OS, but a program issue.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting BlackJack82BlackJack82, reply 2

Did I immediately restart my system after installing Windowblinds? Yes and No, as I have installed it a few times already..

After installation, regardless of how many times it's been reinstalled, your system must be restarted.

If tou had UX thememe patcher installed, your system files have been changes. sfc /scannow will repair them. Try it and see.

Windowblinds should nor slow your boot to any significant degree. You can check Impact on boot time in task manager. Just open task manager and click on the Startup tab. You should see impact on boot time for all your programs/services.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry, I didn't make it clear again. By saying it was installed few times I meant that I restored my clear windows backup which was made before applying any of the widows visual mods. To make it more clear, it is a fresh windows installation with up to date drivers an few programs installed, and then after making the backup I have installed WindowBlinds, and after that I have restored my widows backup and installed UXThemePatche, and so on.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3groifw32atzjq61l0czm/windowblinds.mp4?rlkey=pkjvphtdsvzt9f4x79dpk6gqk&st=pupgtpys&dl=0

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Not to beat a dead horse, if you installed UXTP after restoring, or Have it installed now I suggest running

sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt since several system files have been altered and will give wonky results with Windowblinds, and are altering your system security as well. It takes less than 5 minutes to run it, and it will inform you whether you had corrupted system files.

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Not sure why it takes so long on your system, but looking on my system. This is what I get, refer my screenshot below. Perhaps, you can install something similar software, such as Wise Care 365, and see which software is actually causing your issue.

Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

I tried sfc /scannow with no result. As I've mention previously thera are no previous program leftovers on the system as the programs are not uninstalled, the whole windows backup is restored instead without any of these two programs. I hope it make sens now.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Great! Good to hear there's no corruption. Please do what basj suggested with respect to WiseCare to find out which app is causing your slow down.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok I'm back with more testing.
As advised, I installed Wise Care 365, and here are the results.

WB_OFFWB_OFF

WB_ON
WB_ONAs you can see, boot time is 32 seconds with WB on or off, but these numbers don't represent the actual boot time, as you can see in the previous video that I've uploaded.
But don't focus on that, as I did more tests.

I have installed the original SSD that came with the laptop, which contains clean Win10 with standard Dell drivers (nothing else), and the issue with slow boot when WB is on is still present.

So I went further and downloaded the Win10 ISO from the Microsoft website and did a fresh OS installation (nothing else), and the issue with slow boot when WB is on is still present.
I have no clue what is going on.

The laptop I'm using is Dell XPS 13 9310.

Is there a way to download an older version of WindowBlinds? Maybe that would help.
Thank you.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Sorry, you can not download any older version of Windowblinds.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant