WindowFX uses 100% CPU, UI becomes unresponsive

[Michael Monsen]

Hi everybody,

System specs are at the end of the message.

I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly on
my system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to 100%
and the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds to
register, windows will stop painting themselves or paint very slowly,
etc. If I am very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the task
manager to pop up, where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and wait a
few seconds for it to get highlighted,) then click the End Task button.
Once wfxload.exe is killed, the system goes right back to normal.

At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no difference.

I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry
and cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to WindowFX,
then re-installed. No change.

I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw no
difference.

I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.

I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager
features enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.

Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?

System specs:

Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Johan Karlborg]

Any odd plugins that might not behave? Spyware that has been installed
mayhaps? )Tried spybot S&D or such to check for spyware?) I seem to give
this advice at the drop of a hat but it often turns out badly written
spyware affects the system. Were you able to put WindowFX in fallback mode?
Windows XP 32 or 64 bit?

It does sound as if something is not behaving properly and is
forcing/fighting out with WindowFX to draw properly. Do you use windowblinds
as well and if so, does that work fine?

/Johan

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly on my
system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to 100% and
the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds to register,
windows will stop painting themselves or paint very slowly, etc. If I am
very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the task manager to pop up,
where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and wait a few seconds for it to
get highlighted,) then click the End Task button. Once wfxload.exe is
killed, the system goes right back to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry and
cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to WindowFX, then
re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw no
difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager features
enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Michael Monsen]

Post by Johan Karlborg
Any odd plugins that might not behave?

Plugins for what? WindowFX? I wasn't aware that there were any.

Post by Johan Karlborg
Spyware that has been installed
mayhaps? )Tried spybot S&D or such to check for spyware?) I seem to give
this advice at the drop of a hat but it often turns out badly written
spyware affects the system.

Yes, I have used Spybot S&D as well as Ad-Aware and neither reports
anything. I am very careful about my Internet usage and I'd really be
surprised if there were any Spyware or viruses on this system.
I am very particular about what software I use on this system.

Post by Johan Karlborg
Were you able to put WindowFX in fallback mode?

I wasn't aware that there was a "fallback mode". How do I enable it?
If it's in the configuration screens somewhere, I must have missed it
because it doesn't sound familiar to me.

Post by Johan Karlborg
Windows XP 32 or 64 bit?

Windows XP 32 bit.

Post by Johan Karlborg
It does sound as if something is not behaving properly and is
forcing/fighting out with WindowFX to draw properly. Do you use windowblinds
as well and if so, does that work fine?

I have WindowBlinds working just fine. I've tried WindowFX with
WindowBlinds running as well as not running. It didn't make any
different either way.

Thanks for your response. I'm hoping that the dialog will somehow help
me narrow it down until the problem is identified.

Post by Johan Karlborg
/Johan

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly on my
system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to 100% and
the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds to register,
windows will stop painting themselves or paint very slowly, etc. If I am
very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the task manager to pop up,
where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and wait a few seconds for it to
get highlighted,) then click the End Task button. Once wfxload.exe is
killed, the system goes right back to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry and
cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to WindowFX, then
re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw no
difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager features
enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Alain]

Post by Michael Monsen

Post by Johan Karlborg
Any odd plugins that might not behave?

Plugins for what? WindowFX? I wasn't aware that there were any.

It can be any explorer plugin.

Post by Michael Monsen

Post by Johan Karlborg
Were you able to put WindowFX in fallback mode?

I wasn't aware that there was a "fallback mode". How do I enable
it? If it's in the configuration screens somewhere, I must have missed
it because it doesn't sound familiar to me.

Look in the "Transitions" section. Near the bottom.

Alain

[Richard K. Sz.]

Hello,

Sounds you know what you're doing but I'll write this anyway.

Upgrade to Window FX 2.21, that's the latest release according to SD =

Central. I might have an older version of Window FX which I could send =

you. I know that there were some drawing methods changed in this release=
=

compared to the previous versions.

What kind of things do you want Window FX to do? Most of the functions h=
as =

fallback modes or other.



On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:29:13 +0200, Michael Monsen =

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly on=

=

Post by Michael Monsen
my system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to 100%=

=

Post by Michael Monsen
and the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds to =
register, windows will stop painting themselves or paint very slowly, =

=

Post by Michael Monsen
etc. If I am very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the task =
manager to pop up, where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and wait a=

=

Post by Michael Monsen
few seconds for it to get highlighted,) then click the End Task button=

. =

Post by Michael Monsen
Once wfxload.exe is killed, the system goes right back to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to =

=

Post by Michael Monsen
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no =
difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry =

=

Post by Michael Monsen
and cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to WindowF=

X, =

Post by Michael Monsen
then re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw n=

o =

Post by Michael Monsen
difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager =
features enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Michael Monsen]

Post by Richard K. Sz.
Hello,
Sounds you know what you're doing but I'll write this anyway.
Upgrade to Window FX 2.21, that's the latest release according to SD
Central. I might have an older version of Window FX which I could send
you. I know that there were some drawing methods changed in this
release compared to the previous versions.

Ahh, I hadn't even thought about trying the latest beta version. I had
only tried the newest release version shown by Stardock Central. I
installed the beta version and it has cleared up the issue completely.
WindowFX now runs as expected and everything seems to be running smoothly.

Post by Richard K. Sz.
What kind of things do you want Window FX to do? Most of the functions
has fallback modes or other.

The main thing I wanted from WindowFX was the drop shadows. The only
application I've noticed so far that doesn't have a shadow is iTunes,
but I suppose that's to be expected because of its custom built-in look
anyway. I can live with that.

Thanks for your suggestion. I should have thought of it myself!

As far as I'm concerned the issue has been resolved for me.

Post by Richard K. Sz.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:29:13 +0200, Michael Monsen

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly
on my system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to
100% and the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds
to register, windows will stop painting themselves or paint very
slowly, etc. If I am very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the
task manager to pop up, where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and
wait a few seconds for it to get highlighted,) then click the End
Task button. Once wfxload.exe is killed, the system goes right back
to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry
and cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to
WindowFX, then re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw
no difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager
features enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Johan Karlborg]

Good thing you solved it Michael.

[Richard K. Sz.]

Shouldn't blame yourself, one can't think of everything and besides, =

WindowFX and all other Stardock products are quite experimental.

MMm.. shadows with MS Messenger is a bitch but that's MS's probleam =

really, I mean, if you choose to clip a window like that (current =

Messenger), they should really consider heading back to code-school or =

whatever.



On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 19:44:57 +0200, Michael Monsen =

Post by Richard K. Sz.
Hello,
Sounds you know what you're doing but I'll write this anyway.
Upgrade to Window FX 2.21, that's the latest release according to SD=

=

Post by Richard K. Sz.
Central. I might have an older version of Window FX which I could sen=

d =

Post by Richard K. Sz.
you. I know that there were some drawing methods changed in this =
release compared to the previous versions.

Ahh, I hadn't even thought about trying the latest beta version. I h=

ad =

only tried the newest release version shown by Stardock Central. I =
installed the beta version and it has cleared up the issue completely.=

=

WindowFX now runs as expected and everything seems to be running =
smoothly.

Post by Richard K. Sz.
What kind of things do you want Window FX to do? Most of the function=

s =

Post by Richard K. Sz.
has fallback modes or other.

The main thing I wanted from WindowFX was the drop shadows. The only=

=

application I've noticed so far that doesn't have a shadow is iTunes, =

=

but I suppose that's to be expected because of its custom built-in loo=

k =

anyway. I can live with that.
Thanks for your suggestion. I should have thought of it myself!
As far as I'm concerned the issue has been resolved for me.

Post by Richard K. Sz.
On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 02:29:13 +0200, Michael Monsen =

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly =

=

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
on my system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up t=

o =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
100% and the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take secon=

ds =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
to register, windows will stop painting themselves or paint very =
slowly, etc. If I am very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get t=

he =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
task manager to pop up, where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (an=

d =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
wait a few seconds for it to get highlighted,) then click the End =
Task button. Once wfxload.exe is killed, the system goes right ba=

ck =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog t=

o =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no =
difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registr=

y =

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
and cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to =
WindowFX, then re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw=

=

Post by Richard K. Sz.

Post by Michael Monsen
no difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager =
features enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed

[Besarion Chikhladze]

Gentlemen

if you turn off DEP (Data Execution Preventer) in WindowsXP, then WinFX will
run quite smoothly and will not take all CPU time any more. You will have to
edit 'boot.ini' file and set the value for 'noexecute' key to 'AlwaysOff'

Post by Michael Monsen
Hi everybody,
System specs are at the end of the message.
I'm having a very difficult time getting WindowFX to work correctly on my
system. Whenever I start it, the CPU utilization shoots up to 100% and
the UI becomes very unresponsive. A click will take seconds to register,
windows will stop painting themselves or paint very slowly, etc. If I am
very patient I can hit CTRL-ALT-DEL and get the task manager to pop up,
where I locate wfxload.exe, click on it (and wait a few seconds for it to
get highlighted,) then click the End Task button. Once wfxload.exe is
killed, the system goes right back to normal.
At one point I did manage to get the WindowFX configuration dialog to
appear where I disabled everything that I could, but it made no difference.
I've also uninstalled via Stardock Central and went into the registry and
cleaned out any apparent configuration settings related to WindowFX, then
re-installed. No change.
I've also tried launching it without any other apps running, but saw no
difference.
I've tried with Cool & Quiet both enabled and disabled.
I've ensured that I don't have any of the nVidia Desktop Manager features
enabled, thinking they might interfere somehow.
Does anybody have any clues to help me fix this?
Athlon 64 3000+, with Cool & Quiet enabled
1 GB RAM
nVidia GeForce 6800 GT, 256 MB video RAM
Windows XP SP2 with all of the latest patches via Windows Update
nVidia driver version 77.72
WindowFX version 2.12.006
DirectX 9.0c installed