Dexpot not playing well with Fences

[SirCumference]

Hey there, I've got a friend who just got a new Toshiba Satellite laptop running Windows 7 64-bit. She's trying to use both Dexpot and Stardock Fences, but they don't seem to want to work together all the time. Occasionally when she double-clicks her desktop it messes with her Windows theme colors, and when switching desktops a strange white window will appear.

Has anyone else had this problem before? This is very strange because I have Windows 7 x64 machine running both Dexpot and Fences and I've never had a problem with them. Could there be a conflict with some of the preloaded Toshiba software on her machine? Thanks for the help!

[sgtevmckay]

Greetings SirCumference

Actually this is a known issue.
This issue exists with all Virtual Dsektop Managers that I am aware of.
Last I knew, I believe that The Dev folks are looking for a solution as many, including myself, really like Fences.
the Dev folks at Stardock are also aware of Fences VDM incompatibility, although I have no idea if they have plans to look into VDm comparability issues at this time.

[SirCumference]

Okay, thanks a lot! Like I said, I found this bug to be odd since I use both Dexpot and Fences and they've never given me any problems. It's really annoying my friend though, so I hope this can be fixed in the future.

Thanks again!

[SirCumference]

Well, my friend and I figured out what was causing the changes in theme color. She was using a Windows theme that would change at set intervals. If she was on one desktop long enough for the background to change and then switched to another desktop, the color scheme would get messed up.

Still trying to figure out what the white window is. Actually, now that she's not using the automatic theme carousel, that window has changed. It is now a small transparent window. No idea what's causing that yet.

[sgtevmckay]

Are you using the paid or free version of Fences?
Let me know, and I will install either version and I will see what effects I get as well.
Maybe we trace down some issues together

[SirCumference]

The free version.

[sgtevmckay]

Very good....I am on it this weekend

[Patrick]

Dexpot and Fences are generally compatible. Unless you want to have different fences on each desktop, there shouldn't be any problems. Did you check which process the white/transparent mystery window belongs to?

[SirCumference]

Okay, my friend says that the strange window appears when Dexpot starts up after turning on her computer. The taskbar shows that there is a Windows Explorer window open. My friend gets rid of the window by simply right-clicking the explorer button on her taskbar and selecting "Close window". The window only appears when Dexpot starts with Windows; not after restarting Dexpot, and not after logging out and back in.

I don't know if these will be helpful or not, but here are some screen shots of the window and of the window with the task manager open. You can see that there is an explorer window open on the taskbar. That is the mystery window. I didn't see anything in the task manager list that seemed funny, but there are a few things at the bottom that aren't visible. There's also a picture of the window back when it was white, before my friend stopped using the changing wallpaper.

Sorry if any of this information seems incomplete or if I'm slow posting new information. This whole diagnosis is taking place through email and instant message, so it's a little impersonal. Thanks for your help!

[imsus]

I know how to remove the white screen:

Right Click on the dexpot tray >> Choose Configure Desktops >> Choose All Desktops >>
Click the Tools Tab >> On the "Hide Desktop Component" Check the Desktop Icons

I am using Windows 7 x64, Dexpot 1.6 and Fences with Free License

Hope it helps

[FiendFyre]

Sorry to open up an old topic, but I am still having this problem, as are a few friends.
1. When switching desktops moving around my mouse causes the desktop to switch colors in some places.
2. That odd clear or white windows appears on my screen when I launch Dexpot.

Please Help me! Thanks!

P.S. I love Dexpot, it's way better than any other vdm software I've tried.

[Patrick]

1. When switching desktops moving around my mouse causes the desktop to switch colors in some places.

The places where the fences are? Got a screenshot?

2. That odd clear or white windows appears on my screen when I launch Dexpot.

Can you tell which program the window belongs to?

To find out with Dexpot: Got to "Settings > Controls > Hotkeys" and define a key combination for the "Window menu" hotkey (depending on your Dexpot version, it's either under "Window commands" or "Miscellaneous"). Move the mouse pointer over the window and press the hotkey. Click on "Create rule" and then "Next". The program name should appear in the field below "Executable". Oh, and then switch "Executable" to "Window class" and post the class name here as well.

[FiendFyre]

Here's a screenshot of the weird color issue: http://i.imgur.com/Daie9.jpg

I'll try to get the name of the program, but that issue happens on and off, so i'll do what you said above when the windows pops up.

[Patrick]

Both problems will be fixed in the next version.

[FiendFyre]

So you figured out what was going wrong? And when will the new version come out?

[Patrick]

Not sure, but you can have a preview version if you like. Do you use Dexpot 1.5 or the 1.6 Beta?

[FiendFyre]

I use the 1.5 stable version.

[Patrick]

Save the attached file to your Dexpot installation folder.

dexpot.exe

(1.24 MiB) Downloaded 450 times

[FiendFyre]

Ok, new problems with this fix... when I start dexpot all my icons disappear.

[Patrick]

Click the "Show desktop" button.