[OLD] Aero Glass for Win8.1+

[sudalz]

i didn't mean to nag! i'm just new! sorry...

 

the details on the website wasn't very clear, if i have way more than 2 licenses, where is it? and yes, i just want the unrestricted version, but i don't seem to have the key for it . i read about the lower limit, but it doesn't state what amount i would have to donate in order to unlock the restricted option. i just purely want to get rid of the watermark and the dwm compatibility, thats all

 

You have to donate at least 3 euros.

 

And the developer doesn't like it if you say that you are paying to get the unrestricted version. He wants everybody to pretend that the "donation" is for supporting development.

 

So pay at least 3 euros, and don't say you did so to get the unrestricted version. Then you might get the unrestricted version.

 

(I hope I have summed it up correctly, haven't I, BM?)

Edited October 18, 2014 by sudalz

[My1]

Btw 1 euro is less than ten, true but I didn't mean in that way. 1 euro is too low at any scale. Anyway I donated 7,89 and I have 5 licenses...

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[bigmuscle]

And the developer doesn't like it if you say that you are paying to get the unrestricted version. He wants everybody to pretend that the "donation" is for supporting development.

It is not about what I like or nor or what I want everybody to pretend. Users should be aware that they are not buying the regular application but experimental software which can stop working on any Windows update. Everything is described here: http://glass8.eu/support.php

And no, minimum amount is not 3€. It is much lower, but I will not specify it because there would be many use who would abuse it.

[My1]

but to be honest, the nag at every start of dwm does not think like you are donating, especially when DWM crashes often...

[NoelC]

Losing the side borders on Win10TP... um, Borders on ridiculous if we compare with the over sized ones we had in 8. I tweaked my metrics to reduce those.

 

Good pun.

 

In all seriousness, it's a case where "different" is not better, but there are people inside Microsoft who think style is everything, even if it eschews function.

 

The good news is that with a bit of craftiness and Big Muscle's software it's possible to turn the drop shadow graphic resources into faux borders that actually work almost as well as the real thing.  I've reduced those as compared to the image I posted a few days ago, so now they're nice and thin, and lo and behold the whole Win 10 system instantly just feels better to use.  It's a bit like waking up from a bad dream.

 

http://Noel.ProDigitalSoftware.com/ForumPosts/Win10Desktop.png

 

Now I even get borders on Metro windows (not that I've found much use for Metro apps yet).

 

Unfortunately, Microsoft is in the habit lately of changing bad dreams into nightmares.  I encourage everyone to go onto Microsoft's "Feedback" app (poorly-coded thing that it is) and tell them that borderless windows don't light everyone's fire, and that they should be providing several different themes, and even the ability for anyone to CREATE their own theme, without hacking.

 

-Noel

[bigmuscle]

especially when DWM crashes often...

Actually I am not responsible for any stability problems on someone's computer...

[My1]

I didn't go that far. But this nag is not making it like donating, the auto update and the desktop overlay when removing the nag do it.

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[My1]

Also it doesnt have to be a crash a simple dwm restart is enough, like on multi user environments that can happen way more than often enough

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[NoelC]

I didn't go that far. But this nag is not making it like donating, the auto update and the desktop overlay when removing the nag do it.

 

What do you mean by that?  I realize we may have a language barrier; I don't understand what you wrote.

 

Big Muscle's product requires a certain amount of savvy when it comes to setting up your computer and running it well.  Are you saying you've gotten a donation.key but it's not working?  Or that you've installed some 3rd party "nag remover" that's de-stabilized your setup? 

 

In any case, there's a clear path to success...  You just have to follow it, and you've already got all the information you need.  Do you need it spelled out plainly?

 

• Remove any 3rd party hacker BS that purports to "remove the nag".  If you want to use Aero Glass without donating, load your own symbols, minimize DWM after logon, acknowledge the pop-ups, and live with the desktop watermark.  You're responsible for any instability if you've chosen to run hacker BS and you shouldn't complain publicly, since it just makes you look a little silly.

   

• If Aero Glass is not recognizing your donation.key file, chances are you've either put it in the wrong place (it needs a short, simple root path like C:\AeroGlass; I used C:\BIN), or maybe you generated a file without accurately entering your Machine ID.  What folder have you installed Aero Glass into?  The debug.log file will tell you what you need to know about why it's not working.  Do you see something like this?

  [2014-10-18 09:13:54][0x664:0x668] Installing DWM hook...

  [2014-10-18 09:13:54][0x664:0x668] User: SYSTEM

  [2014-10-18 09:13:55][0x664:0x668] Module: C:\BIN\dwmglass.dll

  [2014-10-18 09:13:55][0x3C8:0x7A8] Donation key loaded

  [2014-10-18 09:13:55][0x3C8:0x7A8] Machine ID: CG6OCCLNFHOH5LOSAU3ILTAPGVTLO335QDLJRAKI4LOGYZUQ

   

• The nuclear option:  If all of this seems too complicated maybe the product is just not for you.  Though it's not too terribly complex in the grand scheme, it is not a trivial "turnkey" product, a viable option is to just stop using it and take whatever Microsoft gives you on your desktop.

 

-Noel

[My1]

No I have donated and I have my 5 licenses and the 2 PCs I am using it on are working perfectly fine.

 

also I am an apprentice for an IT profession so well...

What I mean to say that with that nag, it doesn't feel like you are donating but rather like you are paying.

A donation usually is of completely by free will and that nag which come at every start pf dwm whether it is a reboot a sign in of another user or a crash or whatever trying to get ppl donating, feels rather like a shareware where you simply pay just to get that nagging away...

 

such a nag should not be in a donationware, at least not that often, maybe 1ce per week or month but not so often, also the thing of restricting updates and enabling the desktop text ois okay enough for a donationware since it subtly reminds you, but not stabs into your face at every dwm crash restart or whatever

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Edited October 18, 2014 by My1

[05ekwong]

thank you for some of your replies! sorry, i don't mind paying more of course, gonna donate some more and let you know how it goes

[05ekwong]

ahh! okay, i got it now and it works ^_^, donated 6 euros to you developer! would like to take this time to thank you for doing what you're doing, i'm sure its appreciated by many people. i used to use windows 7 and i didn't like the default windows 8.1 theme, so to have the glassy aero style back is a nice welcome change

 

one thing thats still a problem is, that when i rebooted my computer, i still got the window saying dwm incompatibility, i thought i'd click retry to see if it would fix it automatically , and i thought it did because it didn't pop up, until about 30 seconds later, and it popped up again. i tried retrying a few times after that but to no success. any thoughts on how to sort out this dwm compatibility issue in the unrestricted version? i would try and sort this out myself through microsoft's documentation, but i don't understand any of it! O_O! i'm not to verse with technical jargon, so go easy on me with the words used! :'D

[bigmuscle]

Provide the debug.log, because this should not happen if the key is correctly loaded.

 

such a nag should not be in a donationware, at least not that often, maybe 1ce per week or month but not so often

Of course, you are right! Nag should not be in a donationware and that's why this software has never been advertised as "donationware". Dot. Not so often? Of course, if you are rebooting your computer twenty times per day then it can be so often - but this is not the problem of this utility. Dot.

Edited October 19, 2014 by bigmuscle

[05ekwong]

thank you for helping me developer! ^_^ here is the debug file content since the last time i didn't have a key and to present. didn't wanna copy and paste all of it this time, its too long, don't wanna spam you!

 

[2014-10-18 09:58:34][0x438:0x43C] Installing DWM hook...

[2014-10-18 09:58:35][0x438:0x43C] User: SYSTEM

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x438:0x43C] Module: C:\AeroGlass\dwmglass.dll

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBC8] Donation key not loaded (2 - The system cannot find the file specified.)

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBC8] Machine ID: AZRDPVLHR7DTCLDE5ID7LOZP35WL7NB5U6LFC75AVLXWQFPQ

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBC8] Loading settings (flags = 0x1) from HKEY 0x0000000000000000 for session #1

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBC8] Aero Glass for Win8.1 v1.2.5 x64 correctly loaded (C:\AeroGlass\dwmglass.dll).

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBCC] dwmcore.dll version 6.3.9600.17200

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBCC] udwm.dll version 6.3.9600.17284

[2014-10-18 09:58:36][0x370:0xBCC] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-18 09:58:44][0x370:0xBCC] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-18 09:58:45][0x370:0xBCC] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-18 09:58:46][0x370:0xBCC] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-18 09:58:54][0x370:0xBCC] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-19 06:02:22][0x45C:0x460] Installing DWM hook...

[2014-10-19 06:02:23][0x45C:0x460] User: SYSTEM

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x45C:0x460] Module: C:\AeroGlass\dwmglass.dll

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9C4] Donation key loaded

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9C4] Machine ID: AZRDPVLHR7DTCLDE5ID7LOZP35WL7NB5U6LFC75AVLXWQFPQ

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9C4] Loading settings (flags = 0x1) from HKEY 0x0000000000000000 for session #1

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9C4] Aero Glass for Win8.1 v1.2.5 x64 correctly loaded (C:\AeroGlass\dwmglass.dll).

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9D8] dwmcore.dll version 6.3.9600.17200

[2014-10-19 06:02:24][0x37C:0x9D8] udwm.dll version 6.3.9600.17284

[2014-10-19 06:02:54][0x37C:0x9D8] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-19 06:03:31][0x37C:0x9D8] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-19 06:04:16][0x37C:0x9D8] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

[2014-10-19 06:06:53][0x37C:0x9D8] DWM incompatibility error 0x4

 

so as you can see it has detected the key, and when i installed i used all recommended settings i believe, the aero glass folder is in the c drive and the key is in the aero glass folder, so what have i done wrong?

Edited October 19, 2014 by 05ekwong

[bigmuscle]

Could you enable the verbose logging? (See the guide how to do it). There is something wrong, because it didn't try to load symbols at all. Check that your internet connection to MS servers is not blocked, dbghelp.dll and symsrv.dll files are present in C:\AeroGlass folder and ensure that this folder (and also C:\AeroGlass\symbols) has the permission to be written by everyone.