Properties not working

Published on March 17, 2005 By jhfrede In DesktopX

When DesktopX 3.0 was released i updated of course and at the same time i updated all the other programs i.e.iconx , windowblinds and so on.
After the update i have been unable to rightclick on files or folders in windows explorer and i am not able to use properties in the file menu. As i updated all stardock programs at the same time i dont know which program did the damage.
I have tried uninstalling all the programs but it didnt help then installing again so i am slowly getting more and more desperate. Hoping there is someone out there who knows about this problem

jhfrede

Comments

thomassen

on Mar 17, 2005

Did you install any other software at the same time as well?
What happends when you try to right click on files in explorer?

Corky_O

on Mar 17, 2005

jhfrede,

Are you able to "Alt+Double-click" an item to bring up properties? This is an option, though I would probably do the Uninstall-Reinstall thing again as described below.

When performing an Uninstall, Reboot, Reinstall procedure – make sure to do the following:

Save any skin and image files that you want to keep from the various folders in “C:\Program Files\Stardock” (where “C” is the letter drive) to a temporary folder that you create in “My Documents”.

Deselect all options to “Load automatically at start-up” in any customization programs including all widgets and docks.

Return Windows to the default theme including all icons and cursors.

If you are performing this procedure because of a software issue and you have the Object Desktop suite of programs – start Stardock Central and go to “File>Restore Archive” and delete all archives (this is to insure that the problem is not replaced during reinstall).

Unload all programs except Anti-virus and Firewall.

Uninstall Stardock programs, then reboot computer.

Open “My “Computer” and go to “Tools>Folder Options>View tab” and select “Show hidden files and folders”, then click “Apply”.

Go to “C:\Documents and Settings\”user account”\Local Settings\Application Data” (where “C” is the letter drive, and “user name” is the name on the account when you are logged in), and delete any “Stardock” folder found there. This will clear any “cache” that has been written.

Then go to “C:\Program Files” (where “C” is the letter drive) and delete any “Stardock” folder left there.

Reinstall the programs (if you are a Object Desktop owner, install Stardock Central and use it to install all the programs).

Reboot the computer.

Run the programs individually using either the default theme or a prepackaged skin to test the installation of each program.

If no issues arise, copy your saved files back to their relevant folders in “C:\Program Files\Stardock” (where “C” is the letter drive).

Start customizing.

I hope this helps.

jhfrede

on Mar 17, 2005

Corky

Thanks for the advice. I followed your elaborate advice but i'm afraid nothings changed, i still cant rightclick in windows explorer or get properties in the file menu to work, not when the progs are installed or uninstalled, so i dont know. I really dont wanna do a windows installation its much too time consuming and i bet i will forget something, but anyway thanks for your try.

jhfrede

Corky_O

on Mar 17, 2005

jhfrede,

Sorry that did not work.

Currently the only other thing I have would be to go to "Tools>Folder Options>View tab" and click both of the "Restore defaults" buttons on that tab, then click "Apply".

If the mouse right-click works on the desktop and you can bring up Display Properties, then it sounds like something was changed in explorer.exe.

Do you have System Restore enabled, if so it is probably your best bet before doing a clean install (though I have experienced intermittent issues with it not being able to restore).

I just did one on my machine to clean all the old registry and understand the time consumption there.

Good luck, hopefully someone will have a better solution for you.

jhfrede

on Mar 17, 2005

Corky

I have applied defaults and it didn't help either. I also have System Restore on ...same result i stil can't rightclick and not on the desktop. So i hope for someone with a good idea cause i've run out.

But thanks anyway

jhfrede

jdchevyman1

on Mar 17, 2005

is your mouse working ok. try another mouse?

jhfrede

on Mar 20, 2005

my mouse is working fine but to be sure i tried another mouse but didnt work either

Deathkitty

on Mar 24, 2005

I had this problem not long ago. I unistalled all my Stardock software, then I used Advanced System Optimizer to clean my registry entries. I used the Windows Optimizer (in ASO) and reset everything to default (all folder views and such windows settings). Then I reinstalled Stardock proggies 1 by 1, rebooting after every install. This brought back my systray(which had run off to lala land or something

) and allowed me to right click on objects again. I'm not sure if I could right click on items in explorer before this fix,(never really need too) but before I couldn't right click on the desktop, or use stardock rightclick, and now i can. Hope this helps.

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