No GUI on Windows 8.1 after update

[douglas]

I have just updated my software to the latest release Cumulus 1.9.4 build 1099 and since doing so, when I start Cumulus I do not see any GUI on my screen. If I go into Task Manager I can see a task called 'Cumulus (32 bit)' running. It was running OK on the previous release I had installed, but I no longer have access to that installer to see if reverting would fix the problem.
Any ideas for me to try to resolve this.

[steve]

Are you sure it isn't just minimised to the notification area or whatever they call it these days? Or perhaps Windows needs a reboot.

[douglas]

Thanks, but no there is definitely nothing minimised, nor running in the hidden icons. I have tried rebooting the PC, and have also uninstalled, and then re-installed the latest version of Cumulus. Just the solitary cumulus (32 bit) running as a Background Process in task manager.

[steve]

Sorry then, I don't know. I haven't changed anything that could affect the display of the user interface for a very long time. You haven't said what version you were using before, but unless it was several years old, it is unlikely to be anything to do with the new version. Or perhaps due to some change there is some issue while it is being initialised which is preventing Windows from drawing the main window. It's very hard to say without knowing what version you were using before. If you zip up the diags folder and attach it to a reply, I'll see if I can see anything.

[steve]

Something you could check: in Cumulus.ini, look for the [MainForm] section. This is where the last co-ordinates of the main window are stored. Perhaps you have some strange values in there.

Mine, for example:

[MainForm]
Left=182
Top=182

[douglas]

Just checked that. Mine were 78 and 78, have tried deleting them and trying 182, 182, but still no gui comes up. Have returned them to original now. Is it worth uninstalling Cumulus, deleting all the folders under Cumulus, then re-installing. What would I lose if I did that?

[steve]

You would lose all of your old data and probably gain nothing. You could look in Cumulus.ini for the SavePosition setting, and set it to zero if it's not already zero, just to eliminate that code. Do you, or did you ever have more than one screen attached to your system?

If you want to zip up the diags folder and attach it, I could look at it and may spot something.

[mcrossley]

Edit: cross posted with Steve.

Is it worth uninstalling Cumulus, deleting all the folders under Cumulus, then re-installing.

I doubt that would achieve anything. If you wanted to try it, I'd install to a new folder and try running that - all your old data will still be intact in the original folder. It would at least prove if it was anything in the stored settings or not.

You say that the cumulus.exe is running after a reboot, was that before you tried to launch it from the shortcut?

If so why is that, do you have it in your start-up folder, or are you running from task manager perhaps? Or maybe you used something like srvany in the past? (the last two may be starting it in the background).

[douglas]

OK, to answer a few questions, my PC has never had more than one monitor attached. I have un-installed Cumulus, and then installed to a different folder. Still has the same result. Only a Cumulus (X32 bit) process running as a background task. This starts when I start Cumulus from the desktop - I do not have it installed to autostart. I have attached the zipped Diags directory to this post.

Thanks for any help here.

[steve]

It appears that you were running build 1098 previously. Nothing changed between 1098 and 1099 that could cause this issue. However, you have Cumulus installed under Program Files (x86) and it is quite possible that this is the cause of the problem. I suggest you try a new installation to C:\Cumulus and see if that helps. You can then copy your data and settings over, but you may need to find them first, see http://wiki.sandaysoft.com/a/FAQ#I_can. ... a_files.21

Running Cumulus elevated (run as administrator) in its current folder may also help, but again you need to be aware of where your data is. Running elevated may change that.

[douglas]

Sorry for the delay in getting back, but I have now uninstalled Cumulus, and then done a re-install to c:\Cumulus as you suggested. It now loads up OK from that directory and seems to run fine. I have restored my old data and all seems to be back to as it was before. Don't understand why one minute it was working from c:\Program Files (x86)\Cumulus and then not.
Anyway, problem seems to be circumvented but the directory change.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.