I am testing version 5 and it works great on Windows 10, but I get an error message on Windows 7 ("Unable to display 'screensaver_name.mp4' It may not be a valid video or movie type for this computer."). That was with a UHD file (size 368 MB). With a Full HD video it was very glitchy/juddery (size 169 MB). The Windows 7 PC is very high spec.
As of November 2015 49% of users used Windows 7, source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_operating_systems#Desktop_and_laptop_computers .
This kind of makes version 5 useless if it doesn't support Windows 7 as only 10% of all computer users are on Windows 10 (I am sure it is higher now but it seems like people love Windows 7 and are sticking with it).
A friend tried it on his super powered Windows 10 PC and got black screen (maybe 30 seconds) when pressing preview (it worked instantly for me on a much lower specked machine). After a while the screensaver came on for him, this is something we can live with. The Full HD version worked fine for him.
On his 2 Windows 8 laptops both work on one and not on the other. Not great laptops- 3 years old.
As it stands I would need to make a screensaver for Windows 7 using V4 and one for Windows 10 using V5. With a grey area for Windows 8 and low specked machines.
Is Windows 7 going to be fixed for version 5 or will I need to keep using version 4? Also I got loads of errors with version 5 and trying to generate an email error report function doesn't work. For a software which I have already paid for and you want an extra $500, this doesn't bode well.
iScreensaver Designer Log:
1:15:47 0 3 Helper App Crashed: Designer-14816-helper-0
1:18:40 38 3 Unhandled Exception: 0 NilObjectException in cBuilder.MakeInstallerWin%s%oo
cBuilder.MakeInstallerWin%s%oo
cBuilder.ThreadedBuild%%o
cBuilder.Event_Run%%o
cThread.Event_Run%%o
1:18:40 8 3 writing log to C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\iScreensaver\Logs\iScreensaver Designer 5.exe Crash 2016-01-26 011840.log
1:18:57 17364 3 ### CrashReporter: User Chose CONTINUE
1:27:39 15 3 cPicture.GetPicture OutOfMemoryException non-recoverable
1:29:08 43 3 Unhandled Exception: 0 NilObjectException in cBuilder.MakeInstallerWin%s%oo
cBuilder.MakeInstallerWin%s%oo
cBuilder.ThreadedBuild%%o
cBuilder.Event_Run%%o
cThread.Event_Run%%o
1:29:08 24 3 writing log to C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\iScreensaver\Logs\iScreensaver Designer 5.exe Crash 2016-01-26 012908.log
1:29:30 22030 3 ### CrashReporter: User Chose CONTINUE
Please can you let me know what you know regarding the different versions of Windows.
Thanks
[Eds: edited thread title to be more representative]
Comments
http://iscreensaver.com/forum/discussion/469/iscreensaver-designer-5-release-notes#latest
Once we hear back we can address the other comments, thanks.
http://iscreensaver.com/help/notes/windows_7_compatibility/windows_7_compatibility.shtml
However, we'd love to see the actual log files. Would you please locate them in C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Roaming\iScreensaver\Logs\ and email copies to us : bugs @ iscreensaver.com
As for bugs, we will do our best to address the issues you are seeing, but in the mean time please note that return customer upgrade pricing will qualify you for a substantial discount (50% or more depending on details). As always, if you have a unique situation and want purchase advice, just shoot us an email.
I think this is all I need for now from one of your links:
"We do not officially support the use on screensavers built with iScreensaver Designer 5 on the Windows 7 operating system."
It is just too much hassle and too messy at the moment to have 2 versions of every screensaver. Customers won't know what to use, so they will download both costing us more, plus they will get annoyed with the inevitable problems.
Sorry but we are going to have to look elsewhere for Windows and just continue to use V4 for OS X.
Please do let me know if V5 ever supports Windows 7 fully.
Thanks.
If our hunch is true, then you won't have any better luck using Version 4.5 either.
We would be happy to look into this further.
If you'd like more help, please:
* email us with copy of the log files (as indicated above)
* email us a URL where we can download an example of the finished screensaver that is giving you trouble.
We will run your demo on our test systems and see what's going wrong.