Dialup WB6 Update Fiasco

Stuck with no WB

from WinCustomize Forums
Friday night I tried to update WB5 to WB6 in my new install of Object Desktop. I have dial-up connection and knew it would take a long time. However after fifteen hours it said it was still installing WB6 and moving 73 items.
When I first opened Stardock Central it updated itself first, no problem. When I clicked on update WB5 to WB6 it said it had to un-install WB5 first so i said OK. I think there was a required re-boot cannot remember for sure.
When it got near the end of the blue progress bar it started moving 72 items, each of which said 10 seconds to three minutes. Three hours later the progress bar hadn't moved or any of the items completed so i went to bed. Saturday morning 12 hours later same thing, so I let it run for a few more hours, no relief. So I closed Stardock and it said Installing WB6 are you sure you want to exit. I had to go into task manager and close the process. Then I rebooted.
It failed to come up, several splash screens stalled and my CPU meter was @ 100%. Powered down and restarted, still no luck. so I rebooted into Safemode and went into Stardock and told it to uninstall WB6 which was showing up as window blinds 6.0 with no build after it. Stardock said unable to install, do you want to set as un-installed and i said Yes. Rebooted and everything was fine except no WB.
Has anyone encountered this? is it do to the slow internet connection or my security settings? (Black Ice and NOD32.)
Should I try again or revert to the WB that came on my CD since there doesn't seem to be any way to download the enhanced version of WB6 except to install through Stardock Central?
windowblinds
5,598 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

When on a dialup or otherwise low-speed connection, I would suggest (if you prefer not to order a CD) using the 'Download and Archive' feature of Stardock Central very liberally. This way, should you ever need to reinstall, you will not have to wait through the entire download again.

For your particular problem now, I would suggest completely removing WindowBlinds, restarting your computer, ensuring you're using (Help->About) Stardock Central version 2.48.485 build 160, then downloading and archiving WindowBlinds 6. Once you've done this, you should be able to use the File->Restore Archive feature to then install WindowBlinds 6.

-Mike
[Stardock Support]

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Mike:
Thanks for the prompt reply.
I guess my main problem is that I cannot remove WB6 at this point. Probably because it was only 95% installed.
If I use Add/Remove in Control panel and remove Object Desktop will that work??

I ordered the CD for OD and never thought about doing the same for WB6 didn't think it would be that much of a problem.

Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm 95% sure that removing Object Desktop you will remove what partial install of WB6 you have gotten. If not and you get stuck try writing us at support@stardock.com and reference this thread.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When on a dialup or otherwise low-speed connection, I would suggest (if you prefer not to order a CD) using the 'Download and Archive' feature of Stardock Central very liberally. This way, should you ever need to reinstall, you will not have to wait through the entire download again.
End of quote


download straight to archive has been working well for me - my dial up is one step up from a party line...

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Well I archived WB6 with Stardock Central, took many hours. Then when I tried to restore from archive it showed WB6 Beta?
Anyway I thought I would try it before ordering the Object Desktop CD with WB6 on it.

Same problem as before, got stuck in this moving loop going no where. What's up with that? I let it run 3 hours before stopping the wbconfig process. I haven't tried the uninstall, I guess I'll uninstall Object Desktop and order a new CD. Cannot get the WB6 Cd as I have OB so will need to get that, probably better anyway.
I'll report back when I try the new CD.
thanks for the support,
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
try the uninstall 1st to see if the partial 6 gets removed

for the other:
not sure if I followed what you did...

here's what I did:

right clicked on WB6 (will be a beta if you have 'show prerelease' checked down at the bottom of SDC) and chose the option to download and archive - so SDC downloaded straight to archive.

uninstalled the version I was running - rebooted - then opened SDC to restore previous archive - picked the new one, restored, rebooted
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Go with the suggestion Bichur said. Barring that try support@stardock.com.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
OK, not to be offensive, but Dial-up?.... come on guys, it's almost 2008. I don't understand why people are surprised with corrupt packets or interrupted downloads on dial-up. Anyone remember zmodem setting for your old BBS software to alow you to "resume" a download when your line dropped. Now those were the times... :lol:
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OK, not to be offensive, but Dial-up?.... come on guys, it's almost 2008.
End of quote


Tell that to the ISPs. They just can't be bothered with the rural areas as there is obviously not enough money in it for them.

In Australia I lived 3 hours out of a bigger City (Brisbane), but even ADSL was impossible to get. Closer to the city you were able to get ridiculously expensive deals (something like 50$ a month for a measly 500Mb download cap). Even the Dial-Up cost me still something like 25$ a month. That was until 2 years ago, so things might have improved since then.

I soooooooooo feel for the "Dial-Uppers", they have my full sympathy.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Must just be with other countries. What about cellular wireless? Do your cell phone carriers allow you unlimited data on their network with a cell card or with your smartphones tethered? I guess I take some of my stuff for granted, but I think I'd shoot myself before I had to deal with slow ass dial-up. I'd rather move then not have my broadband at least.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

JRSCCivic98 ...think a country the same size as the US....but with less than 8% of the population ....to carry the cost of infrastructure [cabling, etc].

Simply multiply a typical US charge for ADSL-etc by 12 .....

Oz is a big country.....we have one traffic light where the average car would need to refuel before it could reach the next one....

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I have called Verizon and Comcast every other month for eight years, they have no intention to make it available. So I also don't use Comcast for TV, I could but it's the against my grain. Rabbit ears for me.

I could go Direct PC and that's it. I live in the country and wouldn't have it any other way. But my farm is up for sale and have no intention of getting the satellite connection until I move to Virginia. Where I will also need it with a 1/2 mile driveway of of a 1/2 mile private lane.
Wireless, no way too many problems with my cell phone to consider relegating my PC to that link.
Oh well!

PS I can use DSL at work to download wba's etc, but I wish we could order CD's at a fair price full of the good downloads.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I could go Direct PC and that's it. I live in the country and wouldn't have it any other way.
End of quote


6-7 miles from city limit
2+ mi down gravel county round
1/2 mi driveway

have various hilly areas surrounding = dead zones = no cell signal

cost me way more than enough just to bring in 1/2 mile of phone lines.

only option for highspeed is satellite - not sure it's worth it & I like my trees. Still looking into it though.... most I've checked with want you to buy the equipment at around $800-$1,000 for upload/download via satellite - less for upload via phone.

OK, not to be offensive, but Dial-up?.... come on guys, it's almost 2008. I don't understand why people are surprised with corrupt packets or interrupted downloads on dial-up.
End of quote


Most of us using dialup aren't surprised by corrupted packets or interruptions.
Most interruptions are detailed as such in messages.
Most corrupted packets are identifiable with similar messages - especially for .zip - go to extract - get the 'appears to be corrupted' message.

Not the same as the issue above - there have been similar posts concerning hanging on installation and moving of the file - not everybody has said they're on dialup.



Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use Direct PC from home works great. I've got wireless all around, but I sit in a 'hollow' so can't get signal. Beside, as someone else mentioned... I like my trees, even in the fall.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
More ammunition for staying away from Verizon/Comcast

Head to Head: Verizon DSL vs. Comcast Cable
at:
http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/56.htm
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Hence the reason that SDC will pick up where it left off due to disconnects. I have loads of family in the wilderness. I suggest the Verizon cards if they will work where you are at. Barring that go with whatever will connect you.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

we have one traffic light where the average car would need to refuel before it could reach the next one
End of quote

Sounds a lot like American cars    

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Success, Yeah!
Object Desktop CD with Window Binds 6 Enhaced arrived. I uninstalled WB 6 Beta from Stardock Central and unchecked that box: 'show prerelease' so I won't go through this again. Then installed Window Binds 6 Enhaced setup.exe directly from the CD. There was none of that moving junk this time. It must have finally been all moved.
stardock is installed on D:\program files as C:\ is only Windows on a 36GB SCSI