Sorry to post to an apparently dead thread, but I just reinstalled ODN2008 after a hiatus of a few months, and I am now needing to have my activation count reset.

I've installed and reinstalled my OS several times in the last year or so, each time installing cleanly. I've always installed on the same machine -- though I did purchase a new box last year, and purchased a Dell laptop this year.

After installing so many times in the last year or so, I can see why my activation count has maxed out by now.

Beside needing my activation count reset, I also need to know whether to lay StarDock Central aside, and move to Impulse, or keep SDC and get rid of Impulse. But I really don't like the name "Impulse". It makes us sound like impulse-driven buyers. I never purchase any product on an impulse, and the name makes us sound like a bunch of ninnies. PLEASE change the name back to "Stardock Central".

Anyway, I've bought so many of Stardock's products I've become quite confused by now. I ask other long-time users of these products, "What are you all doing? Are you running Impulse, or Stardock Central? What does Stardock want us to do? And HOW may I get unconfused after all these years? I have so many licenses for so many stand-alone products, I get discombubulated trying to ascertain WHICH license to use with which product. A column in the email showing my licenses which indicates WHEN the licenses expire would be very helpful. Or change the license key with each NEWER product, rather than keeping the SAME key with each upgrade.

Hopefully, a Stardock person will read this and reset my activation counts? Seems like almost every time I install a product it tells me that my activation counts need to be reset.

I've even tried asking Stardock Sy support to REMOVE any product I no longer have an active license for in the list of keys I always get back. I need badly to CLEAN the list of licenses up. Any help from Stardock on this matter?



Donald L McDaniel

I have your count reset! I would recomend Impulse since updates come out on it first however Stardock Central is not retired as of yet so either will work for the moment. Please let me know if you need further help!

Hi,

I just bought Object Desktop 2008. On the Object Desktop Launchpad, there's an option for Enhanced File Dialog. When I click on it, it wants to install and starts Impulse to download it.

The problem is that in Impulse, Enhanced File Dialog is not listed in the My Desktop area so I can install it. How do I get this so I can install it?

Thanks.

Sorry if this was covered and I missed the post. I have ODNT subscription and currently use SDC. How do I upgrade so I have access to all the Ultimate stuff that doesnt currently show in SDC?

Simply use Impulse our new downloading system:

http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup_full.exe

You can run SDC and Impulse at the same time. So if something does not appear in one it may appear in the other. Impulse is currently undergoing major updates and changes right now.

Is there a way to run Impulse minized to the system tray like we can with SDC? I cant seem to find it as an option

weird problem several items said there were updates and I choose to update them and it says they were downloaded but they don't seem to install themselves. Am I doing something wrong?

Edit:
Actually support sent me 2 links, one to impulse and the other for OD2008. I only installed impulse. do I also need to install the OD 2008 before things work right?

Yes you do. Impulse is the download manager for all your apps. Click on the blue orb,top left and then click on register a product.You will need to enter your registration number into it, then install what you want from the "My Desktop" tab.

Well I already had OD installed so wondered if I needed to do the new od file or not is all

I am rebuilding a brand new puter, and intend to resubsribe to ObjectDesktop, and other related Stardock products. My experience with Stardock installs being shotgunned all over the place, makes me wannah do it right this time, clean.

I am running, and intend to maintain running, only Windows XP SP3. I have no intention of upgrading to Vista.

Here is the Directory Architecture I intend to use:

All Stardock apps installed in a SINGLE, top-level parent folder at:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\

There, for example, you would find:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\CursorFX
C:\Program Files\Stardock\IconDeveloper
C:\Program Files\Stardock\IconPackager
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Impulse
C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock
C:\Program Files\Stardock\MyColors
C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral
C:\Program Files\Stardock\SkinStudio
C:\Program Files\Stardock\SoundPackager
C:\Program Files\Stardock\WindowBlinds
C:\Program Files\Stardock\WinStyles
blah-blah

All Stardock User Resource Default Pathnames would be targeted to a SINGLE, top-level parent folder at:

C:\+Stardock\

There, for example, you would find:

C:\+Stardock\CursorFX
C:\+Stardock\IconDeveloper
C:\+Stardock\IconPackager
C:\+Stardock\Impulse
C:\+Stardock\ObjectDock
C:\+Stardock\MyColors
C:\+Stardock\SDCentral
C:\+Stardock\SkinStudio
C:\+Stardock\SoundPackager
C:\+Stardock\WindowBlinds
C:\+Stardock\WinStyles
blah-blah

Now, background comments. If you install individual components of ObjectDesktop, as standalone items, EACH program app shows up in the ADD-REMOVE Windows Installer, and the default pathname install directory NEED NOT BE:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\

And CAN BE:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\

\ObjectDesktop\ does not even show up in Windows ADD-REMOVE as an application, because it is nothing more than a parent directory when components are installed individually.

Now, if I purchase the entire ObjectsDesktop Suite, all of a sudden, Object Desktop BECOMES the application, shows up in Windows ADD-REMOVE, and NONE of its subcomponents show up as applications anymore.

Bottom line question. Is ObjectDesktop an application in its own right, or simply a parent directory to a bundled group of applications?

Second related question. Can I purchase the ObjectDesktop Suite, and install EACH INDIVIDUAL component app

at:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\

completely avoiding the necessity of a subfolder at:

C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\

Final set of questions. I have heard and read many comments about the fact that Stardock products hate
having their default target pathnames changed for user resources.

Can I safely change ALL user resource target folders

FROM:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\Stardock\ComponentProgramName\

TO:
C:\+Stardock\ComponentProgramName\

as I have illustrated in the directory architecture at the beginning of this post.

Will Impulse permit me to install Stardock apps into my proposed architecture?

And will all programs function normally with these custom default pathnames for BOTH installation AND

deposit of user resources?

Would appreciate your counsel on these related issues.

Thank you.

I recently downloaded desktopx and installed it.  Unfortunately, it says it is installed incorrectly. To make things better, Impulse won't open either.  What should I do?

Uninstall, ccleaner, reinstall

@jusletgo, by now you've found that you won't be able to realistically achieve a clean folder structure.  Best you can do is hack at the registry until all path, resource and .exe references point to the folders you want.  Another alternative approach involves setting junctions, where you move the folders around to where you want, but create file system junction points (google) so that the Registry entries still think they point to the original default install locations.  But since junctions appear in Explorer (and deletion of junctions isn't managed correctly by Explorer) and the command line, it'll still look messy to you having a bunch of stardock stuff all over the file system.

If there are better ideas, I'm all ears, because I've just rebuilt/reinstalled my system and have thus far held off on installing anything other than Impulse until I can plan a weekend to sort out the mess when I eventually do reinstall OD ultimate.

We are closing tihs thread with the release of Object Desktop 2009.

Please use this thread going forward for feedback on Object Desktop 2009 updates and products.

https://forums.stardock.com/330419