Just downloaded free trial version, but it won't start

from Stardock Forums

Hi there, I just got done downloading and installing the free demo version of DeskScapes, but it's not working. I checked the "Launch DeskScapes Now" button after installation and it didn't do anything. I also can't seem to start it up myself. I've restarted my computer, I've tried reinstalling it, nothing is working. Any thoughts/ideas?

 

I run Windows Vista Home Premium, btw.

deskscapes
8,871 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There are some trouble shooting tips listed here

 

Are you able to run Aero? Also, What is your Windows experiance score?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Same problem here. Its not working. The demo just doesn't start at all.

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"

 

Its times like this that remind me why I choose Steam over Impulse for games purchases...

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

None of those troubleshooting tips worked. I have Dx10, assuming it counts as Dx9 also. I run Windows Vista Home Premium, so I should have the necessary codecs, even though I can't even get to a screen that lets me choose a Dream, so I don't know if they work, as I can't get the program to start.

 

If by Aero, you mean the glass-like thing that Windows does to the taskbar and stuff, then yes I can.

 

What's a Windows Experience score?

 

And just like the above poster, it also tells me that there's an update available but it won't let me update it because it asks for a registration.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey, nevermind I don't need help anymore! I guess there is no program that starts up? I just clicked "Personalize" on my desktop, and clicked "Desktop Background" and it came up with the available demo .dreams, so I just picked one and it works fine! Yay!

 

This is really cool, I think I might have to buy this =D

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

All right then, another problem fixed by the user.  :thumbsup:

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

After 5 (!) attempts it finally worked.

Now I have the codec problem, because I have Vista Business x64. Well, at least kind of.

- the box sample, the earth and the water work perfectly

- the watercolor thing only shows a blue background without movement

- the grassy field shows an error message that "The dream may contain an invalid video type or a compatible MPEG-2 video decoder may not be present."

Is this one file indeed broken? Does it use a special codec? How many of the other dreams will work for me?

I am not really sure what I am supposed to do here. I wanted to pick DeskScapes up this weekend, but obviously I won't buy a program that doesn't work for me...

[Edit:]

Just found the mpg file belonging to the grassy field dream and it plays just fine in Windows Media Player. WTF?! Why can't DeskScapes play the video then?

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Windows Media Player is a 32 bit app on 64 bit Windows Vista 64, however Deskscapes is a 64 bit app and so requires a 64 bit mpeg2 decoder.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting gsspider, reply 2
Same problem here. Its not working. The demo just doesn't start at all.

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"

 

Its times like this that remind me why I choose Steam over Impulse for games purchases...
End of gsspider's quote

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"
End of quote

http://sd.stardock.com/curthendzell/fix_registrations.reg should resolve this.

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

K-Lite Codec Pack 64bit solved my problem.

[Edit:]

Bought it. Now downloading. 40 minutes, 319kB downloaded oO. There is something really wrong with the download servers (I have a 25MBit line).

[Edit2:]

846kB after 2 hours. If it goes on like this, the download will be finished in about 4 days. A 5GB game would take over a year to download (24/7) with this speed. Did I mention that I prefer Steam over Impulse?! But I guess Stardock will hardly publish their stuff on Steam...

[Edit3:]

3 hours. 1,23MB. I'll keep you posted.

[Edit4:]

4 hours. 1,66MB. I'm starting to HATE Impulse.

[Edit5:]

Download finished. Still, over 4 hours for roughly 50MB is a bit much imo.