Backing up Stardock programs in Impulse - Caveats

from Stardock Forums

I had purchased an Object desktop subscription just last year and archived my installs. Now I shifted from Win XP 32-bit to Win 7 64-bit, and I find that Impulse does not restore my archives saying that they were not compiled for this OS.

Writing to Stardock support gave me this reply:

Hello,

Unfortunately, if the archives were not created using the Download & Archive method, they will not work for you due to the shift from 32 to 64 bit. Since we do not provide any other archives, the only way to get the components would be to renew the subscription.


Ken Janeczko
Technical Advisor
Stardock - Your Edge In Software
A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
www.stardock.com

End of quote

This is not a situation I'm happy with. Most 32-bit apps work on my system without any issues, so I would presume the only stumbling block here is the impulse client itself which refuses to restore the archive. Worse still, Stardock is not giving me any means to use my purchased product versions without a renewal, hardly a customer-friendly stance. I've never had Steam do that to me for any game I bought there so this is really quite disappointing and I feel little desire to renew my subscription with Stardock or recommend it to my friends for any software purchases.


7,999 views 23 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Most 32-bit apps work on my system without any issues, so I would presume the only stumbling block here is the impulse client itself which refuses to restore the archive.
End of quote

Actually, it should restore them regardless, but whether they work or not will depend on the application.  Apps like WindowBlinds that need to have the 64 bit version on 64 bit systems will probably not work if the 32 bit version is installed, while apps like DesktopX may work fine.

Worse still, Stardock is not giving me any means to use my purchased product versions without a renewal, hardly a customer-friendly stance.
End of quote

The products you subscribed to. Your subscription has expired.  This is different than if you had purchased them outright.

I've never had Steam do that to me for any game I bought there so this is really quite disappointing and I feel little desire to renew my subscription with Stardock or recommend it to my friends for any software purchases.
End of quote

Nor would you have the same issue with games purchased through Impulse as they are not a subscription.  Nor with standalone applications.  Your subscription has expired, therefor you do not have access to download or update the applications.  Applications you have installed still will function just fine, and applications can be restored from archives as well. The issue here was your choice to switch platforms, which means that the archives you created on Windows XP 32 bit may or may not work on Windows 7 64 bit.  If you have a machine that has Windows XP 32 bit on it, the archives should restore fine.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I see. Please tell me this now.

If I put up money for WindowBlinds 7 now will I  be purchasing it or subscribing to it? I would definitely want to avoid a situation like the above.

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Your subscription has expired, therefor you do not have access to download or update the applications. Applications you have installed still will function just fine, and applications can be restored from archives as well.
End of quote

From the FAQ at : https://store.stardock.com/faq.aspx

Q: What happens when my subscription expires? Will the programs I’ve received still work?

A: Yes. When you purchase, you receive everything currently available on the Object Desktop Network as well as free updates for one year. Once your subscription has expired, you have the option of renewing for additional years for $34.95. If you choose not to renew, you keep everything released prior to the subscription expiration.

Think of it like you would a magazine subscription. If you let your Newsweek subscription lapse, you can still read all the old issues (you just will not get any new ones).

End of quote

Shirley,

I've often pondered the legalities and ethics of this issue myself.

The FAQ does not say you are only entitled to what you downloaded via the subscription. It says you keep everything RELEASED prior to the expiration. There is a BIG difference there.

I should think that SD would be obligated to provide a user with all products they were entitled to at the time of their subscription expiration based on that statement on the offical SD site.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Phoon:

It says you keep what you already have; not that you get archives of what you had.

Again . . the magazine example is good.  You get sent a magazine.  You can keep it or not.  You throw it away and later want it?  Typically you repurchase it from the publisher.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No Zubaz the official FAQ reads exactly as I posted. It says you keep everything released. I know what you are saying, but that is NOT what it says.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think the word "keep" is defined as something you already own; something in your possession.  You cannot "keep" something you no longer have, right?  :)

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Winstep, for instance, is also unable to offer access to older versions - unfortunately this would be unpracticable.

It's the user's responsability to backup the setup file for the applications he downloaded. I think the only problem here is that he can't make proper backups of his applications.

To come up with another example, supose I'm running a 32 bit version of Windows and I download and backup a 32 bit specific version of an application. If I then switch to 64 bits, I can't afterwards complain if the 32 bit version of the software I backed up doesn't work on it. On the other hand, I would have been able to download both the 32 and 64 bit versions in the first place. Not sure if Impulse allows you to do that?

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JcRabbit, reply 7
It's the user's responsability to backup the setup file for the applications he downloaded. I think the only problem here is that he can't make proper backups of his applications.

...

On the other hand, I would have been able to download both the 32 and 64 bit versions in the first place. Not sure if Impulse allows you to do that?

End of JcRabbit's quote
Impulse has an interesting archive function.  Actually two archive functions.

  1. Download and archive.  This is a pre-install archive and can be unarchived on any system.
  2. Installed archive.  This is an archive made from the existing installation.  It is specific to the OS that the app was installed on.

As a feature, I'd rather any archive acted like the first or if the second method is being done offer teh user a prompt to do the download and archive (or alert the user that because their subscription is not active, and the local method is being used).

Even better would be to only allow the download and archive method (for increased compatibility).  With that, I'd alert the user when the subscription is coming close to expiration and offer to renew or archive.

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 8

Download and archive.  This is a pre-install archive and can be unarchived on any system.
Installed archive.  This is an archive made from the existing installation.  It is specific to the OS that the app was installed on.
End of Zubaz's quote

Is this difference made clear to the customer? Can the Stardock support people tell me where I might have missed this? If not, it's a serious lapse. You cannot expect customers to figure this out on their own, that's unfair.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think the word "keep" is defined as something you already own; something in your possession. You cannot "keep" something you no longer have, right?
End of quote

Yes, I agree and like I said, I understand what you are saying. However, the FAQ does not make that assumption and the word "released" should really be replace with "you've archived". That leaves little room for interpretation. The FAQ does not give SD a clear cut case should someone choose to pursue the issue. :thumbsup:

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Impulse has an interesting archive function. Actually two archive functions.

Download and archive. This is a pre-install archive and can be unarchived on any system.

Installed archive. This is an archive made from the existing installation. It is specific to the OS that the app was installed on.
End of quote

So we should make two backup archives?

One of all the currently installed apps (#2) and another of all the apps in ODNT, regardless of whether they are installed or not.(#1)?

I have loads of storage so if this is advisable,I'm OK with it. I don't see me letting my sub lapse or moving away from Win7/64 bit anytime soon but a little insurance never hurts.

 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 11

So we should make two backup archives? 
End of Wizard1956's quote
I'd jsut make eth "download and archive" one and that will be all you ever need to restore from (and Impulse of course).

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you are not intending having a subscription you should download using Impulse Anywhere. A quote from the Impulse Anywhere website:

Impulse Anywhere is a website where you can download your software for standalone and/or offline installation. Impulse must be installed on the destination computer, however it does not need to be able to connect to the web. Only full installations are available through this website ; to download incremental updates please use the Impulse client.
End of quote

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Phoon, reply 10

Yes, I agree and like I said, I understand what you are saying. However, the FAQ does not make that assumption and the word "released" should really be replace with "you've archived". That leaves little room for interpretation. The FAQ does not give SD a clear cut case should someone choose to pursue the issue.
End of Phoon's quote
I agree that the FAQ would be most clear stating "If you choose not to renew, you keep everything you have archived that was released prior to the subscription expiration."

I might also add "It is the user's responsibility to archive thier software."

A year ago I'd have already made the change.  ;)

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Fuzzy, the Impulse Anywhere archive is the same as teh "Download and Archive" option.  Good point though.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Impulse is not letting me use option #1 to download and archive apps that are not compatible with my current OS. That makes option #2 the only usable method,which locks your apps to your current OS. FAIL!!! 

*unless Fuzzy is correct and Impulse anywhere has no such restriction.

 

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A year ago I'd have already made the change.
End of quote

but the slaughter of the english language would have been incredible!

XD  XD XD XD

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The Impulse Anywhere option installs on any OS. You have a data file and an installer ;)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Fuzzy, reply 18
The Impulse Anywhere option installs on any OS. You have a data file and an installer
End of Fuzzy's quote
Correct.
Impulse is not letting me use option #1 to download and archive apps that are not compatible with my current OS. That makes option #2 the only usable method,which locks your apps to your current OS. FAIL!!!
End of quote
Hmmm.  I don't recall that . . but I believe you. What app, what OS?

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What app, what OS?
End of quote
Bootskin Vista and Window FX. Also, when I first subscribed, IconX was on the list but has been missing for a long time. I am using Win7 64 bit. Does this mean the archives I just made will be 64/ 7 compatible but won't work on 32 bit Vista or 7?

IMHO, it seems like it will be much easier to just keep subscribing.;)

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Here's a thought.

Create a Virtual Machine of the opposite OS you are running. Archive and copy to a CD/Thumb/Share.. whatever.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

IMHO, it seems like it will be much easier to just keep subscribing.
End of quote

Very true, as the 'sanity' within OS-customizing systems is that they pertain to specific Os's....that are under constant revision [MS Update].

When programs 'mate' so intimately with an OS there will naturally be an expectation that functionality will need to be amended during the life of the OS...so the program/s need to be updatable too...through the mechanism/s of [both] Impulse AND a current subscription.

*********************************************************************

I, too, would 'love' to have easy edit access to things like the FAQs....just so I could get all anal over semantics and interpretations to eradicate ALL confusion.   [at least so [we] Aussies could follow the lingo]...;)

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 19



Quoting Fuzzy Logic,
reply 18
The Impulse Anywhere option installs on any OS. You have a data file and an installer Correct.
Impulse is not letting me use option #1 to download and archive apps that are not compatible with my current OS. That makes option #2 the only usable method,which locks your apps to your current OS. FAIL!!! Hmmm.  I don't recall that . . but I believe you. What app, what OS?

End of Zubaz's quote

I also ran into the "current o/s" problem with Logon Studio (new version).  I'm on XP, had "show pre-releases" checked, tried to download/archive LogonStudio and got the "not compatible" message.  Unchecked "show pre-releases" and it came down, archived, and installed from archive ok.  Also brought it down via Impulse Anywhere without any problem.  Haven't ever actually tried to install anything from Impulse Anywhere though.  Does seem Impulse will lock you to your current o/s though.