A customer since 2006, I last renewed Object Desktop for two more years in Feb 2009, and immediately archived all my programs for a potential reinstall later. Almost immediately thereafter I went on Chemotherapy and then my computer crashed. Months later I finally reinstalled XP Pro and key software, but was too ill to deal with Stardock’s overly complicated install, and have had bigger things to deal with since.  Of my 2 year subscription, I used this and other products a few weeks at best.

The weekend before my subscription expired on 2/8/11, I repeatedly tried to reinstall products I’d purchased, but nothing was successful other than Impulse.  Whoopee! Yes, it’s the program most everyone hates, including me, for good reason.  On 2/9/11 I wrote to Support in detail, and finally got a reply today (see below), which contradicts everything about the ability to restore from archives that (1) I was told at the time of purchase, (2) everything previously stated by Support via emails, and (3) information posted in Forums by Stardock Support and Wincustomize Moderators! Here are just some that I found:

https://www.stardock.com/support/sales_faq.aspx  

https://forums.wincustomize.com/404918

https://forums.stardock.com/352300

Supposedly, if one has archived programs they purchased, they can later be reinstalled and will function – you just won’t get updates.  Well, mine won’t even reinstall.  Moreover, if Stardock didn’t make installing their software such a PITA, I would’ve had these up and running in time to get ALL updates while my subscription was still current!

My understanding is, and was at the time of purchase, that the subscription period applied to receiving updates – not limiting the ability to later reinstall archived programs. That was NOT the deal when I bought them, and if it turns out they changed the Terms Of Use after my purchase, I will no longer buy anything from this company.  Of the nearly 200 programs I own, this the only one that’s ever given me this kind of grief.

Below is the email I got from Support today, and I note they marked the case as “closed!”  My question is, “Who’s right?  All those who posted at the above links, other Support personnel who emailed me in the past...or this Support guy who contradicts everything they contend to be the case?  TIA

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Hello,

The applications included in an ObjectDesktop subscription are only available to current subscribers. If your subscription has expired, then you will need to renew to regain access to the applications you seek to utilize. Please keep in mind that this is a subscription service, and its use is limited to current accounts only. You can renew from here:  https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/purchase.asp

Once you have renewed, you can re-download and reinstall your applications through Impulse.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions

Matt Bertsch
Technical Advisor
Stardock Systems, Inc.
http://www.impulsedriven.com