I didn't renew, and now WindowsBlinds is acting like its no longer registered.

from Stardock Forums

I had purchased an Object Desktop Registration last year, and this time around I did not renew because of lack of money, but nothing lead me to believe that by not renewing the subscription I would lose access to the software that was purchased as part of the subscription. I thought it only covered future support and new versions and such, but everything I had would still work.

Well I got an update request from the program WindowsBlinds, and I updated it like normal, and when I rebooted it no longer works. It acts as if its no longer licensed which should not be the case because I did purchase it under Object Desktop.

Now if it's the case that the update was an entirely new version, then should not the version I have see this and not try to update it because I lack a renewed license for Object Desktop? Seems kind of skeevy to offer an update which will break my license if this happens to be the case.

I cannot access the product code because rather than display old info in Object Desktop, because its no longer licensed it literally displays nothing. And if I look in my old licenses to try and get the code, its missing as if it were removed from the package, which I know not to be true because I can see on the front page its still part of it.

what gives? Everything else seems to be working just fine, and all the other licenses are there and were part of the Object Desktop I had subscribed to, Now I'm worried if I get another request to update on my desktop by clicking it as I have always done, it will break my software. Please rectify this as soon as possible. I'm unlikely to renew a subscription to software that is broken, or uses skeevy practices, so please explain.

50,711 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You can activate it by using the email and password attached to your Stardock account. The info with which you purchased.

 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hm, if he was able to update after the sub ended, I would be very angry as a paying subscriber. Why would I have to pay the subscription then ? ;-)

 

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I dont see you even trying to activate here,  johnsaucier...  It would help more if I could see what error you are getting.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

You can (as I understand it) activate an existing version of the software after the subscription expires (should only need to if you have to reinstall it) by using the account creds as RND describes.

If an existing installation is actually offering a pop-up announcing a new version after the sub has expired, there may be a bug that SD should look at.

I can perfectly understand proceeding with the update installation if it was prompted as this scenario suggests, which would indeed negate the ability to activate the updated version.

The solution for johnsaucier would be to uninstall the 'new' version and re-install the old, previously paid-for version.  That assumes (the old bugaboo) that he downloaded & saved the 'old' installer.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Daiwa, reply 5

The solution for johnsaucier would be to uninstall the 'new' version and re-install the old, previously paid-for version. That assumes (the old bugaboo) that he downloaded & saved the 'old' installer.
End of Daiwa's quote

 

Yes, that!

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

I ended up just removing it entirely. The issue was that it asked me to update, then invalidated my existing license once it had updated, which is kind of a malicious thing to do to someone who paid for the software to begin with.

But its all good, now that I have money I'm just going to renew everything anyway.

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

You can ignore the prompt to update, I believe.*

Either way, glad you're getting it all square.

 

*EDIT: You can then go into the config dialog and be sure the option to 'automatically check for updates' is deselected.  It should not prompt thereafter.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If they, like me, purchased WindowBlinds separately from the Object Desktop Subscription, then they should be able to use the original purchase info to get it working on it's own again.

I had to do that when I dropped my subscription and now keep all of my software registered individually and won't go through that again with the "subscription plan".

I'm not a fan of software by subscription when it comes to anything outside a game, streaming service or things of that nature. Definitely not something I count on every moment of my use of the system to maintain a stable, dependable environment.

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Myrddin, reply 9

If they, like me, purchased WindowBlinds separately from the Object Desktop Subscription, then they should be able to use the original purchase info to get it working on it's own again.
End of Myrddin's quote

Quite correct.  As long as you have the installer & activation code saved on your system.

However, even the 'purchase' of Windowblinds separately is actually a 'subscription' just like Object Desktop.  Paying for a single year's use of WB will not entitle you to free updates/upgrades after the year expires.  That you can continue to use the version you have forever makes it a 'purchase' in that sense.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

If you purchase a stand-alone app you will receive updates typically until the next major version. 

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

My bad - It's the version, not that calendar, that governs with standalone apps.

Thanks for clarifying that, ID.

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

The original issue was that it asked me to update a copy that was working, and then invalidated the license after update.

Here's the thing, I agree if I'm paying to get the updates then I shouldn't be able to update it after it expires. However, the company should really write their software in a way that once a subscription isn't valid, there shouldn't be a way to update it.

It should just prompt you that no updates are available, or at the very least tell you that updating this will invalidate your license, but really you should not have access to something that you haven't paid for.

I just see it as skeezy, "Oh there is an update available." Update... "HAHA it no longer works, PAY US!"


It doesn't matter if I can restore it by uninstalling and reinstalling the original copy, its bad practice to offer the update in the first place if I shouldn't be able to get it because I haven't paid for.

It just seems like something that would be very easy for Stardock to fix, that doesn't require the user having to do extra steps to make sure they aren't trying to get something they shouldn't have.

Like I said, as soon as I had money, I bought a new sub for it anyway, but I didn't reinstall windows blinds, because I do not ever want to have to reinstall something because of something the company did.

Anyway that's just my two cents on it.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello

Sorry to hear you are having issues.

You can either renew your Object Desktop and have full use of what's included

with a yearly renewal. https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/

or you can just purchase WindowBlinds for WB Lic. https://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/

 

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think Johnsaucier's issue is WB prompting a "new update available....." without warning expired subscribers that once updated the version said is required to renewal for working. :jafo: