You guys are all paid, right?
I have seen guys defend video cards and other products this hotly but a mere downloader? Comon'!

It is very simple, you like these programs on your pc, I don't. Nothing to get upset about. You guys are a great help and I have learned much but please give it a rest and let's just call it "personal choice".

I know it is a simple program and might not have any influence on my pc but I don't want it, ok?
let's get back to helping guys out and forget about my "personal choice".

Ok, got to get back to my registry cleaning, hmmmm, now where did I put the dustbuster and the tin foil hat?

You guys are all paid, right?

No.

Long ago, maybe 30 years now, in my professional career I determined that 'non-profit' advice often has far more merit than that which 'may' have the potential to financially benefit the advisor.  It's called 'ulterior motive'.

Here there IS none.

To each his own.  If you wish to remove a program and reinstall it each time you wish to make use of it then knock yourself out.  A hint, though....try using a proggy called 'nlite' and make your Windows XP Install ONLY include what YOU want to use of it....because there are many 'programs' included by default, a situation which appears to be against this minimalist approach... 

I did not want to use it either. I paid and then found out they wanted a program with a registry entry on my pc first. Not the most forthright company despite their intentions. I did load it and used it to download my software then immediatly uninstalled it and deleted all trace from my registry.

Seems comparable to buying a car every time you want to go for a drive, then selling it when you get home because you don't want it on the driveway.
All the software you download with it installs to the registry, as does the large majority of other programs written that uses an installer.
Without the registry entries, SDC wouldn't know what version you are running, and can't update. Just sounds like a lot of hassle to be reinstalling any time you need to use it. There's really nothing to worry about from having SDC on your system.

To adress where you say "I paid and then found out they wanted a program with a registry entry on my pc first. Not the most forthright company despite their intentions."
The Stardock website tells you all about SDC on the information page about ODNT, and always has done. You simply didn't read that.

Not that I'm criticising your choice. I freely admit though that I'm always out to convert people

Well, it is your computer and is therefore your choice, it just seems like a lot of extra work for something that really is quite harmless. Oh well, to each his own I suppose. Good luck with your dustbuster and tinfoil hat, try not to venture out in incement weather as you might get a real jolt out of it.

Quarkmachine: but i've always got my Tin Foil Hat ready!! Chris TH: HAH! What a noob! If it's not lead-lined your brain is already theirs.

and my family thought I needed counseling for saving all those empty toothpaste tubes from the 50s and 60s..

Hopefully bigdevo8 (originator of thread) was able to install Object Desktop without issue.

The only issue I would see with removing Stardock Central would be to lose MCP support - required for notification area support. As long as user still has "sdmcp.exe" available for support, removal would seem a personal decision only.

As for the registry - the last I heard, Windows XP does not do anything without consulting the registry - therefore, registry entries are required.

If I am not mistaken, only registry entries that point to non-existent files would create computer issues when called (malware aside). If you install a program that does not run until called by the user, then there is no need to be concerned with the registry keys.

If you are running a program that runs in the background, then obviously the user would want the registry keys to be accurate.

For the record - I run Stardock Central with both MCP options disabled (I use Windows default notification area settings), and update options set to allow me to make the decisions.

This way, I can use WindowBlinds, Icon Packager, and ObjectDock Plus with nothing from SDC running in the background.

All users certainly have the right to make their own decisions about what to run.

My point would be to alleviate any apprehensions about Stardock Central that a new user might have after reading a thread such as this one.

Just wanted to ring in a vote for Stardock Central. It is nothing to worry about. You can get Object Desktop on CD mailed to you and then you can avoid using Stardock Central if so desired.

I'm sure the guys here will correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you will need to reinstall SDC each time you want your programs to get the latest updates. Otherwise you'll be running older versions. Which also means having to constantly install/uninstall/clean the registry. Just seems like a lot of work and potential headaches.

You can get Object Desktop on CD mailed to you and then you can avoid using Stardock Central if so desired.

I got the CD back in '03, still use SDC for updates - makes life much simpler for me. Don't have to manually archive (for those just in case..), don't have to manually uninstall to install the new version and it gives me a chance to try out some betas.

If I didn't use it, I wouldn't know about or have access to minor fix updates.

I'm pretty sure you will need to reinstall SDC each time you want your programs to get the latest updates

That would be true.

and my family thought I needed counseling for saving all those empty toothpaste tubes from the 50s and 60s..

Sounds like they got to your parents! Quick, get out of the house NOW!!

I've never tried this, but I wonder if installing Stardock Central to a USB key drive would work? That way Citizen teisco could have his cake and eat it too (assuming it worked and he ponied up the dough for a drive).

Um, regarding the age thing earlier on, - I turned 13 on the 27th August

Um, regarding the age thing earlier on, - I turned 13 on the 27th August

On my calculations that'll make you ....ooh....more than 12, then....

I'm 9.


in Troll yrs.

What your saying is practically the same as not wanting to run the installation software, and just want the product magically on your machine and ready to go. Stardock is an upstanding company, and tries to provide updates as often as possible to their products, and SDC will make it a lot faster and easier to get the updates than ny other system out there. Also, SDC is part of Object Desktop... you payed for it

No matter where you put SDC it will still create Windows registry entries.

The only thing is to re-assure people SDC does nothing sinister, it's just a download manager for Object Desktop. The programs contained within can be purchased and downloaded individually of course without the need to have SDC, but that is more expensive in the long run.

WOW!! Is pretty much all I can say.

Let me ask a reasonable question. What the H#$l is the diference between buying a program on the web, downloading it and running the .exe file, and buying the SDC and running it. It is the same thing!! THink about it. (this guy used to write for Microsoft? Maybe that is why Microsoft is so messed up!). If you want the software you purchased, then just run SDC, download and install the software and take a pill! THe obvious benefit is that you do not have to go searhing for updates later, or paying more fees, or deinstalling outdated versions. Or hadn't you thought of that. You access SDC only when you choose to and if there is an update you just run it. The $49.00 also entitles you to free updates and thousands of skin downloads from Wincustomize for one full year.

Does Bill Gates offer that??

I don't think soooo!!

Grow up! Everytime you turn on your computer an access any program on it the registry is updated and modified.

If you are that anal, uninstall it and ask for a refund.

I have been running it now on all my computers for about three years and i can't stand to look at a computer screen anymore that doesn't have it!!

Yes, it is that good!!

THink of the SDC as an installer file, which is exactly what it is.

Exactly how many years have you been constipated now?

You guys are all paid, right?

No, actually, I'm out of pocket $50 (more in AUD) for the whole kit and kaboodle.....but maybe I'll get a reduction on my renewal for singing SDC's praises Alternatively, I'd like some of those extras a few of the big-wigs have....the inbuilt coffee maker and back scratcher, and oh, access to the 'snoop' sattelites so I don't have to watch the 6 o'clock news

Ok, got to get back to my registry cleaning, hmmmm, now where did I put the dustbuster and the tin foil hat?

And don't forget the ultra glazed, triple layered welding visor....all the really bad stuff enters via the retina, you know Personally, I've found a wetsuit with a complete diving rig and foil lined rubber gloves to do the job for me.

Seriously, though, SDC is considerably less invasive than some AV and internet security programs that are supposedly there to protect your machine....try uninstalling NIS with the same ease. Furthermore, I'm supremely confident that Stardock doesn't covertly install unwanted or unsolicited items via SDC, and certainly NOT malware or spyware (otherwise they'd know I've combined walls of naked ladies in my themes).

Of course it's a matter of personal choice, but it makes no sense to me to pay for a 12 month subscription and not utilise all of its benifits. SDC is an integral part of the OD customization experience......without it the experience is incomplete and you forego regular updates and the added new features. Shoot...know I'd feel mightily left out, reading about all these new 'whistles and bells', knowing everyone else but me has them.

You guys are all paid, right?

No, but many of us are happy customers for 5 years and more and we prefer the service Stardock has given to us over the years. And after having used programs for so long some of us know what they are talking about.