Preview of new Stardock download store / updater

By Frogboy on November 12, 2011 3:04:25 PM from

Frogboy

Chief Executive Officer

Join Date 03/2001

+962

So with Impulse over to Gamestop and the digital distribution competition no longer something we’re participating in we’ve developed a new digital updating client – Stardock Central (what’s old is new again).

But unlike the old “big” client, the new one is very…very simple.

(sorry for the lame screenshot, I’m caught up on my games on this new machine and haven’t installed any apps yet).

Your Stardock purchases will show up here once you login. Just pick what you want to install (or update) and press a button and it’ll use our massively fast CDN to install it (we have a long-term agreement with our CDN except now the only thing using its bandwidth is our stuff so the download speeds are kind of ridiculous – it’s like being the only guy on a 1 gigabyte line).

The new settings includes an option to have it simply update your software automatically. So you can either choose to stick with older versions or always have it up to date.

OK, let’s say you don’t like to have to install a client at all. That’s fine too. You can update your software and games via the web as well:

Pick whether it’s software or games and it’ll look at your account, when you last updated, and off you go. The installer will figure out what you need to install (i.e. if you have multiple machines with different versions) and off you go.

It’s designed to be as streamlined as possible.

UPDATE: TRY THE LATEST VERSION HERE:

http://www.stardock.com/products/stardockcentral/

Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 449

It seems the issue is related to prior installations of Multiplicity using Impulse. Can you please uninstall Multiplicity using Impulse, then re-install using Stardock Central? If that does not work, I have another solution that requires editing the registry to fix this problem (but I'd rather not try this without doing the Impulse uninstall first).

Bara

It uninstalled and installed fine. But SDC is not showing it as installed. It shows on the "New Software" list. I'd be happy to give the registry edit a try. Btw, I did restart computer just to make sure that wasn't it as well.

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Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 450

Quoting harpo99999, reply 446red, it sounds like you are getting a similar bug to myself (continually showing FE beta even after installing several times through sdc2)

harpo

I am unable to reproduce this problem. Can you verify something for me in your registry?

Open regedit (search for it in your start menu) and go down this registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\Drengin.net\ElementalFE

First see if the ElementalFE node exists (let me know if it doesn't). If it does, look for the EXE, Path, and Version keys on the right and tell me what they are. This will help me to debug what may be happening.

Bara

after uninstalling fe from control panel, then installing from sdc2 it does appear to now acnowledge that it is installed.

thank you.

harpo

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Just made Stardock Central 2.67 live. Starting Stardock Central should automatically update it to the latest version. If it does not, wait an hour and try again (if it still doesn't, let me know!).

Quoting Leo in WI,

reply 451

Ok, let's do some verifying and editing of the registry. Follow these steps:

Open regedit (search for it in your start menu)
See if this key exists: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ThinkDesk\Multiplicity

If it does, see if it has a Version string and, if so, let me know what it is.

See if this key exists: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity

If it does, see if it has a Version string and, if so, let me know what it is.

Find the information above and I can tell you what to do next.

Bara

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Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 453

Ok, let's do some verifying and editing of the registry. Follow these steps:

Open regedit (search for it in your start menu)
See if this key exists: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ThinkDesk\Multiplicity
If it does, see if it has a Version string and, if so, let me know what it is.
See if this key exists: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity
If it does, see if it has a Version string and, if so, let me know what it is.

Find the information above and I can tell you what to do next.

Bara

Both exist:

1st: 1.26.025

2nd: 1.24.023

Oh, and thanks for the help Bara!

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Quoting Leo in WI,

reply 454

Both exist:

1st: 1.26.025

2nd: 1.24.023

Oh, and thanks for the help Bara!

Ok then, delete the second key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity

Deleting this should fix the problem.

Bara

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Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 455

Ok then, delete the second key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity

Deleting this should fix the problem.

Bara

Deleted that key. Rebooted. Still didn't show as installed. Installed through SDC, rebooted, still doesn't show as installed.

Also after all this I opened impulse up to see if it still shows there, and am getting this:

Edit: imageshack image won't post in here. Impulse window says: "One or more of your applications need to update to correctly show as Installed. Would you like to continue?"

I clicked no. Rebooted and tried that again, still getting same message.

Edit2: Got pic in.

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Nice program. Can you make the installer let us choose which folder to install the program to, instead of just under the Users folder? Thanks.

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DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE.

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Quoting Zubaz,

reply 458

DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE.

Unless it's to uninstall software so you can use the new SDC or the standalone installers.

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Quoting Leo in WI,

reply 456

Deleted that key. Rebooted. Still didn't show as installed. Installed through SDC, rebooted, still doesn't show as installed.

Also after all this I opened impulse up to see if it still shows there, and am getting this:

Edit: imageshack image won't post in here. Impulse window says: "One or more of your applications need to update to correctly show as Installed. Would you like to continue?"

I clicked no. Rebooted and tried that again, still getting same message.

Edit2: Got pic in.

Since you re-installed, can you take a look at those 2 registry keys again? Was the one I asked you to delete recreated?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ThinkDesk\Multiplicity

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity (this is the one I asked you to delete)

Bara

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Quoting Rosco_P,

reply 459

Unless it's to uninstall software so you can use the new SDC or the standalone installers

Yes. this is also true.

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Quoting Zubaz,

reply 458

DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE.

I have to for other games I purchased while you guys still owned impulse. I'll definitely be using SDC for everything Stardock. But there is no getting around it for other purchased things.

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Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 460

Quoting Leo in WI, reply 456Deleted that key. Rebooted. Still didn't show as installed. Installed through SDC, rebooted, still doesn't show as installed.

Also after all this I opened impulse up to see if it still shows there, and am getting this:

Edit: imageshack image won't post in here. Impulse window says: "One or more of your applications need to update to correctly show as Installed. Would you like to continue?"

I clicked no. Rebooted and tried that again, still getting same message.

Edit2: Got pic in.

Since you re-installed, can you take a look at those 2 registry keys again? Was the one I asked you to delete recreated?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ThinkDesk\Multiplicity

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity (this is the one I asked you to delete)

Bara

Will take a look at that once I get home, ~ 7 hours or so from now.

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Quoting Leo in WI,

reply 462

I have to for other games I purchased while you guys still owned impulse. I'll definitely be using SDC for everything Stardock. But there is no getting around it for other purchased things.

Yes, that would be the other case where Impulse is needed. It's just so much easier to be direct and forceful when you don't have to include caveats in your statements.

"DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE. UNLESS. YOU. HAVE. TO. IN. CERTAIN. CASES." just doesn't have the same ring to it.

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Quoting Rosco_P,

reply 464

Yes, that would be the other case where Impulse is needed. It's just so much easier to be direct and forceful when you don't have to include caveats in your statements.

"DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE. UNLESS. YOU. HAVE. TO. IN. CERTAIN. CASES." just doesn't have the same ring to it.

lol, no, no it doesn't.

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Quoting GunslingerBara,

reply 460

Since you re-installed, can you take a look at those 2 registry keys again? Was the one I asked you to delete recreated?

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ThinkDesk\Multiplicity

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Stardock\ObjectDesktop\Multiplicity (this is the one I asked you to delete)

Bara

No, it was not re-created. Just have the one with the 1.26.025 version number in it.

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Quoting Rosco_P,

reply 464

"DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE. UNLESS. YOU. HAVE. TO. IN. CERTAIN. CASES." just doesn't have the same ring to it.

How about...

DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE. IN. THIS. SPECIFIC. INSTANCE.

I aim to please....

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Quoting Leo in WI,

reply 466

No, it was not re-created. Just have the one with the 1.26.025 version number in it.

But Multiplicity is still showing as having an update in SDC?

Bara

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Quoting Jafo,

reply 467

DO. NOT. USE. IMPULSE. IN. THIS. SPECIFIC. INSTANCE

Better . . but not great.

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Might have to uninstall GS-Impulse unless someone explains why SDC doesn't update (10MB) DesktopX... downloads the file but keeps the activating_box off from initialization. 64bit_OS, maybe?

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Quoting Zyxpsilon,

reply 470

Might have to uninstall GS-Impulse unless someone explains why SDC doesn't update (10MB) DesktopX... downloads the file but keeps the activating_box off from initialization. 64bit_OS, maybe?

Currently, DX3.50 is the only thing showing in SDC or the store/accounts. Do not install it, as it is broken. 3.96 is the last working version, but AFAIK, it can't be found anywhere to download. I would use what you have for now. I have 3.96 installed, but SDC says it is version3.50.

Could this get fixed please,or does no one care about DX anymore at SD?

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Quoting Wizard1956,

reply 471

Quoting Zyxpsilon, reply 470Might have to uninstall GS-Impulse unless someone explains why SDC doesn't update (10MB) DesktopX... downloads the file but keeps the activating_box off from initialization. 64bit_OS, maybe?

Currently, DX3.50 is the only thing showing in SDC or the store/accounts. Do not install it, as it is broken. 3.96 is the last working version, but AFAIK, it can't be found anywhere to download. I would use what you have for now.

Wiz is correct. DX 3.5 which is available in the store is no good. It will strip all scripts from the themes, leaving you a broken DX. Use what you have, for now.

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Bara, thanks for signing your replies. I wasn't sure who was responding and who wasn't....he he...

This has been a public service announcement from your neighborhood local Department Of Redundancy Department.

RedneckDude or X

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I clicked the link and dl'd it and the latest version is 9.0.4.0? That's what it says when I mouse over it.

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Quoting Uvah,

reply 474

I clicked the link and dl'd it and the latest version is 9.0.4.0? That's what it says when I mouse over it.

If you already have SDC installed, you don't need to reinstall it. Any update SDC needs,it will do automatically. The current version showing in SDC itself is 2.68

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