Object Desktop - can I reinstall...?

from Stardock Forums
Hello,

I'm a registered user of Objectdock Plus and Object Desktop.

I purchased them both in 2004 and have been running them both happily since then. I mainly use DesktopX and IconX out of Object Desktop, never bothered too much with the other programs. I had one year subscription which expired in late 2005, so I have not upgraded any more since then, but I have kept using DesktopX and IconX with the latest version I was able to download with my subscription.

I have done some hardware upgrades since then and had no problem keeping my XP Professional installation, but with a newer computer now I find it that I need to reinstall XP Professional from scratch. My old installation just will refuse to boot in this hardware configuration.

So I was wondering if there is any way I can keep using DesktopX and IconX without having to pay for another year of upgrades. I have more than enough with the versions I am running on my old computer. I have had no problem reinstalling Objectdock Plus, I just reinstalled it since I still have the original EXE around, removed the new directory, and copied the one from the other computer which has my configuration, icons, etc. But I do not know how to reinstall Object Desktop, since I originally installed with SD Central, which then downloaded all the components. It refuses to download them now since my subscription is out of date. I do not have any setup files from my install 3 years ago. And of course copying it again by hand just won't do it...

Any hints on how to reinstall? I really wouldn't want to pay another $50 just to have a newer DesktopX version, I am fine with the one I have now.

Thanks!
Aitor

1,278 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you email [email protected] with the email you used to register they should be able to look you up and provide you with the last version you were authorized to use.

They are gone for the weekend though . .   (:(
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Thank you, I will try that. It kinda sucks not to have an EXE installer to be able to keep forever, the precious times I changed some hardware I have been able to keep going with the same XP installation, but this time the hardware changes will mess up my XP installation so badly I just can't recover it without reinstalling from scratch.

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you used Stardock centrral you could always archive and then restore from it . . for next time.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I actually tried that already, and didn't succeed. I still have the old computer up and running, so I might as well try it again, but I did already give it a try, and it didn't work out...
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Go here to your site. http://users.wincustomize.com/MindTwist. Then click "My settings" in the top right corner, a new page will open, select the Registrations tab. You should be able to acess the DL's from there.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Hi HG_Eliminator,

Thank you for the tip, did that, and I can download the same I can download direct from Stardock. That is, if I go to support, I enter my email, I will get a message with my registration numbers and the download links.

I am able to download Objectdock Plus from the link I am sent. But for Object Desktop, I am sent a link to sdcentral_setup.exe , which after I download and install will not let me download Object Desktop (DesktopX or any components) since it will say that my registration has expired.

I will try now the archive/restore option to see if this time I succeed.

Thanks!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cool. The SD team really puts out the effort to keep their customers, past and present happy :) They will help you too, if you just cant get it going.

In that event, contact [email protected] and they will hook you up. They can give you your access codes and offer links to the point release versions you had bought at the time. They are off until Tuesday, but they will get to you as soon as possible. ( remember to inform them of the Email address you used to purchase the programs with, if you have changed addresses since then.)



Thank you for the tip,
End of quote


Any time :)

 

Also you can use the archive option to store your app versions etc to a spot on the HDD, then burn them to CD for backup.. This will help you if ever you should need them again :)


Have fun.. :)

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Guess I have it solved (for now) :)

When I load SD Central on the old computer and go to the Object Desktop tab, it will stay there forever trying to get my account information. So it will not show all the components I have already installed in there, and since I can not select them, I can not "archive" them.

But, I had already done it once a long, long time ago. So I end up finding on \Program files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP the following files:

DesktopX_2.19m[b].003_08.07.2004.zip
IconX_0.99[b].003_08.07.2004.zip
SkinStudio Professional_4.30b.037_06.30.2004.zip
WindowBlinds4_4.38d[b].002_08.07.2004.zip

Which are the archived versions I had when my account was still active and I already tried them moving them to another computer - I gave up.

This time I have been more lucky. I have downloaded the latest SD Central installer, and the latest Objectdock Plus version, and installed them both. I then copied those 4 files to \Program files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP on the new computer, launched SD Central, entered my account info, and proceed to do a restore on them.

And it kinda worked. DesktopX and another one gave me a warning on restoring. The created shortcut for Desktopx pointed to welcome.exe which was nowhere to be found, so I had to create my own shortcut. But then I basically renamed the \Desktopx folder, copied my old \Desktopx folder, and Desktopx is up and running.

Objectdock Plus was a bit more tricky, since it hides its config files on the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\User\Configuración local\Datos de programa\Stardock\ObjectDockPlus

Once I found that out, I have easily mixed the new updated version (1.90) with my icons and stuff I had on the old installation (1.05)

So, it wasn't so easy, but it can be done. I still miss having some installers at hand like I do with OD Plus, but I am glad I kept those ZIP backup files for so many years hehe... I haven't yet been able to reinstall all the other Desktopx goodies I had at the time since I did not archive them back then and I can not do it now, since it stays forever checking my account info :(
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey did you start up a ticket with us? Can I have the number? What you did there will likely work but I can send you the last update that was with in your subscription to be safe. Let me know!