Just tried archiving everything right now and ran into a number of problems:

1. I can't archive programs I can not install (i.e. WindowsFX is not available on widows 7 so it won't let me dl and just archive). Thats just ridiculous so if I want to run the Virtual XP component of Win7 down the line and my expiration is expired I can't use the programs because there is no wya to get it. Brilliant.

2. similiar problem w/ the MyColors themes: can't dl and archive unless I have mycolors installed??? Why do I need to install my colors now to create a back up?

I just read all these post and I have to say I did not know I had to Archive my stuff If I let my sub expire and have to say I then went to stardock.com and see NO mention that customer has to Archive after sub run dry

it dose how ever stat this >>

Q: What happens when my subscription expires? Will the programs I’ve received still work?

A: Yes. When you purchase, you receive everything currently available on the Object Desktop Network as well as free updates for one year. Once your subscription has expired, you have the option of renewing for additional years for $34.95. If you choose not to renew, you keep everything released prior to the subscription expiration.

Think of it like you would a magazine subscription. If you let your Newsweek subscription lapse, you can still read all the old issues (you just will not get any new ones). 

...............

so if your stating now that we have to do this (Archive) before sub runs out IT SHOULD be made Clear when one purchase ODNT

oh and it also stats this to  >>

A Year of Free Updates
When you purchase Object Desktop, you automatically get a 1-year subscription to ObjectDesktop.net and not only get all of the features Object Desktop has today, but all of the features for a full year.

This means you will receive all updates and new programs added to Object Desktop throughout the year automatically. What you download is yours forever and at the end of the year, you can continue your subscription or stick with what you already have.

can you please put a link here that stats SD will not provide Archives for expired subs

May I ask what OS are you running? With the latest impulse client on Win 7 x64 when I try to install WFX I get an error that the program is not available for my OS. I get the same error when I try to dl and archive. I am guessing you have an OS on which WFX WILL INSTALL so you probably are not getting the error. This happens w/ all the programs not available on Win 7 (IconX, BootSkin, WFX).

Seems there is always an snswer to a question, whether the question is hard or easy. 

1) Impulse is a download manager and an installer. The files you download are specific to the program, but will user the installer part of Impulse (without Impulse running).

2) Don't know. My sub has never run out but I assume you can still download the last version of the software you purchased as that is Stardock's policy. But if you have downloaded and stored the files safely, it doesn't matter.

3) Don't know - technical stuff All I know is it works.

It's a good idea for anyone wanting to archive their applications to use Impulse Anywhere rather than Impulse. Archives created with Impulse only work on the O/S they were originally installed on. Not much use if you change O/S... It's a backup of your current configuration only.

Once you have downloaded all your app's data and install files, and Impulse, and archived them somewhere, you are good to go anytime, anywhere

Another damn good piece of info that needs to be in blinking neon lights. Seriously if someone had posted this stuff earlier instead of flippant remarks that it has worked like this for eleven years I think people would have been much happier. The CS aspect of SD is just horrible!

Two more questions:

1. Do you store your DAT files (the ones generated through the site) as well, or they machine specific (i.e. a re-install on a new computer req. you to generate a new .DAT?

2. Do you have generate a new .DAT file with each upgrade of the SW on the same machine? I.e. I install and activate WB 7.0 and then upgrade to 7.5 hwne it comes out do I have to generate a new .DAT file or will the old one work.

thanks for that info fuzzy logic

I have 1) Question all my stuff was there but Bullet candy

where do I get that Archive at ?

I just want to point another thing out here: You don't have to archive your stuff after your subscription expires. It's simply that if you reformat your computer or buy a new computer you can't access newer versions of Object Desktop once your subscription expires.

Really, like i said, it's always been this way and until this post I can't recall it ever being an issue.

Yes, but myself and apparently others have taken this initially to mean that if I format my HDD and my subscription ran out I can re-dl the latest version which was available at the time the subscription ran out at any time. However, this seems not to be the case. In fact, if you do not archive your applications and your sub runs out when you format, have a hdd crash, or buy a new computer you are SOL? Is this not the case? Hence the need to archive the latest version/update when your sub runs out.

Open Impulse,My Software, Right Click on program you want to archive, select Archive Application,

Frogboy's last post confused me again.  The bold text is getting to me.

You don't have to archive your stuff after your subscription expires. It's simply that if you reformat your computer or buy a new computer you can't access newer versions of Object Desktop once your subscription expires.

For simplicity, I'm going to use example version numbers for this hypothetical scenario.  Please read carefully.  I'm trying to be very specific.

Stardock releases a major version, version 2.0.

Updates/patching ensues, and they release version 2.1 which really gets me excited and I buy when v2.1 is current.

More updates/patching ensue, 2.2 gets released, followed by 2.3.

My sub expires while version 2.3 is current.

More updates/patching ensue, going up to 2.4.

Per Frogboy's quoted post, I wouldn't need to archive - so for this scenario, I do not archive.  And so let's say I've bought a new computer.  I feel like re-installing ODNT on the new computer.

I install Impulse Client on my new computer.  Which version of Object Desktop stuff is available for download?

Case 1: Do I get to install the version that was current when my sub expired (2.3)?

Case 2: Do I get to install the version that was current when I first purchased the subscription (2.1)?

Case 3: Do I get to install the last major version prior to my subscription start (2.0)?

I don't expect the current version available at time of reinstall (2.4) of course.  It wasn't available to me when I did have a subscription.  Prior to this thread, I would have expected v2.3 - the version that was current when my sub expired.  Frogboy's last post (quoted) leads me to believe this is the case, as did Jafo's (iirc) page 1 post.  But at least one in between post led me to believe I'd need to have archived some version before my subscription expired - and no updates to bring that version to 2.3 would be available.  Still other posts suggested 2.0 or 2.1 would be all I could obtain - and even then only if I either emailed SD support or had pre-created an archive.

I think my question would be answered if Frogboy (or anyone that really knows) could tell me which of the above Case examples would be correct, case 1, 2, or 3.  (Or is it none of the above?)

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