Download / installation problem

from Stardock Forums

I just changed back from window Vista to XP pro.  I submitted my information and got the email with the download likn for windowblinds.  I use the link, run the software and when the download is finished i get an error windows Internet Explorer cannot download WindowBlinds610_enhanced.exe from dl4.stardock.com.  Connection with the server was reset.  So i figure it's a problem with IE.  As the network restrictions here won't let me download using IE i open Firefox and download the file.  i click on the WindowBlinds610_enhanced.exe file and get the error C:\My Files\WindowBlinds610_enhanced.exe is not a valid Win32 application.

I had been using it without any problems before i reinstalled XP again, but that was the 6.0 version, not hte new 6.1.  Any ideas on this?  thanks in advance!

15,425 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try updating WindowBlinds using Impulse.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Hankers is great, listen to your Hank.

Impulse is the replacement for our current downloading software Stardock Central. While Stardock Central isn't discontinued this is the new and effective way to get your download and account information.

By the way, you're also able to have Impulse lookup your account information at any time through the registration tab. This is a nice feature, though which you will never need to remember your serial number or any download links to use Impulse. You will only need to remember the email address and password you specify for your Stardock.net account.

Please let me know if you still have troubles after trying this out.



Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
i'm betting it's my network restrictions here now. I've installed Impulse, it connects, i get the little globe in the top left with the lock icon showing my email and login name. I go to My Desktop and click install on WB6.1 and it says i'm working offline i need to login or connect. i've rebooted since then, now it says it cannot connect working offline.

I'm wondering if it would work to download wb at home, see if it will install there, and then bringing it to work. Or is that against the licensing using it on 2 machines?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm wondering if it would work to download wb at home, see if it will install there, and then bringing it to work. Or is that against the licensing using it on 2 machines?
It's allowed.

Offline activation:
https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=447
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Great! i'll try to install at home then, see if that works. Only thing i can think of is the file from the email is bad. I've installed multiple downloaded executables after i reinstalled XP and that's the only one i've had any problems with.

Update:
Just for fun i downloaded Stardock Central to see if it would work or have the same issues as Impulse. Stardock Central was able to download WB6.10 without any problems. I now have it installed and running as i type this :)

Appreciate the help on this!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
 :CONGRAT:
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Hankers is great, listen to your Hank.Impulse is the replacement for our current downloading software Stardock Central. While Stardock Central isn't discontinued this is the new and effective way to get your download and account information.By the way, you're also able to have Impulse lookup your account information at any time through the registration tab. This is a nice feature, though which you will never need to remember your serial number or any download links to use Impulse. You will only need to remember the email address and password you specify for your Stardock.net account.Please let me know if you still have troubles after trying this out.


Well all that's good until Impulse started acting up last couple weeks. Now I can't download ANYTHING with it. It always returns "Download Error" with the following lines repeated around fifty times in "impulse-errorlog.txt":

-- [6/10/2008 1:22:30] ----------------------------------------------------
Context: DownloadJob Error - wb6/odnt PublicProduction 6.10.081
Message: The server cannot process the request because the syntax is not valid.
http://dl1.impulsedriven.com/download.ashx?b=115&v=6.10.081&t=FGwgwUFlgN8BaKkBT23w9AmMa%2fD8bH9I95HuufI5AcB9Ph1Rxj8dCJqqCa39Y83vOxOgkZOQtcy4Z44P7tZhcTxzL5EKQMWHBX1HXVfzx08IGVvNwmPBDW3F0E3Z6Oc7wrLZAV3y%2fyKVeAqVkV6jO9hU45tgg7hL83sti9wWCbNT7Zim%2fozsVe6HD2GujrghwjSUgX8CLnQUbzw%2f1u%2fmugGfiEReYQ58NzifaWv9yKVu9DRAKMe%2fTE6IPVCKUk0YSvycoVRyej%2bjm0pWskbBsCUj36JHhUCCJb1PLKHlfh%2fJAUG1gQ0X50YpyYGKrgn15nxvn%2fdlMCWwlaB8B56EkKrj6mSVK4w0RpOjwEmyPxYQiOpvLid3RVnuDQM8Fu4DF%2beOdGE9bpO7QsAlmzTFpCH30IJaXXe0ZuKZKu3cgkS1tz%2bvBHG2eVGdwaVdMbbjOEQw68JuJCVfDb7LiHSORG8RcqhtBpxdzcBNa4G35w8%3d&f=The error occurred while the remote file was being processed.

I don't know whether it's a server problem but being shut off from downloading anything for a couple of weeks is lame.

Stardock Central downloads a partial 3 MB "wb6.sdc" archive & gives up after 3 times saying "Extraction Error". So either your server(s) aren't feeding the right juice to my computer or something else needs fixing here. At least Stardock Central downloaded SOMETHING.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Please try this from within Impulse:
-Click the blue Help icon in the upper right.
-Choose 'Open XMLs folder (public)'
-When the folder pops up, delete any files/folders inside.
-Close impulse and relaunch it.


Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I already tried that as per the suggestion in this thread where the user appears to be having the same issue as I am:

https://forums.stardock.com/307216

Now if I was sent along the same channels (yes I have requested a support ticket yesterday) would I get the same ultimate response as per that thread "not all updates have crossed over"?

If so let's just save the time & hassle on my end (I've been sitting here basically cut-off from the products that I purchased for the past 2 weeks) & say that Impulse isn't exactly ready for official deployment to your paying customers.

That would be ridiculous as not a single product could be downloaded.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I already tried that as per the suggestion in this thread where the user appears to be having the same issue as I am:https://forums.stardock.com/307216Now if I was sent along the same channels (yes I have requested a support ticket yesterday) would I get the same ultimate response as per that thread "not all updates have crossed over"?If so let's just save the time & hassle on my end (I've been sitting here basically cut-off from the products that I purchased for the past 2 weeks) & say that Impulse isn't exactly ready for official deployment to your paying customers.That would be ridiculous as not a single product could be downloaded.


Just for fun, and to see if my problem was centered around my restricted network priveledges at work, and if i'd run into the same problems as yuzree, i downloded Impulse here at home. So far i've successfully downloaded and installed WB6.10, CursorFX Plus, free version of ObjectDock and MyColors. Impulse is working fine here at home, using Vista Ultimate even :)

my problems i'm assuming were due to network and user account restrictions at work.

Thanks again guys :)
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I do, but turning them off doesn't fix the problem. Even so, they're all properly configured; I use a multitude of internet-critical applications & they all work fine. The only ones I could not get working properly are Stardock Central & Impulse.

Impulse worked well up till about 2.5 weeks ago. Stardock Central works but I can't download WindowBlinds. As we all know the WindowBlinds SDC package is in excess of 90 MB but it downloads only 4 MB everytime and as such results in an "extraction error" as the downloaded package is incomplete.

I currently have IconPackager 4 v4.00.165, SoundPackager v1.00.009 & Dungeon Lords v1.50.002 installed thru Stardock Central. I can't install any products or updates using Impulse (Download Error).

Impulse v2.90.166 (Images v2.90.078) tells me that I have updates available for all the installed products (IP v4.00.166, SP v1.50.022, DL v1.50.010) but when I try to update them I get the same "Download Error".

Stardock Central v2.54.524 build 167 does not detect any available updates for any of the installed products. I understand that these Stardock application managers use different servers for product distribution purposes as well as update checking. Could there be a synchronization problem between them (Impulse seems to be detecting updates where Stardock Central doesn't but should) or are these supposed updates detected in error? I don't know if this problem is related but I'm providing this information to help with troubleshooting on your side if needed.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
If you take a closer look at the Error Log entry I have given, it is also apparent that my connection to your server(s) isn't interrupted or blocked in any way:

"Message: The server cannot process the request because the syntax is not valid."

This would normally be the return message supplied by the server in response to an invalid query. So my computer CAN connect to your server & vice-versa.

My guess is that my requests are getting blocked either at IP level or an invalid download URL is supplied to the server (most likely through a buggy URL generation routine), or a bug in the way my copy of Windows XP SP3 handles the ashx protocol there (not likely but possible). My guess it's number 2.

Whatever it is I hope it gets fixed real soon because I am honestly starting to lose my patience here.