Impulse BETA download

Feeling brave?

from GalCiv2 Forums

For those of you who would like to try out Impulse, check out the link below.  Note that the precise version numbers won't match up between Stardock Central and Impulse since they have different backends.

If you'd like to try it go here:

http://storage.stardock.com/files/Impulse_setup.exe

There's a LOT more being added to it but you should find it pretty reliable at updating things.

 

64,788 views 55 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks. I've been looking forward to taking this baby out for a spin. But first, could you please explain a bit more clearly what:
Note that the precise version numbers won't match up between Stardock Central and Impulse since they have different backends.
means?

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It means some updates to programs will appear on Impulse but won't necessarily appear on Stardock Central.

Get Impulse, you won't be disappointed. It is the future and a significant advance over SDC  :CONGRAT:
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
[quote]It means some updates to programs will appear on Impulse but won't necessarily appear on Stardock Central.

Actually, it's the other way 'round. Impulse couldn't find either DA or TA on my machine.



Get Impulse, you won't be disappointed. It is the future and a significant advance over SDC


I wasn't disappointed, I was terrified. It locked my system up solid. I thought my rig was a goner. I finally got it to respond, and uninstalled it. Even that didn't work correctly. I spent the better part of my morning manually rooting out the various files that it installed, and even now I'm not sure that I got them all. God knows what it did to my registry. Sorting through that will be this evening's project. If this is the future, then the future is a screaming, frustrating hell.

I've been a member of these forums for ~2 years now. I have been through every update, and every beta of GC2 since the beginning, and through all of that I have never had an experience that rivals this one. The game, in it's various iterations, has had it's problems, but they were always *within the game*. I have never felt the need to take this sort of tone in any of my bug reports. It was THAT bad.

I'm sorry, Frogboy, I truly am. I have always been, and remain a firm supporter of Stardock, but my conscience requires me to advise anyone who is considering downloading Impulse to wait until such time as they can be absolutely assured that it is working as planned.

I'll try to end this reply on some sort of positive note, and say that Impulse has a very good looking interface. It really is quite attractive. It seems to be laid out in an intuitive manner; I only wish that I had the chance to try out the various features.

Question: Will Impulse be 'skinnable'? The green rain on the leaf motif is nice, but not quite my cup of tea. I would prefer something that is a bit more, shall we say, masculine.

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There's a bug with Impulse not recognizing the GalCiv2 expansions because it seems that SDC is not putting all the key values in place for them. If you are handy with the registry, you can manually fix it by following what I said in reply #5 here.

I've mentioned it in various threads around the Stardock forums, but it seems that Stardock has yet to come up with a fix to get those registry key values inserted.

As to why Impulse locked your machine up, I can't be certain. I've installed it on my home PC and one of my work PCs with no trouble.

-HM
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, it seems that by most accounts, the beta has been causing little trouble. I have no idea why I had this problem. Usually, I'm the one who is sailing along in the betas while others have had problems. I have only had one crash, and no driver issues; nothing really except a few minor glitches. This is why this came as such a shock. I don't even know how I could be of help in sorting this out, other than providing basic system info. (Which of course, I would gladly do).
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
a significant advance over SDC


It's ultimate goal may be to exceed SDC but at this stage it isn't even worth calling a pale comparison.
Don't expect miracles from this BETA.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

a significant advance over SDCIt's ultimate goal may be to exceed SDC but at this stage it isn't even worth calling a pale comparison.Don't expect miracles from this BETA.

No offense Phoon but you're totally wrong.  SDC may have an IRC client and the WC browser placed in as an ActiveX control but Impulse is a vast improvement technologically over SDC.

SDC is a great application and is still highly impressive. But the infrastructure was made when we were just learning how to do this kind of thing really.   Moreover, the user experience between the two is night and day.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
technologically it may be better. I don't know the back end of it. From a power user standpoint though it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I like the looks of it though. The speed has been good once it is launched too. So I can't say it's all bad.

Here are the issue I have stated on the other post:

I've a couple of issue that I brought up in the initial thread offering to try out impulse.
These issue were not addressed and I would greatly appreciate some insight.

1. My Anti-Virus software (Trend Micro 2008)complains that impulse is trying to change my internet explorer settings and blocks this from happening. Please explain to me why your program thinks it needs to mess with my internet explorer settings. I must consider the application a malicious security threat at this point.

2. Where is the option to ask me where to install the application and put the start menu shortcuts? Maybe I don't want these apps installed on my C drive. A person should have the ability to decide where an application resides.

I can understand that you are trying to make this application as idiot proof as possible but there is zero excuse for not allowing one to make rational decisions concerning their own system if one so chooses.

HIGHLY disappointed so far!


SDC has always worked, and worked well for me. I'll try to keep the "BETA" in the front of my mind though and take that in to consideration. If someone were to be kind enough to address my concerns either through the forum or PM though it would greatly add to the "open beta testing" process which you are concerned about. Open lines of communication and all that fluff really helps from our end too. ;) 
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Where is the option to ask me where to install the application and put the start menu shortcuts? Maybe I don't want these apps installed on my C drive. A person should have the ability to decide where an application resides.

Click on the Stardock logo in the top left corner.  Select preferences, then folders.  You will find a location in there to select where each "network" gets installed (games/desktop/tools).  Each one can be configured to a different drive or all of them can be pointed to the same location.

Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

My Anti-Virus software (Trend Micro 2008)complains that impulse is trying to change my internet explorer settings and blocks this from happening. Please explain to me why your program thinks it needs to mess with my internet explorer settings. I must consider the application a malicious security threat at this point.

We will look into this issue.

 

Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

There's a bug with Impulse not recognizing the GalCiv2 expansions because it seems that SDC is not putting all the key values in place for them. If you are handy with the registry, you can manually fix it by following what I said in reply #5 here.I've mentioned it in various threads around the Stardock forums, but it seems that Stardock has yet to come up with a fix to get those registry key values inserted.As to why Impulse locked your machine up, I can't be certain. I've installed it on my home PC and one of my work PCs with no trouble.-HM

This is resolved in the latest build of SDC and Impulse.  Please note that if you install GalCiv2 using the latest version of SDC and then try to update it with the latest version of Impulse it will see GalCiv2 and recognize it as installed.

 

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Many many thanks to you Zargon!

I did discover a workaround for the Anti-Virus block. Under the Virus & Spyware controls there is a section titled Prevent Unauthorized Changes. I added ImpulseMini.exe and Impulse.exe to the exception list with a response of Trust. That fixed that. I would still be interested to know what changes are made however.

A prompt for placement on the start menu would be a welcome option in addition to the installation path option.

After making these adjustments I updated several apps and installed some that I don't normally use. I must say that the speed was phenomenally faster than my previous experiences with Impulse. Everything went flawlessly.

Should you require further input from me I can be found in a corner eating my foot without the benefit of seasoning. I stand corrected. Impulse IS indeed a better product.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Zargon, that's cool. But what do you recommend for those folks that already have installed the GalCiv2 expansions with an older version of SDC? What should they do to ensure Impulse recognizes the installation(s)? Is their only recourse to add the needed registry values? Or reinstall the expansions?

-HM
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I wasn't disappointed, I was terrified. It locked my system up solid. I thought my rig was a goner. I finally got it to respond, and uninstalled it. Even that didn't work correctly. I spent the better part of my morning manually rooting out the various files that it installed, and even now I'm not sure that I got them all. God knows what it did to my registry. Sorting through that will be this evening's project. If this is the future, then the future is a screaming, frustrating hell.I've been a member of these forums for ~2 years now. I have been through every update, and every beta of GC2 since the beginning, and through all of that I have never had an experience that rivals this one. The game, in it's various iterations, has had it's problems, but they were always *within the game*. I have never felt the need to take this sort of tone in any of my bug reports. It was THAT bad.

Mistralok,

Can you please provide some of your system specifications?  Are you running Windows XP or Vista?  32-bit or 64-bit?  Do you have any other software installed that might be conflicting?  What is your virus scanner?  What is your firewall / security software?  Where did Impulse hang?  What screen were you on?  Was it not responding according to task manager?  When you got it to respond did you have to kill Impulse to continue?  Did you try to install any software with Impulse or just close it and uninstall?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

 

 

Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I like the program :)

However it does not recognize that i have DA and TA installed and keeps telling me my registration details are incorrect for objectdock, which is installed and working through SDC.
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Will Impulse work side by side with SDC installed? I don't want to mess up my ability to post to the meta. A friend recently had issues posting to the meta after uninstalling SDC, so I don't want to chance it if it does have to be removed for Impulse..
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
so I don't want to chance it if it does have to be removed for Impulse


It doesn't--they should happily coexist.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Cool. Thanks Kryo. I'll give it a whirl :) .
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Alright - so what is the answer here: Is Impulse still in beta (as this forum subgroup and thread seem to indicate)? Or is it production (as the main forum group, the locking of all "problem with Impulse" threads, and the thread for "Discuss issues here" seem to indicate)?

How does one actually get the program to RUN once it is installed?

Installed on WinXP Pro SP2, Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.21.329 (latest) - with Impulse and ImpulseMini set as Safe/trusted apps. Behind Corporate proxy - I.E. works, as does SDC. Impulse cannot connect to servers, so cannot log me in, and therefore won't even launch the main program window.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Impulse is still in Beta.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Alright - so what is the answer here: Is Impulse still in beta (as this forum subgroup and thread seem to indicate)? Or is it production (as the main forum group, the locking of all "problem with Impulse" threads, and the thread for "Discuss issues here" seem to indicate)?How does one actually get the program to RUN once it is installed?Installed on WinXP Pro SP2, Comodo Firewall Pro 3.0.21.329 (latest) - with Impulse and ImpulseMini set as Safe/trusted apps. Behind Corporate proxy - I.E. works, as does SDC. Impulse cannot connect to servers, so cannot log me in, and therefore won't even launch the main program window.

We have an outstanding issue with Proxy authentication.  T-Man will contact you to work through the issue so we can resolve the authenticated proxy issue.

Thanks for your feedback.

 

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Why not offer the Impulse setup from a more public view? Then you can get alot more feedback. And please provide the dl-links in this first post. Both full and regular.

Birger :)
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why not offer the Impulse setup from a more public view? Then you can get alot more feedback. And please provide the dl-links in this first post. Both full and regular.
Starting small lets SD address bugs without getting overwhelmed.  They've been releasing apps using this method for years; they know what they are doing.  :)
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
Is there an alternate DL link? I DL'd the above, and it won't run after installation. I get a "Stardock Impulse has encountered an error and must close..." error
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OpusCroakus,

I'm working on a test app that has different methods of connecting via a proxy to try and solve this problem.  But one quick question I have is does your proxy require authentication with a username and password?