I tried this on my Vista machine Astyanax0 I'm not sure what could be casuing this. What themes are you using?

Checked the basics like video drivers? It isn't likely but always a good thing to check.

My drivers are up to date, but this has happened over more than one driver version and format. I've also used many IP themes, some of which are payware MyColors themes. (Pirate, Cosmos..etc) It happens with them all, I haven't found a single theme that properly applied a custom icon to the Control Panel in the start menu without manually changing it.

Sigh..
I just celebrated the 11 (or 12)th day of activation problems..

As I've mentioned before, I manage to get IP partially activated but not fully..

An example and a question..

Example: I activate IP main program, set it to use "localvista" package, then activate IPE+shell extension.

What happens to the assigned icons in this case?

I've not tried this because IP remains somewhat unusable except for extracting icons and changing icon for a filetype or two via the "Icon" tab.

I updated to IP 4.00.165 the other day, and am now getting the activation request too.
Since I'm a OD Ultimate user I have no "standalone" registration.



Tried the above to no avail.

In the activation box you use the mailaddress and ODU serial you were given.

If you have the same issue as me you'd be able to activate IP and IPE, but the next time you use
the "Icon" tab on a file you'll get either a "could not run activate.exe", or a request to activate.
If/when you do this the IP main program will be deactivated again etc..

i got the same prompt. i was like wtf? then i believe i just put in my object desktop serial number and have not seen it since. so yeah that works.

On the activation error ... can't find ...etc., I may have found the problem and/or cause.

There is a key in the registry that references and points to the location of a system variable that doesn't exist on my XPPro SP2 machine. Maybe the installer failed to set that variable; thus the failure of IP to find it if looking in the location specified by the key?

Still waiting to hear back from Mike ... I'll run it past him and see what the devs think.   

Thanks, mate. Worked like a charm  :CONGRAT: 
Haven't seen the reg-screen since!

Now I can moderat IPs again

Thought I had the 'change individual icon image' problem fixed a few days ago using the uninstall from Impulse, after required reboot, disable anti-virus and firewall, and reinstall from Impulse. Problem has resurfaced. Now, again, get:

OS: Vista SP1 x64
All of my program icons are now blank after I installed the newest version of IP 4 on Impulse. Any reason why?

That certainly hasn't happned since we have been testing it. I personally am using the same set up as you and have not had troubles like this. Have you tried uninstalling, restarting, reinstalling, and then restarting again before running the software?

If not please give it a go and should the problem still come up please contact us at [email protected]. It sounds like this is more than just Icon Packager.

Here's after uninstall and restart. =/

And here's after reinstall and restart.

This is the same problem I am having. I have xp home sp2.

minivansohyeah - Please contact us at [email protected]. We need more info and it appears to be just happening to your system.

As an update to all a correction to the "Every time it starts up it asks for activation" has been published to Impulse. SDC is due later today.

The individual icon troubles are still at large and in testing. Just letting you know we are working on it.

I am now getting this issue after weeks of being problem free... all was well a couple of days ago (and I don't think I made any changes) and suddenly I can't right click individual icons to change them, yet I can change icons within IP. I uninstalled and reinstalled IP (version 4.00.165) but to no avail, still can't change individual icons via right click

Also, I'm having troubles with changes sticking to the 'Downloaded Program Files' - ' Offline Webpages' and Help File (chm) folders. I don't even have to reboot the system, just closing and reopening IP will revert them back to Windows default icons. It's almost as if Windows does not accept/recognise IP's 'authority' and reclaims possession. :NOTSURE:

Windows Vista Ultimate.
IP version 4. 00.165.

Oh, and I dual boot between XP, but IP works fine in there/no issues to speak of.

Same problem (XP SP3) > TicketID: XLC-153390

That appears to be the deal with the CD/DVD drive icon.It shows up skinned very briefly then get's changed back to default.

I also get this when trying to change individual icons,and recoloring problems too.I don't use IP much,so I'll wait. I'm sure this will get sorted out.Thank You for keeping us informed,Seabass.

You are quite welcome Wizard. We are knocking them down one at a time as we go here. You are still able to apply themes as per normal but not change out the individual icons. This seems to be an XP problem at the moment. However the developers are aware and going at insane speeds. Any hold ups on our part has everything to do with testing the software on as many possible machine types. Sorry for the delay.

Is there any news about the activation issue (i.e not able to have all three parts of IP activated at the same time, as reported in this thread and in support ticket)?
21 june is the 1 month anniversary on my computer for this one.

Impulse is showing an update to IP dated 6-16-08, but the version # is 4.00.166

Wasn't this version released a week or so ago to fix the install activation problem?

Is this really an update?  

No an update implies new features. The latest version is meant to correct the activation issue you are describing where multiple parts need activation or it asks for activation each time. If you are still having these troubles try uninstalling, restarting, redownload/reinstall through Impulse, then restart again before you run the software. If after that you do that and you still get the same problem we have some account work around support can supply to you. Just let us know.

In the mean time the error with changing the Disk Tray icon and changing out individual icons is still being worked on by the developers. We are simply trying to knock these down as quick as we can.

No, I understand what 4.00.166 was intended to correct. Hence my question ...

"Wasn't this version released a week or so ago to fix the install activation problem?"

It was the new date that is confusing. Impulse shows this release with a date of 6-16-08

I believe it was dated 6-06-08 prior to today. Which was when that build was initially released.


An Impulse error, then?


As far as the activation error I am getting, I am working with Mike in support. Still waiting to hear back from him on my last correspondence of 6-08-08.

The activation issue is still present..
Initially Impulse creates a sig.bin causing IconPackager and IconExplorer to be activated... But there seems to be one difference..

With the shell extension mentioned so many times..

Copying the activate.* to the folder it expects it to be (yes it still expects activate to be another place than it is), then retry results in a sig.bin for the shell extension only, no longer creates a sig.bin activating both it and the Icon Explorer, instead it creates one that activates the shell extension only.

In other words exactly the opposite of what it should do, as all should generate a sig.bin causing all three parts of IP to be activated.

The shell extension wasn't touched in this reissuing of .166, only the IconPackager main executable was.

With wasn't touched I mean it still has the mid May as its creation date both in the downloaded Impulse archive and installed.

Btw, it might be an idea to show some progress while extracting an archive.. Currently you're transferred to the download/install page which contains nothing for a while (a very long time if it's a game) until something happens and it suddenly is displayed on that page as Installing etc.

Just a quickie to see if any progress has been made on this in the past two weeks?