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Backing Up Stardock Applications With Impulse

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Backing Up Stardock Applications With Impulse

from WinCustomize Forums

This is a not a nice thought, but What If, Stardock was to close up their site and not be around anymore. I see two post today, one good for Impulse and one that hates it, so thought I would throw something in that could happen but hopefully never will.

You decided to purchase a new computer or the one you are using went boom and had to reformat. I know there has been a lot of mentioning of no available .exe files for Stardock programs. I for one have no problem or objections using Impulse and find it convenient. but if there was no Stardock there wouldn't be any working servers. True some problems are in Beta for quite awhile but that doesn't mean they don't work just fine and we wouldn't have a problem using them at least until a new OS came out. Even with that we still may not have a problem as some of the programs working now crossed over from one OS to another just fine or with just with small problems but still usable. Asking this because I'm sure including myself that many people have their favorite programs they use and would want to continue using them if a bad situation took place. I'm not writing this in a negative way and by no means saying Stardock is closing their doors but just as a What If it did happen.

With that said, if this happened how would we we be able to install our favorite programs without an .exe file if we purchased a new computer or reformatted computer without Impulse?

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28,604 views 39 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top

.impulse is really .zip just with a changed extension, so in theory all you would need to do is rename them to .zip and then extract to the programs folder as normal

not correct. I tried this and it is not a valid archive after renaming.

Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DaveRI, reply 25
Suppose we could get this post renamed to something like "Backing up Stardock Programs" and get it stickied in the Support/General section?  Comes up from time to time.  Heck, we've got pictures here, some built-in FAQ's, a couple of alternatives, really kind of a nice thread.  Just a thought.
You could add it to the wiki.  :)

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Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top

to the original question: bummer

Suppose we could get this post renamed to something like "Backing up Stardock Programs" and get it stickied in the Support/General section? Comes up from time to time. Heck, we've got pictures here, some built-in FAQ's, a couple of alternatives, really kind of a nice thread. Just a thought.

we could make a wiki also.

*edit* now that is funny. Zubaz check your PM's

Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top

heh.

Replied.

Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Relocated, renamed and stickied...;)

Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:thumbsup:

Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Gads that was prompt!  Thanks guys I think it'll be helpful.

Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Great, hopefully it will help many. Thanks.

Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top

Wouldn't it just be easier to backup your software in an executable file? Not to wish anything upon the company, but if something happens and the servers get shut down, you will be out of luck unless you have not only the backups of your games/software but also a copy of impluse. The idea of a one-stop shop for all updates is a great, but I would like a little more assurance that if something happens I will still be able to use what I paid for. How hard would it be to just backup programs in self-extracting setup file?

Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top

"Impulse Anywhere"

Doesn't anyone read anymore? *_*  

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Okay, slight twist on the same subject.  My graphics card caught on fire and toasted my computer.  Fortunately the hard drives survived and I was able to pull off the games (saving me from having to download and reinstall over 300 GB of games).  However, Impulse thinks I need to download and install them all over again.  Is there a way to tell the Impulse app "Thanks, but I've already got one, it's very nice!" (Monty Python humor)

Cheers,

James

Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I don't see the point of this so-called "archive". It doesn't backup the program and it doesn't back up the data. All I get in XP SP3 is a 24+MB file with a .impulse extension. What's in this 'feel good' file? I've backed up everything I could find on my HD that seemed like it might belong to WindowBlinds and believe me, I've got a lot more than 24MB of stuff. IMHO it's misleading to call whatever is produced by Impulse an "archive".

Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting nonexistent_entity, reply 37
I don't see the point of this so-called "archive". It doesn't backup the program and it doesn't back up the data. All I get in XP SP3 is a 24+MB file with a .impulse extension. What's in this 'feel good' file? I've backed up everything I could find on my HD that seemed like it might belong to WindowBlinds and believe me, I've got a lot more than 24MB of stuff. IMHO it's misleading to call whatever is produced by Impulse an "archive".
Impulse will zip the program files for reinstallation.  Your data files (skins) are not backed up by Impulse.  For that you are on your own.

Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting JBMetrics, reply 36
. . . However, Impulse thinks I need to download and install them all over again.  Is there a way to tell the Impulse app "Thanks, but I've already got one, it's very nice!" (Monty Python humor)

Open Impulse and then oepn the menu-thing-y

 

Select the Detect Application option:

 

Select your category, app, and browse to wherever it is.

 

Done.