Impulse Guide: Backing Up your Object Desktop Apps

from JoeUser Forums

If you have a subscription to Object Desktop you should know that as long as your subscription is active then you will always have access to the latest and greatest apps available.  One very important point to make is that everyone should make a backup archive of their apps in case they ever need to be restored if for whatever reason you don’t have access to the current updates.

Here’s how to do it:

Go to the My Software tab in Impulse and right-click the application you want to archive.  Select Archive Application and that’s it, you now have an archive of that version which will be shown as a .impulse file.

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Your archive files can then be found in C:\ProgramData\Stardock\Impulse\backup.  Once they are backed up you can copy them to an external drive or DVD for storage if you wish.  In the Impulse preferences you can also specify the archive file location.

In Impulse preferences, under the Advanced Settings there is an option for the archives.  You have a box here you can check that will automatically archive your applications before they are updated.  This way you will always have an archive when a new update comes through.

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If you ever need to restore that archive, you can find that option in the Impulse preferences menu.

If you don’t have access to Impulse, you can alternatively download .impulse files from Impulse Anywhere, but you will need Impulse to install them.

3,428 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This really is as important as backing up your HDD. I wonder if Impulse can find them if they are restored from a backup? It would be logical to assume that it could, since their "location" would be the same as where Impulse would archive them.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Please note that if you use the archive method above (archiving an installed app) it will only reinstall on that OS version.

If there si a chance you may want to install on a different OS at some point (like you are using XP now adn might go to Win7 later) then you should choose the "Download and Archive" option.

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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Note though, that Impulse anywhere ONLY works if you have a current subscription.  Don't try to use it after the sub is over.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It would be worth mentioning that this is the ONLY way you will be able to re-install your OD apps if you let your subscription expire.

If you choose not to renew ,SD will not (under normal circumstances) provide you any alternatives of downloading these applications.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

This dosn't reinstall my games, it just makes available to wait 2 days to download again when I uninstall then install what waste of my time to wait. #:(   Too bad I can't burn to a CD and install that way, no wait I should bought the CD in the first place. I have more problems with Company of Heroes patches then any other game I have on Impulse/ Gamespot.

Please tell I'm doing something wrong and I don't have down load every time I want to install my games???

Keep up the good work!

Edit: Just tested with my Sins of a Solar Empire and it works so doesn't it work with CoH

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ok...how did SaintMina find this?

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 8
ok...how did SaintMina find this?
End of Jafo's quote

Maybe the Pope helped him.

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

It's an old post I missed when I did my Impulse forum cleaning.  He posted before it was hidden.

 

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

ah...OK...

Just so long as he's not strangely spamming like that locked and hidden one gets...;)