Update: WinCustomize/Stardock Downtime

from WinCustomize Forums

Yesterday we performed some server maintenance during which that time many Stardock services were not available.  Situations occurred where this downtime was extended beyond the estimated time and our team were working tirelessly to get everything back up and running.

All sites and services are back.  If you are still seeing any issues like broken images please do a hard refresh on your browser a few times and try again.  If problems persist, please post in this thread only so we can investigate further.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and appreciate your patience.

 

63,655 views 28 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:)

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:thumbsup:

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:thumbsup:

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I did not realize how attached I was to this site until yesterday when I tried to connect and got a 404 error on every page. Was lonely feeling. Glad you got things fixed, and I think, quickly also. Thanks to all who worked so hard. :grin:

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Thanks Stardock, I got the 404 error so I just visited other sites and when I came back you were online again.  Good stuff! =)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Not to complain, since I don't know what the maintenance was for, but the 'search' option is still severely broken. I like to use it when I want to find matching Rainlendars, docks, etc., and it's pretty hit and miss. Sometimes, nothing will come up at all and I use Google to find it, which refers me back to the page on WC where the skin is.

Don't know if you all are aware of this or not or if it is something that just isn't a priority...just thought I'd mention it.

 

 

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

We love you guys!

Also for anyone interested in what we're doing...

 

 

Spoilers...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, it's not very interesting but we're moving our server arrays to SSDs.  The old servers are like circa 2006 hard drives.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 7
Ok, it's not very interesting but we're moving our server arrays to SSDs.  The old servers are like circa 2006 hard drives.
End of Frogboy's quote

That's great and thanks for letting us know the main reason. 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 7
we're moving our server arrays to SSDs.
End of Frogboy's quote

 

5* 5* 5* 5* 5*

 

So, ultimately, this should make the site load faster, etc.?  :-"

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks for all the hard work, guys!!! B)  And just what is an SSD? 

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Solid state driver?

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

great work guys :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

You don't know how much you love something until you lose it.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks guys!! Everything is good again..... :)

 

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 6

Not to complain, since I don't know what the maintenance was for, but the 'search' option is still severely broken. I like to use it when I want to find matching Rainlendars, docks, etc., and it's pretty hit and miss. Sometimes, nothing will come up at all and I use Google to find it, which refers me back to the page on WC where the skin is.

Don't know if you all are aware of this or not or if it is something that just isn't a priority...just thought I'd mention it.

 

 
End of PoSmedley's quote

Yes,the search engine WC has implemented is unusable. The end result is worse than Google's. 

 

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I felt like the world had vanished. Boo hoo... :w00t:

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Gaspershooters, reply 17
Yes,the search engine WC has implemented is unusable. The end result is worse than Google's.
End of Gaspershooters's quote

The old search function was faster, easier to use and yeilded far better results, imho.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What search engine are you referring to?  The skin search has not changed.

 

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The forums search function I used to use to find answers for people. The old way would find old posts that were relevent to my search, the one that it uses now just finds clutter, that I have to wade through to find the correct posts, which is partly why I'm not as helpful as I once was. (That and a lack of time on my part)

 Sorry, I should have been more specific. I rarely use the skin search.

 

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Slacker.... ;P

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 20
What search engine are you referring to?
End of Island's quote

The ability to search for skins.

If you type in skin names like 'Fabre' for instance, it will return 'No results found'.

(*Tried to post image but forums won't let me?)

 

If you Google Fabre Windowblind, you get the link to the WC page it is on.

https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/4626/page/6

 

This tends to happen with older skins, but you would be surprised how many skins done within the past few years this happens with. Not only does the windowblind not come up but it doesn't show the Rainy's, docks, etc. In some cases, you get the windowblind but none of the other matching skins that ARE in the WC gallery.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I agree with Po. I see this all the time, even looking for my own skins.

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 21

The forums search function I used to use to find answers for people. The old way would find old posts that were relevent to my search, the one that it uses now just finds clutter, that I have to wade through to find the correct posts, which is partly why I'm not as helpful as I once was. (That and a lack of time on my part)

 Sorry, I should have been more specific. I rarely use the skin search.

 
End of Wizard1956's quote

The new forum search is much better than the Google one as I extensively tested many search scenarios.  The key is using the menus.