h a banner... I see now... oh yeah... that's always been there...

knatzz, If you are having problems with Stardock Central, then please email support@stardock.com

The component manager will not have updates on it as it is being replaced by Stardock Central. We have not been updating the Component Manager itself since we have been developing Stardock Central which works much better than Component Manager.

Please also be aware that the versions of WindowBlinds that you are running are beta if it timed out on you.

Here is some info on getting Stardock Central working:
Please make sure that you are running the most recent version, which is located at: http://storage.stardock.com/files/stardockcentralrc1.exe
Then, close and reopen it to run the auto-update feature to make sure that it is the most current version.

Next, go to Tools>edit Stardock.net account

Make sure that the password field is filled in with the correct password. If it is not filled in, or you are not sure if it is correct, please go to: https://www.wincustomize.com/index.asp?cmd=SENDPW and use the lookup to have your password emailed to you.

Other reasons why it won't login:
1) you are using a different email address than what you registered with.
2) the nick that you are trying to register with is already taken and SDC is giving you an incorrect error.
3) you are using a firewall, proxy or ad blocker that is interfering.
4) you did not complete the email confirmation during the registration process

Thank you,
Angie

I must admit I find it strange to have banners on a corporate site. Not on a service site, that's understandable, somebody has to pay te bill. But on a corporate site? I know a lot of companies do it, but I've always found it weird. I'm still waiting to see an Apple add on the IBM site.

Do I have problems with Stardock Central? Of course I do. Who doesn't? I am quite practiced in how to solve them and expect the problems with alpha and beta programs. The only problem I have there is that component manager no longer works and Stardock Central is still in beta, leaving nothing that is "stable" to use. That's fine. I accept that. The Object Desktop system wouldn't work any other way. I realize and am grateful that I can download the newest versions of these fine products without having to go to a store and buy a CD. This process is invaluable and I am thankful for it. I have been through all the things KarmaGirl layed out in #32 on this thread several times and again have no problem with it. That however, is not the issue at hand, nor is it the reason why I started this thread. Stardock has chosen to use banner ads on their website to increase their revenue. As I said before, that's their prerogative, but I feel it is wrong; it cheapens the entire image of the company and associates their public image with undesirable partners. As a customer, I was deceived by one of the ads. I had no way of knowing that it was a banner; the background color of the banner is white, as is the page on which it is displayed, this is not the case with most of the ads, but is with some of them. That is the issue and that is the problem that needs to be addressed. I hope that Stardock seriously re-thinks their strategy on this matter, and I hope that knowing their loyal supporters are being deceived concerns them. As I said before, some of my comments in this thread are heated and extremely out-of-character. In hindsight, I would have used other methods to address this situation before using a public forum. If I didn’t hold Stardock in such high regard, I wouldn’t have said anything at all.

knatzz, I posted that because it sounded like you are not able to download through Stardock Central. SDC is quite stable now, so you should not be having problems with it. If you are not able to download with it, we need to figure that out since you will need to use it to get the new releases. If you are having problems, please send an error report to: support@stardock.com

As I said before, no problems with SDC, often I experience difficulties logging on and such, but it's nothing I can't solve, and it is getting less frequent day by day. "That however, is not the issue at hand, nor is it the reason why I started this thread. Stardock has chosen to use banner ads on their website to increase their revenue. As I said before, that's their prerogative, but I feel it is wrong; it cheapens the entire image of the company and associates their public image with undesirable partners." I have nothing more to say about this.

Sorry, knatzz, looked like you were having a problem and I just wanted to make sure that it was working for you. You said that you had to download the Component Manager to try to get updates, so that made me think that you were having problems with Stardock Central. Was just trying to be helpful.

And I thankyou, Lady KarmaGirl, it's nice to have helpful people around. Please hold that first and foremost! This thread is out of character for me, I am never this outspoken. But since I have been on this occasion I'd rather have this focus on the Banner ads issue and not turn it into a "problems with SDC" thread. I think we can agree there are enough of those here! I just meant I have said my piece and am done commenting. If it sounded cold or harsh towards any individual, that was not at all my intention. I am doing my best to contructively protest a practice I find very wrong. It is not my intention to offend or attack anyone. I know that some of my earlier posts were very heated, and would have been written more carefully had my mood been better, and I would have used other methods than a public forum first... but I have also stated that in earlier posts. Anyways, this thread is here, and I have said all that I am going to, and apologize to anyone who took me as harsh, I am just very concerned about a company I hold in very high regard.