I enjoy the game but...

from Stardock Forums
... you know, i am not trying to be a whiner but this while stardock-install-from-archive thing totally bites.

I mean, let's take the pdf manual for example. Is there some esoteric reason that it is not simply a pdf file but rather a zip file that contains a pdf file that cannot be extracted except through the not-quite-so reliable stardock utility.

*sigh*

now i wish that i had simply bought the game at EB instead of the hoop-jumping that fiddling with these archives demands.

sorry to bitch but i'm just irritated at pointless complication
873 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
What's the difference? Once you had the PDF, it's there on your drive to use as you'd like.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
No, if i unzip the .zip file and rename the .pd_ file to .pdf it will not open in acrobat so i am FORCED to use the installer to open it up from the archive but when i try, i get a success message but a search/scan of my harddrive shows no such .pdf exists... SO I then tried to install it directly using stardock but i get an error that i do not have galciv installed on my machine (which may be from the fact that I have installed it from an archive in the first place...

yeesh!! *that* was a run-on sentence! :)
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
i mean... it seems pretty simple to just have a .pdf file as a .pdf file rather then encoding it into a .zip file that requires special handling that even somebody with years of computer experience is finding *very* challenging

(but i do appreciate the help! and still love the game!)
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
You can extract any *.??_ file with the standard windows expander

so expand manual.pd_ manual.pdf will get you the manual. (it's big mind you).

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
... and dammit.... just as i finished typing this message i find that my attempt to install the multimedia portion from archive has also failed

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
FJ - that is *exactly* what i have tried!

and failed...
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Ah ok, sorry. I mostly read the "i unzip the .zip file and rename the .pd_ file to .pdf..."-part and didnt get why you wanted to do that.
I'll read more next time :)

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
well... i tried several approaches to get at the .pdf file and none have worked so far

if i could simply unzip and rename the multimedia files, all would be well since i can tell what the extensions are supposed to be

unexpander here i come...
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
here is the line of death:

Extract File: d:\programs\stardock\temp\Base\Data\UP_Issues\RestrictMods02.UPISSU_
Result: Failed (file not found)
Installation aborted (failed)
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I have heard this from others... Kakupacal you used Archive & Install option right? That seems to download the files and archives them before they are installed.

I have just downloaded the game (Install without archive) and once it is done I can archive the game in SDC. I also checked the archive zip and the files in it were exactly the same as on the harddrive, meaning they don't need to be expanded.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
damn... not mine. downloading straight to archive created these *evil* zip files that contain files that cannot simply be unzipped (or my trouble would be over)

and the kicker is that i have tried to delete and reinstall galciv to get a fresh start on it and now THAT won't install

double argh!
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
I dunno, I installed the PDF and it showed up in my GalCiv game directory as a PDF file. I'm not sure what more there is to it.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm not trying to be difficult.

I am following instructions to the letter and the install is failing each time.

I get no .pdf.

I get no multimedia install.

The only luck i have had is with the basic game install so far.

:(
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
btw, i am working from the "download and archive" version

i did NOT do a direct online install
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, I'd recommend doing a regular install. You could always archive the installed game if you want. (just right-click on the game)

Also...the dl&archive seems to have problems with resuming downloads.

~SDC~
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
We're working on the issues with the download and archive function. Including it not supporting resume. Hope to have at least some of them taken care of later tonight.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
(Hope I'm getting this right)

If you're having problem installing from "download&archive"-zipfiles, just make sure no downloads are running, empty your SDCentral\Temp directory and unpack the zipfile to that directory (make sure you're unzipping with correct paths; if after unzipping the ini file is directly under the Temp-folder, it's OK). Then install the package. Works like a charm for me, it seems the restore funktion is a little dud.

~SDC~
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Heck, I bypassed all that noise and simply walked into an EB store and bought it yesterday. Imagine that. I know...terribly old fashioned, but I've been playing now for two days!