Malachi2012

Join Date 07/2009

Just downloaded free trial version, but it won't start

Hi there, I just got done downloading and installing the free demo version of DeskScapes, but it's not working. I checked the "Launch DeskScapes Now" button after installation and it didn't do anything. I also can't seem to start it up myself. I've restarted my computer, I've tried reinstalling it, nothing is working. Any thoughts/ideas?

I run Windows Vista Home Premium, btw.

deskscapes

Locked Post

Advanced Search

Watch this post

Do not email me updates for this post Email me updates for this post

Successfully updated karma reason!

CarGuy1

Join Date 03/2007

+548

There are some trouble shooting tips listed here

Are you able to run Aero? Also, What is your Windows experiance score?

Successfully updated karma reason!

Same problem here. Its not working. The demo just doesn't start at all.

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"

Its times like this that remind me why I choose Steam over Impulse for games purchases...

Successfully updated karma reason!

None of those troubleshooting tips worked. I have Dx10, assuming it counts as Dx9 also. I run Windows Vista Home Premium, so I should have the necessary codecs, even though I can't even get to a screen that lets me choose a Dream, so I don't know if they work, as I can't get the program to start.

If by Aero, you mean the glass-like thing that Windows does to the taskbar and stuff, then yes I can.

What's a Windows Experience score?

And just like the above poster, it also tells me that there's an update available but it won't let me update it because it asks for a registration.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Sign Up or Login and this ad disappears!
There are many great features available to you once you register. Sign Up for a free account and browse the forums without ads.

Hey, nevermind I don't need help anymore! I guess there is no program that starts up? I just clicked "Personalize" on my desktop, and clicked "Desktop Background" and it came up with the available demo .dreams, so I just picked one and it works fine! Yay!

This is really cool, I think I might have to buy this =D

Successfully updated karma reason!

Philly0381

Join Date 11/2004

+844

All right then, another problem fixed by the user.

Successfully updated karma reason!

After 5 (!) attempts it finally worked.

Now I have the codec problem, because I have Vista Business x64. Well, at least kind of.

- the box sample, the earth and the water work perfectly

- the watercolor thing only shows a blue background without movement

- the grassy field shows an error message that "The dream may contain an invalid video type or a compatible MPEG-2 video decoder may not be present."

Is this one file indeed broken? Does it use a special codec? How many of the other dreams will work for me?

I am not really sure what I am supposed to do here. I wanted to pick DeskScapes up this weekend, but obviously I won't buy a program that doesn't work for me...

[Edit:]

Just found the mpg file belonging to the grassy field dream and it plays just fine in Windows Media Player. WTF?! Why can't DeskScapes play the video then?

Successfully updated karma reason!

Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1104

Windows Media Player is a 32 bit app on 64 bit Windows Vista 64, however Deskscapes is a 64 bit app and so requires a 64 bit mpeg2 decoder.

Successfully updated karma reason!

Quoting gsspider,

reply 2

Same problem here. Its not working. The demo just doesn't start at all.

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"

Its times like this that remind me why I choose Steam over Impulse for games purchases...

Successfully updated karma reason!

ZubaZ

Join Date 11/2001

+917

Also Impulse tells me that there is an update available, but when I click 'Update' it tells me:

"Your registration for this product is not valid. Would you like to edit your registrations now?"

http://sd.stardock.com/curthendzell/fix_registrations.reg should resolve this.

Successfully updated karma reason!

K-Lite Codec Pack 64bit solved my problem.

[Edit:]

Bought it. Now downloading. 40 minutes, 319kB downloaded oO. There is something really wrong with the download servers (I have a 25MBit line).

[Edit2:]

846kB after 2 hours. If it goes on like this, the download will be finished in about 4 days. A 5GB game would take over a year to download (24/7) with this speed. Did I mention that I prefer Steam over Impulse?! But I guess Stardock will hardly publish their stuff on Steam...

[Edit3:]

3 hours. 1,23MB. I'll keep you posted.

[Edit4:]

4 hours. 1,66MB. I'm starting to HATE Impulse.

[Edit5:]

Download finished. Still, over 4 hours for roughly 50MB is a bit much imo.

Successfully updated karma reason!