Can't get it to work. Had a registry error. Removed and reloaded Power Desk, downloaded the update; now it is telling me the update engine is not installed. The help menu is also telling me the product has not been authenticated, but don't know how to solve that either.

You should contact our technical support so they can work with you on specifics--can't diagnose this one here. We have not seen this at all in our extensive testing.

There are simply too many issues to support Windows XP x64--it is a mess. Sorry.. we did look at doing so.

Please contact support for a link to the update. 

I am really disappointed with the update patch: on installing, it crashes with a registry error and then hangs. I have had to terminate the program.

I hope it fixed the bug whereby if you try to search for a file it reports an error messagebox and then starts searching - apparently this occurs if Outlook is not installed.

Can someone do an update on the update patch? Having read Edwin Petteys post, I am reluctant to reinstall it from scratch. Why cant we just download the entire program and install it, with the licencing information still valid, like most software updates.

Where can I pick up the patch? I have searched both the SoftCity and Avanquest sites and do not see any link to it.  The only place can find any indication that it even exists is in these last couple of posts here.

At this time the only way to get the patch is through Power Desk. Simply go to Help in Power Desk then select Live Update.

When installing the patch, I too received the invalid registry key error and the updated terminates.  I reinstalled PD8 in repair mode and was then able to install the live patch.  My serial number now shows as not yet authenticated and the Help/Register Powerdesk menu item is grayed out.  Based on past experiences with Avanquest software, when i least expecit it the product will cease to function due to this condition.  Also, based on past experiences with Avanquest, support will claim that no else has reported this problem and they cannot duplicate it on their systems and will offer no help in resolving it.

One of the issues "fixed" with Patch 1 is the failure of PD to terminate which then prevents me from starting the program again.  THIS IS NOT FIXED.  I still have to kill the hung program using Task Manager.  This problem has existed since PD6 and I have never had this issue with any other Windows application.

I will look into the issue related to those having trouble patching. It would be helpful to get the actual invalid registry key error message so we can see what is going on. If we can't reproduce it--we can't fix it.

For those who can't access the update I will ask support to provide a link to the file off of the Avanquest web site.

On the failure to terminate issue--please contact support with reproduce steps. We did make fixes here and I can quit the application just fine and restart it. We will need to know what OS you are on and whatever other information you can provide.

-mark=

Sadly, I did not do a screen cap of the error message.  I want to say the error message was like "Unexpected invalid (or could have been "missing") registry entry" with an error code of "0x5".  There was no indication as to what the actual registry key was.  I am unable to duplicate the error now since I was able to get the live update to work as described.  I assume the error message is coming from the update application, so the developers would have access to the code that generates that error message and should know what is causing this to happen.

To be more specific, the hang upon program close issue is intermittent.  I'll submit a support ticket when it next occurs.

One positive note ... the patch restores the grid lines in the folder tree.  This is good.

I tell ya.. we did a LOT of work on this patch...your installer issues will be found and at least understood.

I will post links later today for those who are having trouble downloading the patch via LiveUpdate.

Mark,

Thanks for your support with PD!

I just had PD hang.  I had been viewing thumbnails of images, but I am unable to now duplicate the hang.  I took screen caps of the task manager.  Where do you want me to send the screen caps?

Gary

One thing you can try for the issue with updating is to simply try un installing and re installing Power Desk it is possible that some files have become corrupted. Use add/remove programs to remove it. Then check the install directory located at C:Program Files\Avanquest\Power Desk just delete the entire Power Desk folder then go ahead and re install. Now run Live Update

Mike,

Could you please clarify what this procedure will do to the license code?  If I have "registered/activated" the product, then uninstall and reinstall, will my license code be rejected by your security server and permanently block the use of PD with that code?  I have had that experience with SystemSuite 9.

Gary

I have had the same issue with a registry error when attempting to install the update patch. There error I'm getting is: 0x5 Invalid Registry Key. I have a screen shot available if you need it. I'm using Win 7 32bit on a Sony VAIO laptop VGN-Z590. I have used Power Desk for many years and look forward to new features. This update problem needs to be seamless.

Oh this is perfect.. would you mind contacting support and emailing the screen shot?

Many thanks for your help!

The message that Bruce Black got re the invalid registry key is the same as the one(s) I got. I have a HP i7 running Win 7 (32 bit). I am very wary of reinstalling PD8 owing to authentication / licencing problems, reported here.

I regularly use Norton SystemWorks to clean the registry. I wonder if PD8 installs some registry key which is then deleted by Norton, thereby causing the patch problem.

Silly question. What is the email address for 'Support'? I tried to use the internal contact method but there is no way to attach a file.

I solved my serial number authentication issue.  After the "repair" install of PD8 that allowed the patch to be applied, the serial number showed as not authenticated.  On the Help|About Powerdesk window, I clicked the "Change Serial Number" button, keyed in the same serial number and submitted that.  The serial number was then authenticated. 

So Gary.. and everyone else.. other than some troubles installing.. what do you think of the patch? :)

As promised here is an article with the download links for PowerDesk Patch as well as the full product. Please note that the full product will still ask you for your serial number.

For any users that are having issues installing the patch, could you please submit a support request. You can do so at the link below. When you submit the request we will need

1. Operating system you are running

2. Screen shot of the error message.

3. If you have run any registry cleaners on the system

http://cafe.softcity.com/company/Avanquest/support

Heya Mark (and Mike).  Thank you so much for the download link!  It is nice to have a full install of 8.2.1.9 in the event a reinstall is required.

I read through the list of issues fixed in Patch 1.  The only issue I've experienced is having PD hang up in memory after close.  That has not been fixed - I've sent a message to support.

I like that you fixed the double thumbnail create.  I'm curious - why do the thumbnails get created from the bottom of the window up when scrolling the file list?

I really like that you added back the folder alignment grid lines in the folder pane.

I am elated that there is finally a forum for PowerDesk and there are company reps that have a stake in the product.

Cheers,

Gary

Dear Company people.

The patch will not install here, on winXP-sp3 .  I first get a message that I need to restart my machine, then  a dialogue box that asks me to point to the directory with the setup file.  Oddly, the box shows the directory with the setup file, but apparently doesn't recognize it. 

When I manually start the setup.exe, I get another dialogue box saying it can't find data2.cab, which is correct.  Only data1.cab shows in explorer or PD

DON'T tell me to file a support ticket.  Your support 'people' don't seem to exist.

From what others say, above, perhaps I am fortunate I cannot install the patch.

Perhaps you did do 'a lot of work' on the patch but it is very obvious that work did not include actual testing in real-world situations.

When you produce a patch that actually works, let us all know.

Please try the following steps to correct the issue.

I would suggest you simply try un installing and re installing Power Desk it is possible that some files have become corrupted. Use add/remove programs to remove it. Then check the install directory located at C:Program Files\Avanquest\Power Desk just delete the entire Power Desk folder then go ahead and re install. Once re installed go to Help in Power Desk and run Live Update.

The patch appears to have done its job. One small knit to pick, though:

The status bars shows the date as mm/dd/yy.

But my settings are

dd/mm/yyyy in Windows 7 HP 64. 

Leif Lagerstedt

For those who have the PowerDesk upgrade issue that has seen the registry key error--would you check to see if this key exists on your system:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Avanquest\PowerDesk

You need to check this right after you get the error. Installing the full version will likely put that key in place.

Appreciate any help.

Mark, I do not have that registry key on my system.  Again, I was able to get the patch to install after doing a "repair" install of full version.  Gary

In my opinion, with limited testing, the fix to Power Desk only fixed half the problems.  It can now open a "zip" file, but when I go to read the txt file, I get an error of file name not found.  I find I have to wait for 3 to 4 fixes to have a completely usable system.

I am Thrilled to have "discovered" this fix, Like many I WAS a powedesk fan from the beginning. If I recall, this is the first patch ever issued!  Very happy to say I installed on my XP laptop and the fix actually fixed something that has really mad me mad! I can now use PD8 to unzip .zip files!!! and PD has not crashed since I installed the fix. (10 minutes) BUT it did require a reboot to install and implement

Everyone,

I am collecting issues for a second patch..  it will be a while as we are working on the localized releases but after that.. Patch #2!

The new engineering team is really getting into the product now and while some of things we want to do will have to wait until  PowerDesk 9 .. we want to go after some usability issues that have been around for a while.

So while I really do I want to hear what you like about his patch--I also would love it if you told me what you would like to see happen short term and long term. I won't make promises here ( don't try to pin me down! ) as there are tradeoffs with all things--I will promise that Avanquest will listen and will take your feedback seriously.

Thanks for the posts!

Mark,

Thanks VERY much for posting the patch via this site.   I'll try it out tomorrow and let you know how it goes.  Also, I will add my vote of thanks for a web site that allows this sort of interaction!

LM

I had a problem with my mouse and could not do valid testing.  Mouse fixed, still same problems.  select a file in a zip and can't read it, error message.  Having problems selecting files with mouse and common keys for multiple selections.  File rename displays the ext, should only display the filename. 

When a file is selected with the left click and the cursor is moved, the selected file is no longer selected.  There is more, too numerous to go into.  I think the update added features, but produced more errors.

I am having the same problem.

So far I have been very pleased with PD8 with this patch. My two major problems i.e. working with zip files and reliably picking up filename and path to paste into another application, both work well.

I am having no PD8 problems at the moment either under XP Pro or Windows 7 Pro.

I realize others may be having problems, but my PD8 problem slate is clear.

Good work!

Some of the problems were cleared up, but I still run into problems when I try to use PD for unzipping.  Sometimes it goes into a loop and then says it has a problem and I either have to close it or nothing in PD is usable.

Another thing that I believed worked in prior PD releases was the ability to select a directory in the left pane and use the PD move or copy.  That feature doesn't work anymore.