This preview has unfortunately gone back to crashing on the system32 directory (on Windows 7 32bit). 

On the other hand, it's doing a bit better for me when selecting many files.  I was having problems with the last "patch" with PD not responding after selecting a bunch of files.  Before uninstalling the 8319 version I tried selecting all the .jpg files I had in a directory (there were 58 of them.  Powerdesk stopped responding and I had to force close it.  After installing 8414 I immediately went to the same folder and selected everything again, after about 6 seconds Powerdesk was responding again.  So it's still slow, but at least not hanging completely.  I tried both the before and after with filetips and regular icons on, and also with turning filetips off and generic icons on - no differences.

I did make sure to reboot after the uninstall and again after the install.

Mark, it appears that you still have not address the folder color change bug. It is still not working correctly as I mentioned in the Patch 2 Feedback. Are you planning on fixing it or are you just going to ignore it?

Thanks for the reports....

It is odd that the crashing on windows\system32 is back. Clearly we will fix.

On the speed issue for image preview rendering glad that it is not crashing anymore. The thumbnail preview speed issue is something we are working on but not for Patch 3 (though some of the other improvements may have helped the speed you are seeing now)

On the color folder problem--not ignoring that. I have asked the product manager to investigate as we have made color fixes already in Patch 1. He may contact you to discuss this in detail.

No it was not that image preview/thumbnails was slow, the directory was showing in List view with no preview at all - just happened to be a list of jpgs.  Same thing happens in a directory filled with mostly pdfs.  When I select a bunch of stuff, some kind of processing starts happening that I have to wait several seconds to get control back.   I can see my harddrive light flickering like crazy. I selected 129 files and now I've typed this reply and my harddrive is still going and I still have no control of Powerdesk, I'll have to force close it.

Slow copying, deleting of files and then SLOW emptying of recycle bin.

I can't believe no one else is experiencing this problem.

I figured I'd give the newest patch another try. Installed it, shut down the PDHookserver and then selected a number of DNG and PDF files, about 600MB. copied them to another hard drive in my system then selected then and hit the delete key and a dialog box popped up saying 4 to 5 items being deleted a second. Once that was done I right clicked on the recycle bin and selected Empty the RB. Again a dialog box popped up say 4-5 items being deleted. Once that was done I immediately uninstalled PD 8. Once that was done and I had rebooted I selected those same files, copied them to that same other hard drive,, selected them and hit the delete key. They were gone in less then a second. Right clicked on the RB and selected empty. BAM the files were gone.

Also when doing the copy with PD installed I got 20-30MB a second being copied. With PD uninstalled I get 120 +/- MB a second when copying files.

What in PD is locking my computer up.

I'm done, Good By.

Makr,

Thanks for the follow up. Brian has sent me an email requesting more information. I have sent back more info. Hope it helps and am available if more is needed.

Mark,

I decided, because of some of the problems we've been having, to start with a clean install.  I uninstalled the last roll-out and then installed Patch 3.

To start with a clean install, I deleted the PD folder after I uninstalled and rebooted, this is what I found:

The following files were still locked and would not delete the conventional way:

* MXPM.dll

* PDShExt.dll

* stlport.5.2.dll

I forcibly removed these DLLs, removed all references in the registry (that were safe to manually remove) and ran a registry scan.

I had no problems removing any PD associated files or folders in my TEMP directory.

Up to this point, sometimes, as before, my toolbar and taskbar customizations would not display, I got the default (which is one of the reasons I wanted a clean install).  I removed all .STG files and all other PD files and folders from the HD.

I rebooted and then installed PD 8.4.1.4.  Had no problems.  Rebooted my system.

Ran PD.

My welcome dialog box was empty.  Shut down PD and restarted; the welcome box then displayed fine.

Proceeded to re-customize PD to my standard settings.

Colors are fine and it seems to launch and run faster.

PDesk still does not display in my taskbar (but, this is a problem I will tackle, as it seems to be just my system - I wanted to try a fresh install first and figured I'd wait for the latest patch).

PROBLEM

When I customize my toolbar, the changes do not stick - again.  If I choose the "Save Settings Now" option, my customization is lost.  If I choose "Save Settings on Exit," my customization is persistent.

Troy - I fell your pain. My (ctrl+5) toolbar customizations will not stick either. Interesting though, I discovered if I import the setting from my laptop which is running PD7 the customized settings stick. The settings are the same as my laptop PD7, but for now, thats OK with me. I also noticed the the long wait while selecting an entire directory, exactly the same, as Anthony Schellenberg mentioned above.

Further testing/use:

When deleting a file or folder, the force refresh does not always work, I must do a manual refresh.  This appears to happen only when there are not enough files for the "Deleting Files" notification box to appear; when this box does appear, the automatic refresh takes place.

Launchbar loosing customization:  When I customize the launchbar and choose "Save Settings Now" the programs that I've added since the last time I exited with "Save Settings on Exit" are sometimes lost.  Have to use the "Save Settings on Exit" method to make the changes stick.

Guys.. fear not.. we'll get to the bottom of all of this :)

Quote Troy:

When deleting a file or folder, the force refresh does not always work, I must do a manual refresh.  This appears to happen only when there are not enough files for the "Deleting Files" notification box to appear; when this box does appear, the automatic refresh takes place.

End Quote:

This is what I am talking about. That "Deleting Files" notification box should never appear.

On XP with either PD 7 or 8 no matter how many files or the size of the files or the total size of all the files I do not get any notification box. On Win 7 64bit without PD8 installed I get NO notification box. With PD 8 installed I get a notification with any amount of files (maybe with only one or two of moderate size I don't get a box).

This is a BIG problem that has not bee addresses and needs to be.

PD is hooking up something in the system slowing down deletion and then slowing down emptying of the recycle bin.

I am not running any anti virus software and the only other utility I have on my system, other then what is built into Win 7, is Perfectdisk 11 and that is not running.

When deleting files and then emptying the recycle bin each file has a $ (dollar sign) in front of the name and the name is truncated. PD is doing something to these files as they get put into the recycle bin and then again at the time of emptying.

PD 8.4.1.4

I did the Select-All test and it was really slow. Then I tried selecting the first file, pressing SHIFT and pressing down-arrow without releasing it and PD select 9 or 10 files and stop, then continue for 8 to 10 more files and stop, again and again and again. There is something in the selecting files process that is slowing down the whole thing. I assume that when a folder is open, PD8 will have the information of the whole folder in memory (Windows Explorer is really fast with same test). 

I think somebody did test on folders using a small number of files and never realize something was slowing down so system. It feels that something is being re-done for every file and is taking too much time.

I don't to too many Select-All so it doesn't bother me but it doesn't feel right.

Fernando,

I have confirmed this on my machine.  Selecting All with 426 objects in the folder took about 30 seconds.  Then I tried to exit with the objects selected and PD wouldn't close.  Thinking I had missed the close button, I clicked on it again - I then got a "Program Not Responding" dialog box.

Troy,

agree, I selected around 700 files and select a folder with maybe 7 files.  It took a long time (will give the impression that you have to end-task) but it finally did it. 

It seems to be verifying things for no reason, since it was suppose to clear the cache information from the bigger folder in 0.1 seconds and jump to the new folder with just 7 files. But it didn't.  Somebody did tests in folders with just a few files and never noticed a problem of course. Debugging is needed here.

Just a thought but, did anyone try selecting and deleting in safe mode to see if the problem exists there also? Maybe something else is running in the background that is causing the slowness.

Quote from Greg:

Just a thought but, did anyone try selecting and deleting in safe mode to see if the problem exists there also? Maybe something else is running in the background that is causing the slowness.

End Quote:

I'd say it is the same thing that is slowing down deleting files and emptying the recycle bin when use PD8 on Windows 7 64bit.

I'm a long time user of PD, since the Mijenix days. Two problems I am still having are:

Using build 3 of the current patch update, 8.4.1.4, I tried moving 6 or 8 files to different folders (1 at a time) using the move button and PD 8 crashed (Had an error and needed to close, I think it said).

Clicking on an .mp3 or .txt  or .csv or .jpg file to open it runs my other file manager instead of the default program these are supposed to open with.

Win 7, Home Premium, 64 bit

Well, it looks like PD8 stills needs quite a bit of fine tuning, but at least I've seen some strides in rectifying some of the more glaring problems and for the most part it is getting back to being the essential software program any computer should have, however I did notice something of a new bug in the PD8 Patch 3 version that didn't seem to be occupying in any of the previous incarnations, When you create a subdirectory, PD8 automatically puts you in that subdirectory....quite annoying, I create a lot of sub-directories in my system, in order to compartmentalize a lot of various jobs/projects that I do. Creating a subdirectory and having to get back out of seems quite weird, it's usually the other way around. Please look into this annoyance

Thanks and keep the patches coming, I think were in for several more judging by the number of feedback messages I've read, at least they are getting down to specific problems instead of the barrage of messages expressing user's overall disappointment with the product.

Alan,

I learn that the extraction of a ZIP file has different results. In my case using the shortcut on the toolbar or the Shortcut CTRL-E cause everything in the target folder to be erase (lost  25GB) of information.

I just tried what you just said and it was true: I ended inside the folder.

Then I tried right-clicking, then PowerDesk, then New Folder and I remain in the original folder.

Then I check for the Shortcut and there is one:  INSERT.  I tried it and it work the same way. I remain on my original folder. You could use this INSERT because is even faster than using the Toolbar menu.

Of course the ideal situation is that the 3 options available will do the same thing.

One thing I am trying to understand.. the build I posted made no changes to performance (at least on purpose) so I am not sure why the focus is on this for this build. Is there a big difference in performance in this build vs. Patch 2 that we just released?

other than the selection of all the files on one folder, I didn't notice any performance issue. But because of this I wonder if it has something to do to the fact that sometimes it slows down when moving between folders. Is not as bad as before so I'm not complaining about that. But maybe the 2 are related. Something like this is just a symptom of maybe a bigger problem.  But I have the feeling that by debugging the process that reads information from a folder the performance can be highly increase. Why will PD8 slow down every 7 or 9 files when trying to make a big selection using the SHIFT key? It bothers me but I love PD8 so I'm not going to stop using it.

But is 8.4.1.4 a step back or foward from Patch 2?

Since development moved on Patch 3 before Patch 2 was in release there may be some bug fixes that need to be migrated to the Patch 3 release. We are doing some work here to insure that we are not taking a step back. I am concerned I am hearng about settings not sticking again, etc.

We have a new build we are going to test in house. I may release that build to this group. That will be he last release for the next couple of weeks.

From Mark:

One thing I am trying to understand.. the build I posted made no changes to performance (at least on purpose) so I am not sure why the focus is on this for this build. Is there a big difference in performance in this build vs. Patch 2 that we just released?

Not that I can see, The slow deleting of files and emptying the recycle bin has been that same for me from the start of using PD8 8.2.1.9. Also the slow selection but that never bothered me that much. Even when I was running tests of the delete problem I would only select 30-40 files of from 3-60MB (JPG's RAW image files and Photoshop PSD files).

Funny how this has come up though. And that the company reresentive is trying to steer the topic away for this flaw in PD8.

Understand that as more people test PD 8 they are finding many more flaws in the program. Flaws that have always been there. The program is unusable for me for just the reasons I have stated many times. Forget about the rest of the flaws/bugs. This program is just slow to do almost anything.

Really I have 3 licenses for PD8 and can only use it on one PC which is running XP Pro. And even then I turn to some other file manager. I still use the sync and find programs but stay away from doing any file management with PD 8.

So yes Avanquest has my money but they will not see any of it for PD 9 if it's anything like PD 8.

I noticed that when I add EXTRACT icon to the Toolbar, it doesn't work anymore. That's good since that was not working properly. I setup shortcut CTRL-E for the Extract operation and that didn't work. Another good thing since they were not working properly.  Now I use the right-click menu and I'm happy with that.

In my case I'm using PD8 constantly these days and I can't find any issue with normal operations.

I highly recommend it.   I like that we have Mark Manes trying to fix the problems. Microsoft has a website but sometimes I can't find solutions for simple problems. I'm not going to ask Mark to mortgage his house to solve problems that 0.0001% of people are having. For years I was looking for PD updates here and there and there was no news. Now I see the effort and gives me peace of mind that is just a matter of time until PD satisfies everybody.

Mark,

   I did some testing for the Selecting the files using the SHIFT and DOWN-ARROW keys.  Process is ok when selecting 10 files but the more files you select the more time it takes. Folder has 466 files.

When adding one more file after selecting 200 files was around around 15 sec.

When adding one more file after selecting 400 files it was taking around 30 sec.

It seems that somebody included a REFRESHING operation in an inner loop, just to be sure (???).

If I call the menu with one file selected takes no time.

If I call the menu with 20 files it will take several seconds.

I just noticed my hard disk C: working while adding file by file to my file selection. For each addition the hard disk works quite a few seconds even though I'm selecting files on an external hard disk.

I think there is a waste of time inside PD8 normal process, noticeable only when working with big groups of selected files.... I'll try to find the file causing this.... brb

Mark, I found the file being updated constantly:

        C:\Documents and Settings\Fernando\Application Data\avanquest\PowerDesk.stg

when I moved from one folder to another folder it didn't cause an update.

As soon as I selected one file the time-stamp change of PowerDesk.stg  changed.

I am not trying to sweep anything away.. I am trying to see where we are on the things we changed for this release.

I am always collecting information about what cusotmers want/need for the next releases. PD 9 represents a LOT of infrastructure work related to performance. I have discussed this topic in other threads.. we intend to rip the engines apart and rebuild them again using a modern design. This takes more effort than what we can do in a patch.

I am trying to discern here if we took a step back with 8.4.1.4 if we didn't.. that is good. This means we continue forward with this update.

OK  Mark... I promise I'll be patient  :)  

your post tells me that the problem I was posting (selecting files) about will be fix.

thanks

Mark,

IMHO, you are beginning to get a handle on the glaringly obvious bugs in PD8.  Because of this, people are starting to turn their attention to other, more subtle (but just as important) problems.  One of these problems is performance.

EDITED

Bumped for my own reasons - the mood I was in and because, though I do still feel this way about Avanquest, these comments were not fair to Mark.  He is trying his best and deserves gratitude, not derision.

Mark (and Doug), my apologizes.

ENOUGH!! The purpose of this page on the Forum is to help Avanquest to identify bugs in PowerDesk. If you think you have found a bug, post it here, with as much pertinent information as you can. Bugs are relatively easy to fix, once they have been identified. The problem is the chain reaction that a fix can cause. There comes a time in every program that it is no longer practical to keep fixing it. At that point you just have to start over and re-write the whole thing. This is where PowerDesk is it.

If you can help find a bug, that’s terrific! If you want to complain about their business practices, do it on another page in the Forum. My guess is that if DirectoryOpus or any other file manager was that much better, you wouldn’t be here.

Mark,  the performance issues was fix when I reboot my PC.  ???

Larry, agree 100% with you.

Troy, open a new Topic title "complains".

Sorry if I offended you, but I am making my opinion known in direct response to a comment Mark made as a solution to current PD8 problems, and I will continue to do so.

EDITED

Bumped for the same reasons given above and to keep the peace.

Hello everyone :)

I am glad we are getting to the more subtle bugs. I am also glad to see that no one sees patch 3 as a step back. I am sure my product manager will breathe a sigh of relief. :)

On the PD 8 vs. PD 9. I am not going to ask you to trust me at all. What we are going to do instead is let you play with a time based public beta for PD9. I intend to get you addicted to it and then ask you to pay for the upgrade and of course I intend to have your feedback right here.. good.. bad.. rants and all. :) 

We have other good news that you'll be pleased about regarding PD 9 and licensing. I'll save that for later.

 Thanks everyone.

Mark,

Thank you.  I look forward to helping and I am encouraged with the progress to date.  Also, thank you for putting my fears to rest, once again.  I do apologize (to you, personally; I know you are doing your best) if I came off to strong in my interpretation of one of your posts.

I was going to quote Larry Folts, Enough of what.

But then decided why bother. In the past 4+ weeks, since I found out it was PD 8 on Windows 7 64bit that was causing the slow deletion of files and the slow emptying of the recycle bin (along with some crashes of the program when doing normal tasks you do in a file management program) I have looked at many other file management programs. Just about every one out there. PD was a great program at onwe time, not so anymore.

I have settled on Explorer++ as my main file management program with XYplorer as the second runner up, I'm just about to buy XYplorer. Looked at and used Directory Opus a couple of times. Used Xplorer2 and a host of others.

I really wish PD 8 was a good program. like it use to be with V4-5-6 and some times with V7 (depending on what you wanted to do with it), but it isn't. I still use the Sync program and the file finder (if I'm not to picky about what files it will find and what it won't) because I am use to those for many years and other then Sync in PD 7 crashing on me for no good reason many times, they have worked to do what I need them to do. Luckily these 2 programs do not need the full PD to be installed for them to work. Since I own 3 copies of PD 8, 2 copies of PD 7 and 2 of 6 and 5 I see not reason to stop using them.

But I will look long and hard at any new version of PD before I think about buying it.

Sorry if this offends anyone, to bad. I am offended by this program.

Oh and it is complaints, NOT complains.

About Explorer ++:

-you can't see 2 folders at the same time. you can only work with TABS.

-you can't see the contents of a ZIP file as a Folder

-you can't display on the right side only the Files, leaving folders on the left side. I think this is great.

-Explorer++ doesn't remember the sort I want (descending by date).

-The 'set file attributes' is more practical in PD.

-The can customize the toolbar on PD8 much more than Explorer ++.

So I have no 'complains' about PD8. Unless you don't use a file manager that much, you won't care about the differences. I do.

v8.4.1.4 WinXP 32-bit.

Mark,

I just ran a test before and after upgrading from v8.3.1.9 to v8.4.1.4 and I don't see any performance change. That being said, both versions run well on this machine. I have 2 other similar machines (WinXP 32-bit) and only one of them has the slow update issue that is being mentioned a lot above. So it appears to me that the problem is most likely a clash with some other application or something like that. That machine that is slow to respond: (1) slow showing files / folders on start up; (2) slow starting to delete files; (3) slow showing files when there is a significant number of them in the directory. It has the same basic setup as the other 2 WinXP machines I have (auto Windows updates / Norton Internet Security & AV / FixIt Utilities 11), but is primarily a multimedia machine used to create DVD and Blu-Ray instructional media.

One other item I noticed: there are 2 instances of the PowerDesk.stg file. I made certain all instances were deleted before installing v8.4.1.4. One is located in Program Files\Avanquest\PowerDesk while the other [larger in size] is located at Documents and Settings\[user name]\Applications data\Avanquest\PowerDesk. In v8.3.1.9, the one in Docs and Settings updated when PowerDesk closed and the one in Program Files updated when PowerDesk started up. I did not see them update at any other time. In v8.4.1.4, both files update when PowerDesk is started up, but only the Docs and Settings one updates when PowerDesk closes.

You are still placing run dll's in the TEMP directory. Could they switch that to at least point to the SAME files that Fix-It Utilities creates? Fix-It places them in the TEMP root while PowerDesk creates a subdirectory (PowerDeskA) to put them in. Really, they should go to Program Files\Common Files\Avanquest where people won't attempt to bother them.

Mark,

I am asking engineering about the DLL in the temp folder issue you raise. I find it odd as well.

Mark,

Sorry, but I couldn't find the info again - probably if it were a snake, it would have bit me....

Did you say you were consolidating the fixed parts of the last two patches into the next patch rollout?

The latest patch (preview I called it) has all changes in it since the release of PD 8

A long time PD user.

Since the fix in 6 for 7 and all of 8, one issue is that too often when
I tried clicking once PD icon it would try to start 2 instances - had to
END PROCESS on one and often both and re-try. This was very
frequent. Speed was fine.

Sometimes the COMPRESSED file ICON would change to generic for NO
obvious reason. Occassionally when entering a folder or clicking on ZIP files
PD would crash.

Was using 8.2.1.9 from an Uninstall and then Full Install - ran the Updater -
it showed two updates - one was older 8.0 and one was newer 8.3 however
you could check BOTH or NEITHER but not one. Tried both and after
downloading they would not install.

Uninstalled - then installed 8.4.1.4 which seemed to install fine. Issue now
is it is slow as molasses in starting up (still will try start two instances which
lock up and TaskManager has to be used to end process) and equally slow
navigating around drives and folders. Virtually unusable. Everything in PD is
very very very slow. This Vista 32 system has no other issues.

Going back to 8.2.1.9 and hope the next release is better.

Quote from Mark Manes, Jan 21:

>>> We are not seeing any performance issues like this Gary -- going through the same folders on my system (which may be more updated than yours) I get good speeds. Doing performance work is not in scope for this patch. That is engine oriented work which will be done for PowerDesk 9. We intend to rewrite the engine to be multithreaded which will do wonders for speed.   <<<<<

I simply cannot be still any longer.  I have followed these last two threads, hoping for some 'light at the end of the tunnel', but alas, it's still dark.  v8.4.1.4 is still SLOW.  Is it not apparent from all of the comments, that this is still a major issue?  You play it off that you will fix all that in v9.  Well, I got news for you, we all bought v8 hoping it was going to solve the problems in v7, but v6 actually works better than either of the TWO successive versions, and it's not even "Win7 compatible"!  If this was a car I had purchased, I'd be getting it replaced under the "lemon law" statute. 

But instead you claim you'll get us addicted to v9 so we will have to buy it, after you've used all of us to beat it up for you and find the flaws.  You ought to be providing a free v9 to all those that want to participate.  I just want my v8 to work correctly; is that too much to ask?  To all of those that think we're being too hard on Mark & Avanquest... they are doing what any respectable company should already be doing, if they want repeat business; so enough of the "enough already" crap.  Explain to me why we should have to deal with all of these issues with v8, just to be pickpocketed again on v9; because that sounds like it's the only way we're going to get some of our speed issues resolved.  MS did it with Vista and now it looks as though Avanquest is doing it with PD8.  It boggles my mind how companies can think that is considered 'taking care of their customer', but I guess if it works for you, have at it.

Boxtop.... you just left a nasty comment in another thread under the user name Scott Glasgow 4 minutes ago saying almost the same horrible things so I will repeat my comment again.

obviously Boxtop works for a Software company competing with PowerDesk and he wants to leave a nasty message to dissuade probably users. 

I'm a long time user of PD and it is way superior to many other software I tried before.

PD8 is being tested and it keeps improving thanks to feedback in places like this one.

Well, Fernando, it's "probable users", not 'probably users'.  And I am NOT, I repeat, NOT, Scott Glasgow, and I do NOT work for a software company.  Be careful about making accusations like that.

You make my case very well though, and that is, we, meaning many of us, are continuing to have major issues with PD8 - I'm glad you made that connection.  Others have the same problems, therefore, they post.  Isn't that the way this is supposed to work?

The way you write on this forum, I would swear you are employed by Avanquest or Mark, or a plant.  No one in their right mind can unequivocally say that PD8 is the product is should be, or was marketed to us to be.

Your last sentence says it all - that "PD8 is being tested..."  You don't test a product that has already been released - you test beta products.  I would have to agree with you that PD8 acts like a beta product and therefore needs to be tested - however, customers are usually not expected to pay for beta versions of software!  I, too have been a long time PD user, Fernando; but no more...

I just uninstalled 8.4.1.4 which was SLOW as I reported above. After
the uninstall and reboot I used the computer a while to ensure it ran
as it should and there were no speed issues. Then I installed 8.2.1.9
and the speed is fine, as it was before trying 8.4.1.4. So the issue has
to be 8.4.1.4.

One point of note is I now ran LiveUpdate and it shows two updates
available which are 8.000 to 8.001  and  8.001 to 8.300 and I can
select them  individually which I could not do before. I should not
need the 8.001 though I do need at least some of the 8.300 so I
plan to wait a while before I try the latter update, Frankly, I am
concerned I might have to uninstall it and re-install 8.2.1.9 again.

I have recommeded PD many times over the years and will continue
to do so. As a Microsoft MVP, I have no issues with AvanQuest or PD
and only want the best quality program which I have grown very
accustom to using.

As with any complex program there can be some issues which one
can put up with while hoping for updates to fix those issues however
being slow as molasses is not one of them. Please fix the speed
issues in 8.4.1.4.

Thanks,

Rob

Edited to show 8.4.1.4 as should have been indicated.

OOPs, just realized I said 8.3.1.4 a few times,,,,,,

The Speed Issue is in 8.4.1.4  - sorry for the confusion.

I have NOT tried 8.3.1.9 and am back to running 8.2.1.9.

Finally noticed the EDIT button so corrected the reply.

Qutoe Fernando:

Boxtop.... you just left a nasty comment in another thread under the user name Scott Glasgow 4 minutes ago saying almost the same horrible things so I will repeat my comment again.

obviously Boxtop works for a Software company competing with PowerDesk and he wants to leave a nasty message to dissuade probably users. 

I'm a long time user of PD and it is way superior to many other software I tried before.

PD8 is being tested and it keeps improving thanks to feedback in places like this one.

End Quote:

What are you a shill for Avanquest?

Your persoanl comments to me and other is just over the top. I have never said a bad word about you, until now, and kept my posts to problems I am seeing with PD8.

Your comments about PD are worthless. If you had ever used some of the older versions you would never think version 8 was any good. But yet you post how good the program is. It IS NOT. It Is a POS and Avanquest knows this. Otherwise why would they be pumping out patches. Patches are usually released to increase speed and add functions. These patches that are being released for PD8 are to maybe make the program usable, which they haven't IMHO.

So please keep your personal comments about me and other posters on this forum to yourself.

Ed

I'm using PD8 at home and at my office. I like the product and I won't just come here to read overwhelming negative comments that other users will read and maybe thing that PD8 is the worst program on Earth without me trying to "compensate" the dribble. So there you go. I'm just a happy user.

I had issues with PD8 too until I learn how to get around the problems. I lost 28GB of data at my office. Lucky me I had backup at home. I should be mad too. But I still like the product. I used it a lot, and I mean it.

Just trying to keep things in balance. I'll stop posting "personal comments" when others stop posting "the end of the World because of PD8" comments.

Well after reverting to 8.2.1.9 I ran both the LiveUPdate Offers
and now have 8.3.1.9 which is not as responsive as 8.2.1.9 yet
a lot faster than 8.4.1.4 which was unusable.

One issue now it is keeps nagging me to Register which I OK and
it takes me to a web page to fill out my information and then it
says SERVER BUSY try later.

That is a nuisance. Anyone have an idea how to get it to stop the nag? A little
Registry work may be needed.

Rob,

you might want to wait for daylight.  I'm assuming you are in the US. Some servers don't work at night (can't understand that but it happens with my TV website). Don't go crazy.

Well now since I can't register the program it will not even run,
just closes after I get the SERVER BUSY try later message. :(

Made no changes as yet.

I noticed that this forum has succumbed to some personal attacks between users of this product, Flamejobs don't solve the problems that this program obviously has.

Identification of what problems exist and the interaction from both the users and Avanquest will hopefully solve what issues need resolving.

So here is where I see us now, we've all went and bought this program at one stage or another because we all felt that this program would solve are File Management needs, and for the longest time it did, I for one have been using it since PD4, when I decided to leave Norton Commander behind and move on.

I as well as other users find this an awesome product, but as of late I too have been very disappointed and criticized this product for not only it's problems but for Avanquest's lack of timely support. Just because we've had a flurry of patches show up in such a short time, does not excuse Avanquest for releasing an greatly flawed piece of software in the first place.

Now however I find it even more insulting that I keep reading in this forum about PD9 as being the next evolution of this software even before they have not gotten PD8 fixed. Here's a Hint: Upgrading a lemon still leaves you with a lemon.

When I was working with PD7 under Win7, I had no difficulties, but I was conned into paying for PD8 because I was led to believe such an upgrade would maintain stability with Win7. This has not been the case and Avanquest has been and still is being held accountable for releasing such a poor product as PD8 as seen by both the mood and the amount of criticism left in various forums on this site.

They are now however trying to fix the product with some degree of success, but as more and more bugs keep showing up, I'm reading and seeing a pattern of negative consumer confidence that this is the right product for they're needs.

As the old saying goes "Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me", I don't intend to be fooled by promises of better things to come with PD9.

And to put in another anecdote, just to stress the point of being insulted, It's just like Orson Welles use to say when he promoted the product for Paul Masson wines “We will sell no wine before its time.”, you've already sold us the "vinegar" with PD8, So stop insulting us with thoughts and promises (and another cash grab) for PD9 and prove to us that you can fix PD8, then will talk.

Sorry for Ranting...but I am Canadian....notice I said sorry..... :)

PS...In the meantime keep the patches coming, you might never know one day, it might all work out.

"I did notice something of a new bug in the PD8 Patch 3 version 8.4.1.4 that didn't seem to be occupying in any of the previous incarnations, When you create a subdirectory, PD8 automatically puts you in that subdirectory....quite annoying,"

I made this statement earlier and in general stick by it, however I did have use for this new feature in one particular project the other day, but most of the time I still find it quite annoying especially when I often sit down and create multiple sub-directories at one session. So I'm going to retract my statement that it is a bug for the moment, however I think it should be set up as an option, whether you want to be put in the subdirectory upon creation or not. More options not less would create the best of both worlds.

I just upgraded to PD 8.4.1.4 and I noticed a minor bug with the Extract menu Item.

I am on a Window 7 64 bit system. When I highlight a Zip file in the File Manager  window intending to do an extract, and click on the Archive Menu item, then Extract on the drop down, I get the Convert Picture Dialog Box not the Extract Dialog Box that I expected. The EXTRACT using the mouse right click works fine. The only problem is with the menu item.

Alan Whitley wrote: "I did notice something of a new bug in the PD8 Patch 3 version that didn't seem to be occupying in any of the previous incarnations, When you create a subdirectory, PD8 automatically puts you in that subdirectory....quite annoying,"

Confirmed and agree; very undesirable.

Well I went back to 8.2.1.9 and today the Registration finally was
able to connect to the server. However the HELP - ABOUT shows
"This product installation has not yet been authenticated" though
the Register PowerDesk option is grayed out.

LiveUpdate shows the 8-8.001 and the 8.001-8.300 updates available again.

"Mark Manes"

"I am trying to discern here if we took a step back with 8.4.1.4 if we didn't.. that is good. This means we continue forward with this update."

Sorry Mark but you not only took a step back but your pants fell down as well .... 8.4.1.4 is still problematic, it's regressed as far back as I can see...don't even think about PD9.

I just sat down to work on a project right now and I've noticed a very nasty bug with PD8, It seems PD8 is now resizing the viewer windows every time you switch directories. I usually want to see the "Details view" as "Ext, Size, Type, Date Modified, Time, Attr". I align these fields in both windows (dual pane) so I have consistency on what I'm looking at (ie Makes it easier to read). But now PD8 changes the field size every time I switch directories....what the H.E. Double Hockey Sticks is going on.

Do you think were just blindly going to go where you want us, I thought we fixed these basics... You've not only regressed, but why should we believe you've got a better product with PD9 when your so called engineers can't even fix the basics in PD8.

I love Powerdesk but every time a new patch comes out it seems while it may look like it's taken two steps forward, in reality it's going backwards.

PS... Thoroughly Disgusted at this point....get your act together as a respected company or that won't last.

This program and Avanquest as a whole is one buggy, flawed, program and software vendor.

Just how can you install version 8.1/2/whatever.x.x and check for updates and be offered version 8.000 to 8.001.

Doesn't anyone at Avanquest get it yet. TAKE THIS UPDATE DOWN.

About the only reason for them to offer this update at all is if there is no patch from version 8.0 to any newer update and then only for people that actually bought the software at version 8.0 and never updated it.

PD was inherited from others, it was not written by Mark's team.  Trying to fix someone else's code is a daunting task.  They are trying, and I must agree, the results have not been promising.  I too have lost faith with Avanquest, but I do respect Mark's efforts in working with us.  I have faith in Mark and Doug.

Of course I want to see PD8 working, just like all of us do, and it is hard to be forgiving, especially as we've already paid for the software.  They are aware of this and the last thing they want is to loose loyal customers.

With that said, I am looking forward to testing PD9 when it is ready.  This project is Mark's and the engine is rewritten; there should be no excuses.  To me, PD9 will make or break them, not these PD8 problems.  With PD9 these constant patches and reoccurring bugs should be a thing of the past and PD should be back on course; it is their own child, not a spaghetti patchwork of outdated code.  I am willing to give them this chance because I have used PD for years, and I know it can be a great program, once again.  That is the main reason this forum is here and there are always growing pains when a major project is undertaken; it's just not fun to put up with it.

"Troy Dalton"

"PD was inherited from others, it was not written by Mark's team.  Trying to fix someone else's code is a daunting task. They are trying, and I must agree, the results have not been promising." and "This project is Mark's and the engine is rewritten; there should be no excuses.  To me, PD9 will make or break them, not these PD8 problems. "

I hope your right about PD9, but the way Avanquest promoted PD8 as a Win7 compatible product that had new features and then went out and sold such an obviously flawed product, personally speaks to us a cash grab and has left myself and other users cynical, and personally I don't want to feel that way about the one program that must be on my system.

Avanquest will have to go along way to prove themselves, since it is they're engineers releasing these patches and as Mark Manes said before "I am trying to discern here if we took a step back with 8.4.1.4"

Well as I said earlier "Sorry Mark but you not only took a step back but your pants fell down as well", since even to me, having a patch that changes fundamentally the way the screens are viewed or having the program react differently (Creating Sub-directories) than what it has before, shows that the program has a problem that is visually quite obvious.

I've got to believe that the engineers must be only looking at the code and not even bothering to work with the program itself, not to visually see these fundamental changes and go ahead and still release the patch, or even worse, they are indifferent about sending out another patch (8.4.1.4) with obviously newer bugs in it.

What will they do with PD9 if this speaks to level of quality control and the pride of how they take care of their product?

We will all see what will happen from here. I'm sorry Mark, yourself and Avanquest are now under a microscope and you can't hide behind your previous laurels and accolades. I think PD9 (which is obviously coming down the road) will undoubtedly be the most scrutinized product that Avanquest has ever released. Be prepared for what you do or don't do from now on since it will determine the fate of Powerdesk and maybe even Avanquest.

So in the meantime I've went back to 8.3.1.9, for now, it at least doesn't have the constantly changing windows and weird reactions.

Sorry for the rant again....that will hopefully be the last this weekend, since I went back to the previous version.

PS - Since I went back to the previous version and did the uninstall and reinstall as instructed, the program has asked me to register it again...is this necessary every time I update?

I'musing 8.4.1.4 since the patch came out and I'm not having any problem so far. Performance could be better but I read the program will be re-written so I guess is a matter of time.

Alan,

I could not duplicate the columns changing size problem you were having - was that a fresh install?  This actually happened to me awhile back, with version 6 or 7 (but, I forget how I corrected it).

Do you find 8.3.1.9 worth going back to?  I beginning to think I should go back as well - the performance hit just seems too drastic in 8.4.1.4 for me.

Troy Dalton

"I could not duplicate the columns changing size problem you were having - was that a fresh install?  This actually happened to me awhile back, with version 6 or 7 (but, I forget how I corrected it)."

It was a recent installation, that I didn't have a chance to see all of what it could do, all of my setting were the same as previous installs except 8.4.1.4 performed fundamentally different, So I decided to go back to 8.3.1.9 and voila (No constantly changing view, no opening of sub-directories after creating them), it works fine except for the bugs inherent to it's own release.

Speed is still an issue but not as dramatic as 8.4.1.4., I've noticed quite a delay in not only starting the program but also in opening sub-directories that have a lot of files in them, I never seemed to have noticed that in previous versions, but that may be just me and the fact that I'm very critical of the product right now, since it is one on the few programs I care deeply about and that it is an absolute must that I have it on my system.

For anyone that wants to block PD from going out to the net for whatever reason. The program tries to logon to 217.195.25.72, a RIPE address. I assume to check the license status. All you need to do is block outgoing connections to that address. Easily done if you have a good firewall router like the one I have. I have opened and closed the program many times, yes I am still using it on a XP PC as it doesn't seem to suffer from the slow deleting of file and then emptying them from the recycle bin on XP as it does on Win 7 (and this program was touted as being Win 7 compatible, what a crock) with no ill effects.

Just makes me happy that it can't get to the net anymore.

One down side is the Live update doesn't work anymore either, it is trying to go to that same address. But who cares. Live update didn't work anyway.

Now to check PD7 and stop that from going to the net.

Maybe that will stop the "This program is installed on another computer" message. And the closing of the program.

Mark,

Interesting what Ed found in the post above - I hope the newer PDs do this differently.

New problems with 8.4.1.4:

*) Extension of compressed files do not display in the Ext column until a refresh.

*) In the file pane, when I view inside a zipped file that contains a folder, when I drag that folder somewhere, it simply creates an empty folder, it does not extract the files contained in the folder.

I am seriously beginning to think 8.4.1.4 was a step backwards (not just because of this, though).

PD 8.4.1.4    XP

fyi I drag folder from zip file and I got all sub folders and files

Wow.. so many posts and it was Superbowl weekend!

Guys.. there is a lot of flamebait in this thread and honeslty I am only going to respond to a couple of items.

1. We are going to look to see if we did anything that would cause 8.4.1.4 to run slower than 8.3.1.9. I am also going to ask engineering to look into a thought I had regarding performance in general for PD 8. Perhaps there is something that can be done that doesn't require the engine rewrite that we are going to do for PD 9. If so we will get it into PD 8.

2. We will collect the issues that are being reported by x y and others and see what we can do in terms of fixing this for the next preview build.

3. Our plan is to have an open beta for PD 9 so you can decide for yourself whehter PD is on the the right track or not. If you don't think so then there are other products out there that might better suit your needs. Flamewars and personal attacks between you guys will be ignored by Avanquest and by me in particular. Honestly the way this thread has turned has really dampened my enthusiasm for participating at the level I do. I just will not get into a debate here about what you think the state of PD 8 was at release vs. what you think it should have been. It is not my purpose here to discuss that topic. You are welcome to discuss it all you like--but my participation will be very limited if at all.

Avanquest (and my team) stands behind PowerDesk 8 and we are laying out a very positive future for this product. I hope you will be a part of it.

Thanks all..

One thing I want to know is why PD8 has so many hooks into the system when other file management programs don't.

Not using PD 8 on my work PC so I can't look at the number or size of the files in the PD folder. But in PD 7 the PD folder is 42+MB's. Most all other file managers I've tried over the last 5 weeks have all had a smaller foot print, some as small as 1+MB and it seems none place as many hooks into the system. Even Win Explorer is only a little over 1MB.

Case in point is the AOxxx.dll files placed in the temp folder along with another directory/folder name Powerdesk in the temp folder with those exact same file in it.

Couldn't those files be placed in the PD root folder? If PD needs them to run then that is where they should be, IE in the PD folder. And why does PD need two copies of these files (actually 3 copies because they must also be in the PD folder for PD to copy them to 2 different places in the temp folder).

And please explain to me why powerdesk cause slow file deletion and slow emptying of the recycle bin. And it is not my system. Without PD installed files go into and out of the recycle bin in a snap of my fingers. With PD installed it is like watching grass grow or paint drying. Again I believe it is all these hooks on the system. A file manager need to one thing view file and allow the user to copy/paste/move and delete files. and all of that is already handled by the operating system.

Ed,

The hooks are there for features like the double-click on the desktop to launch PowerDesk as well as its ability to replace the Windows Explorer as well as the dialog helper feature.

Frankly I am wanting to pull out the Windows Explorer replacement feature and the dialog helper. They are problematic at best. Comments on that anyone?

The DLLs in the temp folder thing may have something to do with the instaler. I have already asked engineering to explain this and remedy this.

On the slow file deletion and slow emptying of the recycle bin. We are scratching our heads on that one because we are not able to reproduce it here. It could be caused by the AV on your system--we're not sure. Still it is on the list to investigate since others have reported this as well. You will note not everyone is reporitng this in this thread or in others.

I for one would like to see the Dialog Helper remain in PD.

My personal opinion, is to do away with all 3. I don't use Dialog Helper. There are times when it is necessary to bring up Windows Explorer and prefer to leave that unchecked. Doubling clicking the Desktop is more of an annoyance than it is a help. An icon on the Desktop will do the samething and one in the Quick Launch bar only needs a single click.

I erased 1 file and then 20 files from the Recycle folder and took 2 minutes each time.

I did this with the AV autoprotect  disable. 

I don't use Dialog Helper anymore and I launch PD from my Quick Launch bar or my Start button when I used the keyboard only.   I have no need for Windows Explorer except when rarely want to check my Recycle Folder because I sort by Deleted-Date  and erase the oldest ones first.

1) Just what is dialog helper? I have seen that this thing, dialog helper, is loaded at startup. I don't believe I've ever used it so when installing I uncheck that option or delete it from the RUN section of the registry. Just looked at another PC running PD7 and looked up DH in Help. I see no reason for me to use that program.

2) I find it is best to leave some things to the built in file manager. So I for one never use the Replace Win Explorer option with any file manager program.

3) I don't run any AV software (call me crazy). The last one I had was AVG about 2 years ago and when they stopped giving me update for the version I was using and forced me to upgrade to the newest version, which I didn't care for because it came with extra stuff I didn't want or needed, I stopped using it and haven't found a need to look for some other AV program.

So it can't be that. In my tests I uninstalled both Perfectdisk 11 and Powerdesk 8 and the slow delete/empty stopped. I then reinstalled Powerdesk 8 and it started again. I uninstalled PD 8 and it stopped. I then reinstalled perfectdisk 11 and everything was OK. Since the beta/preview versions of PD8 have come out I have installed all of them, with uninstallinig perfectdisk and not unistalling perfectdisk, and every time I installed PD8 the slow delete/empty starts again.

I even tried restoring my system with a disk image to a point in time before I had installed either perfectdisk or PD8, and then installed PD8 and the slowness started again. This leads me to believe, and as far as I'm concerned, it is PD8 that has it's hooks into the system causing this problem.

Now I am running a program called Classic Shell that allows you to change the start menu back to the Win 98/2000/classic XP style start menu and as close as you can get in Win 7 to the classic Win Explorer. I haven't tried uninstalling that nor am I going to.

Thanks

Ed,

We are not giving up on this--though the fact you are not running AV is pretty scary to me. You might be surprised what creepy crawlies you might have running--exploring every file. Malware is not what it used to be--now it is designed to hide and make your PC be a part of a bot network. Anyway.. you probably know this -- but it might be interesting to download the latest AVG to see if your system is clean.

That said--your experiments pulling PD 8 on / off the system is interesting. What about putting PD 7 on and see if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your work on this... we will figure it out. I'll ask our PDM to connect with you -- maybe we can do a debugging session some point next week.

I would install PD7 but I only have 2 licenses and know for a fact if I installed it on this Win 7 install one of my other PC's would come up with "This program is installed on another computer" "BYE".

Been through this to a point that none of my PC's ran PD7. I had it installed on 2 desktops, with the 2 licenses I have, and thought (gee golly) it would be OK to install PD7 on 2 of my notebooks that get moderate use and only by me and never at the same time (although they may be on at the same time as one of my desktops to transfer files) until I was away on vacation and PD7 stopped working on the notebook I had with me. Then when I returned home I found PD 7 not working on both of my desktops.

Don't want to go through that again. On this same box I have a clean install of XP on one HDD and Win 7 on another ( not in the box at the same time) and I installed PD 8 on that clean install of XP. Knowing that if I installed PD 7 on it, although I had PD 7 on the old install of XP, I'd eventually get the "Installed on another computer" message. It's the same PC I've had for the last 4 years with PD7 on it.

What the heck I'll give it a try. So It looks like I'll be call Avanquest again for new serial numbers.

Installed PD7 and NO problems, So Far. The only thing that is bugging me is PD 7 has removed the 7ZIP listing in the Right Click menu for ZIP files while using PD. How do I get that back in the right click menu option when using PD7. If I open Explorer++ or Win Explorer 7ZIP is listed. How do I get 7ZIP back on the right click menu. I think in PD 8 once I reinstalled 7ZIP the 7ZIP option came back on the right click menu.

"Frankly I am wanting to pull out the Windows Explorer replacement feature and the dialog helper. They are problematic at best. Comments on that anyone?"

Removing them is fine with me - I do use Dialog Helper, but it's no big deal to loose it since it doesn't support the new XP open dialog boxes.

I do not use the desktop hook either.

PD 8.4.1.4

Mark,

I just noticed: after changing the date of a file using file-attributes the information is not updated.

I have to press F5.
I remember this was working on PD 7.  I didn't test this on previous PD8.

Mark,

PD 8.4.1.4

I can confirm the toolbar settings not being saved when 'Save Settings on Exit' is not checked and 'Save Settings Now' is clicked.

Performance seems to be better than with 8.3.1.9 when accessing folders with many files - but the response is still very, very slow.  Per chance, does PD rely on Windows disk indexing?  I always turn that off.

I can confirm PD will crash when "C:\Windows\system32" is selected.

Kind regards,

Gary

Good question Gary, because I turn indexing off too.

Hi there,

I have been using PD since as far back as I can remnember.  I have always loved it.  versiojn 8 is buggy but I am happy that you are working on fixing them

One issue that I have is how slow it is to connect to network drives.  This is really a hindrance for me

I use Win7 64 bit

thanks

Quote David Kurzman

One issue that I have is how slow it is to connect to network drives.  This is really a hindrance for me

I use Win7 64 bit

End Quote

I been looking at other file manager for several week now and find none of them show networked PC as fast as Win Explorer in Win 7 64bit. I think it's just the nature of the beast. Win Explorer is also the base behind the OS Explorer.exe and collects and stores the network info. All other file managers must get this info from Explorer.exe or look it up on there own. So that takes time.

Mark, Considering that this update/whatever, required a complete uninstall/reinstall, have we again lost another token of our reinstall allowance?

Dave

There is always confusion for the install/reinstall thing vs. licensing and I am sorry about that.

The count goes up only when you use different computers to do the install. So if you install or uninstall on the same computer--the net number (activation count) does not go up.

It will go up (unfortunately) when you change major versions of operating systems. So if you take the same CPU and update it to Windows 7 and you were on XP it will up the count as it looks like a new PC.

Hope that helps.

-mark=

Thanks for that explain, as I never could quite understand how it worked.

I was a bit concerned, as a few months ago the Hardrive on this Laptop died, so a new one required a complete reinstall, Same OS fortunately) and then a few days ago of course with the update a new install...

I have two licensed copies of PDP, one for this W7 Laptop and one for the XP Desktop, so you no doubt appreciate my concern.

As a matter of interest, how many tokens (Or whatever you call them) do we have before PDP fails to run, or is that a company secret?

Thanks again for the info.

Dave

As I've mentioned elsewhere, the update did in fact solve my two PDP problems.

D

Mark & Team, thanks for listening to us.  I have worked with other software companies where this does not happen!

Issue with Patch 3 Test:  When trying to extract selected files from within a ZIP it does not work. If I go back to patch 2 it works properly.

Issue with Patch 2 & 3 Test:  When I select all files and directories in a given folder (say around 150+ objects) PD is very slow to respond.  I have also noticed that if switch to another program's window and then switch back there is another long delay.  During the delay CPU usage for PD jumps up to 52% and a lot reading and writing disk activity peaks at a disk load of 23,462 K/s.

WinXP SP3

AMD64 2.8ghz

Anyone else seen this issues?

Roger,

the ZIP  icon or shortcut appears to have been disable because of issues (erasing information already on targeted folders).  The only good option seems to be   right-clicking the zip file and then Extract.

That's what I conclude when I realize the icon on the Toolbar doesn't work anymore.

Robert,

I don't use the zip icon on the toolbar.  I have learned to use context menus in every program that I can because they are so much faster in your work-flow.  That being said, I can't extract "selected files" from inside a zip file with patch 3.  I can extract the entire file OK, just not a few selected files.

Thanks,

Roger

Hello Mark,

Just an update on the issue of the delay when selecting a lot of files in a directory.  I ran the freeware disk monitoring program called "Disk Pulse" and below is the data.

11-Feb-201114:08:57ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:08:58ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:08:59ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:00ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:01ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:02ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:03ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:04ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:05ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:06ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:07ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:08ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:09ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:10ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg
11-Feb-201114:09:11ModifiedC:\Documents and Settings\Roger\Application Data\Avanquest\Powerdesk\PowerDesk.stg

The delay seems to be caused by data being read and written to the PD setting file. I don't understand why this is happening when I'm just selecting files in a list.

I'm back to patch 2 and still have this issue.

Thanks, and have a great day!

Roger

Yeah the settings file, .stg, should be for just that, Program Settings. And should only update if you manually "Save Setting Now" or have the "Save Settings on Exit" checked and EXIT the program.

Why this happens is just another bug in PD8 along with those 2 files in the temp directory that can't be deleted. They shouldn't be in the temp folder if they can't are locked by the program. They should be in the program folder.

Roger,

I heard by mark disk working extra time while selecting multiple files. I bet that when they were doing the coding they included the update for some debugging purpose and they forgot to take it out when everything was done. Maybe the test was done in a folder with 10 files and the performance degradation was never noticed.

Mark,

I have the feeling the correction should be very simple if somebody can make a step-by-step debug, locate the issue, and fix it.

Had some other oddities on a XP 32 bit install of the latest build. Not sure how to describe it but once I uninstalled PD8 from that OS everything started running real smooth.

Had Photoshop CS5 crash repeatedly at startup until I uninstalled PD8.

I really believed PD8 puts hooks into all aspect of the OS slowing down everything.

Also uninstalled PD7 from Win 7 64bit as I installed it for a test, pre the request of Mark, of the slow file deletion and slow emptying of the recycle bin. Files deleted and RB emptied fine with PD7 installed (although there was other issues). So it is not something on my PC that was causing this problem. It, IMHO, is clearly the buggy PD8 that caused it.

Greetings all,

I have been using PowerDesk since before Avanquest bought it. Had a box of PD5 for a long time. Anyway, just updated to this preview on my XP SP3 laptop, and am definitely seeing the delay when selecting a lot of files in a big directory. As an example, I unzipped this month's update to SystemInternals, and tried to select all and then copy to a folder in a USB key. It appeared that PD8 locked up, as I was unable to move the slider up and down for two minutes. System Explorer also showed that PD8 was using 25% of all CPU time.

I do not remember this problem with any previous version, so add me to the list of folks who think this version may be a step backwards.

Ken Schaefer

I'm using Windows 7 Professional x64 and PDPro V8.3.1.9. The program still will not Save Settings on Exit. Is there a fix coming? I want to be able to open PDPro in the same folder I was in when I last exited without having to remember to Save Settings Now. Like in versions past.

I am on a Windows 7 64 bit system and I upgraded to PD 8.4.1.4. I am noticing quite a bit of CPU time being utilitized by Powerdesk during the startup phase. I was running the task manager during the startup and PDExploNXP.exe uses a lot of CPU until it finishes with the startup. Then its CPU goes back down to hardly anything.

Given the level of problems with PD8, why are Avanquest still aggressively marketing it to their mailing list?

And more annoying, why are they still marketing it to me, when I have already bought it???

While I appreciate what Makr is trying to do here, and I do want to keep using PD because it does (or did) everything I need to do in file management ... Avanquest seems increasingly dysfunctional, and I fear we may never get a resolution to these ongoing bugs...

Stop trying to sell this version - until you have it fixed!

Quote Barry

Given the level of problems with PD8, why are Avanquest still aggressively marketing it to their mailing list?

And more annoying, why are they still marketing it to me, when I have already bought it???

While I appreciate what Makr is trying to do here, and I do want to keep using PD because it does (or did) everything I need to do in file management ... Avanquest seems increasingly dysfunctional, and I fear we may never get a resolution to these ongoing bugs...

Stop trying to sell this version - until you have it fixed!

End Quote:

I whole heartedly agree.

What is even worse is if you use PD7 and check for updates Avanquest downloads images to your computer to display "Update to PD8 Now" in the update window. What right do they have to download anything to my computers without first ASKING ME if they can.

Powerdesk 8 is a POS and should be removed form all computers it is installed on.

A wheel needs to keep turning even though it is going through mud.

Whether or not it “feels” right to us that Avanquest continues to market PD8 while they work on bug fixes, the programmers that are working with the software surely wish to receive a paycheck to take home each pay period.   The ugly truth is that they still need a revenue stream.  Business is funny that way! Having been a manager in a Fortune 500 company for more than 30 years I understand this. 

For us that use this important software daily it is frustrating to “wait” for fixes to finally be successful.  I wish the best for Mark and his team.  I have been there – done that!

The group on this forum is a valuable tool to Mark and team and I’m sure they know that! After all, us long time users are experts with PD. :-)

Y’all have a great day now!

hi Ed,   

are you this dramatic for everything? Why do you keep coming to this forum over and over if you don't like the product? when I don't like a product I post one comment and never go back.

I have a comment too:  I'm using Power Desk and I don't have any problem. I tested many other File Managers and they don't match PD's Quality from the point of the user. 

If somebody has a problem with PD, develop your own software and sell it. Let me know the website.

Although Mark is usually the one who posts about ongoing updates, he asked that I post a quick note about our progress.

We have been doing a lot of work to ensure that the previous fixes are incorporated in the next review build.  To that end, the following issues have been fixed and should not make their way back:

- Extracting a zip using Ctrl-E should now work without deleting any destination files.

- Navigating to the system32 folder should no longer cause a crash.

- It was possible that scrolling the mouse wheel while renaming a folder would cause a crash. This is fixed.

- Dialog Helper now works with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

- Deleting files in a ZIP should now correctly remove them from the file list.

There was also quite a bit of research into the performance problems related to selecting, copying, and deleting files.  I was told that there has been some good progress, and we hope to have some positive news to share with you soon.

Thanks to Brian Doud!

thanks Brian Doud.  Those are good news. Can't wait for the next build.

Quote X Y

hi Ed,   

are you this dramatic for everything? Why do you keep coming to this forum over and over if you don't like the product? when I don't like a product I post one comment and never go back.

I have a comment too:  I'm using Power Desk and I don't have any problem. I tested many other File Managers and they don't match PD's Quality from the point of the user. 

If somebody has a problem with PD, develop your own software and sell it. Let me know the website.

End Quote:

Really I am a LONG TIME user of Powerdesk and this version it the worst.

I will post whatever I feel like to try and make the writers and sellers of PD get it right. They simply haven't with version 8, AND THEY KNOW IT.

So you have 2 choices, 1) don't read my posts. 2) you know what you can do about it.

Ed,

post feedback after doing some tests.

stop with the melodrama about how much you pay for PD and how good other unknown programs are... over and over and over again.... I got your point 10 posts ago.

Thanks Brian Doud, for at least keeping us in the loop, The one thing I think all of us hate more than the problems with PD8, is that sometimes we feel that we are being ignored.

With long periods of no comments or news about the product from Avanquest 's representatives and now receiving unwanted advertisements to buy a product that we all know has problems, just leads up to frustration (hence the Flame-throwing comments).

With all the dialog that goes on about PD8 in these forums it just goes to show you that up until now you've had a respected product that you didn't have to sell us on, we needed and wanted it and feel very strongly about it.

However now we hate and wonder why it became such a buggy, inconsistent piece of software in it's present form compared to earlier incarnations of the product and believe and rightly so that somewhere down the line, the vision was lost about where this product was going and the need for greed took over.

So keep the patches coming, keep us in the loop and hopefully we will finally reach the goal of making Powerdesk once again the best File Manager on the market.

PS...with all the software Avanquest sells, who's bright idea was it to sell PD8 this month, or does a computer just spit out what to sell on a rotational basis, regardless of any human intervention. As we all know if word gets out about the problems with a product, it doesn't matter what you charge, you can't sell it.

Funny how software behaves that way, must be another bug :)

Good Luck, I love the product but am currently very disappointed and I'm counting on you to make it right.

Alan - you have summed up my (and I hope others') frustration, disappointment and reactivity perfectly and with calm assertiveness! You are so right, flaming doesn't help and I see than my complaint about the marketing set off another round.  For that I apologise...

But, it would be good if Avanquest reconsidered their marketing approach / schedule given the unfortunate situation the PD8 (and maybe 7) has gotten itself into.

And this forum does, at least, make us feel heard.

I too am hoping that Mark and his team can get the bugs ironed out.  And as a former product development manager, my sincere advice is to throw everything at fixing PD8; forget about PD9 for now; and just get the long time customers happy again.  We are the salespeople for the product, now and into the future ... but only when we are happy!

Thanks Alan!

Mark,

I haven't made any changes to my settings since I installed and setup P3.  Opened it today and all my custom settings are gone - reset to default.

Menus, Quick Launch, etc.

EDITED

Rereading this, I feel I must elaborate; this was a problem with PD7 and all prior incarnations of PD8, not a new problem, but a consistent, albeit occasional, bug.

Hi guys,

I'm new to this blog but I use PD since Win98.

1. comment on the slowness which is reported a lot. I had the same problem and found the reason NOT PD, but any AntiVirus program with realtime scanning active on the whole drive. Disabled it except for my download folder and now PD is only slow in this folder and any external Data source ( Camera, HD..)

2) Saving settings is also not possible in PD8, worked in all previous versions. I like to have my files sorted newest on top. PD does not keep the setting no matter how I save it.

3) Preview: PD8 does not fall back to Ansii-view if no viewer is available. It worked since Win98 and was now dropped in PD8. May be you can reinstate it. I WOULD LOVE IT.

Thanks

Horst

V8.* is so unstable I finally removed it from my system and reinstalled an earlier version (7.0.1.1) while I wait for V9. It works better, faster and more reliably.

I've just installed P3

(It worked thank God - I was sweating there)

I immediately tested a bug I have reported elsewhere, and the manifestation is different in P3 than P2, viz:

Click on C:\ to display root files.

Right click on boot.ini and select <powerdesk> then <hex edit>

Program then tries to install Powerdesk 8 and cannot find powerdesk 8.msi

I confirm, there is no such file in my computer. When I cancel the operation the install software unwinds to zero and then tries again, and again, and again.

Eventually I managed to kill it and then got the hexeditor. Why Powerdesk was so insistently trying to install itself when it had just installed itself is beyond my understanding. I was very worried when it started to uninstall itself, and I wonder if my P3 installation is now compromised.

Thanks

ian

This is not a new problem, Ian. I had that with the original version of PowerDesk8. And it wasn't just the hex editor, it was ANY operation. I finally had to uninstall it, and reinstall it with no virus scanners running to get it to not ask to install each time. Before that, I did fake it out by extracting the msi file from the original install file, and kept it handy.

I want to let you all know that a new build of preview release 3 is now available for your review.

Take a look at http://cafe.softcity.com/contribution/4UjN1QzN/view/powerdesk-8-preview-release-p3-new-build for a link to the build and some additional notes.

The fixes we added in the latest build are:

- Selecting, copying, and deleting a large number of files should now work more quickly

- Extracting a zip using Ctrl-E should now work without deleting any destination files

- Navigating to the system32 folder should no longer cause a crash

- It was possible that scrolling the mouse wheel while renaming a folder would cause a crash. This is fixed.

- After adding files to a zip, the file list should refresh correctly

- Dialog Helper now works with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

- Deleting files from a zip should now correctly remove them from the file list

Of note is the first item in the list, regarding the performance issues.  We found performance to be good in testing, but some of you previously encountered problems that we did not.  Your feedback on this item in particular is welcome.

-- Brian

Brian,

Off the mark - looking good.  I will let you know more as I further test the program.

I did find that when I create a new folder, I am put in that folder, a strange occurrence that popped up with the last release.

So far, speed looks pretty good.

much faster. much better. I'll install this update in the computer at my office tomorrow.

one comment I noticed that when I switch from P:\ to M:\  I noticed the moving around become slower. Selecting files was done by batches of 6 files (stop, go, stop, go, ....).  Something is going on after 6 files are selected. I can see my total selected files going  ......30, 36, 42, 48, 54, .......

In any case, so much better. I kept playing, moving from partition to partition in my hard disk and some movements (through the folder list) went very fast. I'm liking this  :)

I forgot to mention: I use the File Finder every day across my 28GB of data, around 24,000 files

and I just noticed a big increase in the speed. I was used to seeing the finding process being hold by folder with zip files and/or many files on one folder in particular.  With the new patch the thing flies over all the folder  sooooo a big THANK YOU from me.

8.4.1.7 is MUCH better in my tests as well. The lock up in very large directories seems to be gone. Keep up the good work, team!

Finally some posts I can smile about :)

GAA! Updated Powerdesk and now I've got that activation issue with the serial number. I only use Powerdesk on one system - I wish the activation was a bit smarter on that.  How do I get this fixed? If I click the Avanquest link on that dialog the webpage just times out.

ok, I got a replacement s/n from a chat representative.  Looks like the selecting files and speed has been fixed, THANKS!  My current problem is that now I want to have Powerdesk replace Explorer again - but this is proving difficult.  My normal login has poweruser rights, so this option is greyed out.  So if I right click and run as administrator I can access that checkbox, but it seems to be saving that setting only for the administrator profile.  I was wondering if that would be a problem as when I right click and choose run as administrator, Powerdesk launches with all the defaults rather than with my customizations etc.  So how can I get this option turned on for my normal poweruser login?

Anthony, there is a very good chance we are going to remove that feature in PowerDesk 9. 

We will likely not support it past PD 8.

Initiually, I wrote "definitely seems more stable and fater (yeah)

still not close to as fast as Windows Explorer for navigating through network drives."

But suddenly, it started to act very slow again on my local drive.

I am VERY pleased with this positive direction

Dave

Brian,

You did not mention the issue with the folder color or the problem with saving personal preferences, but I am happy to report that both of those issues are working the way they are supposed to. This is a very good release, I have not found anything (so far), in any of the Windows operating systems (XP, Vista or Windows 7), that is not working correctly.

I am happy to report that at this time, I just installed the newest build, the slow delete and emptying of the recycle bin is gone.

Whether this will continue is to be seen as IIRC I didn't have this problem when I first install 8219. So tomorrow morning I might be posting something different.

Thank you, so far.

Big change in speed, both in opening the program but also manipulating files, congrats on this issue, however the strange behavior regarding sub-directories is still around since it was identified in the last patch, Creation of a sub-directory automatically puts you in that new directory, As a lot of us who are constantly creating and removing sub-directories for work purposes this is a major pain in the ***. This is not how explorer or any other file manager works including even creating directories in DOS. Please look into this asap, and if it's to be part of the program (for what purposes I don't know) then at least make it an option that we can turn on or off at our discretion. The boat seems like it has been finally put in the right direction, let's see how far you get her to sail.

PS...what happened to the ability to see a thumbnail view of the file you have the cursor on, it's seems to be missing or not working?

Installed P3.

Tried to change the folders back to yellow (old type). Selected Skins to see if this would do it. Powerdesk installer started up and failed repeatedly with (pwerdesk8.msi not found). Had to kill the program to exit.

How do I change the folder appearance please?

Ian

Me again. Belay my last. On a restart the appearance has gone back to normal and folders are now the old yellow type again. Thanks. Ian

You know, I am really loking this release P3. Thank you. Ian

One major bug is in this new build when you move the mouse pointer to the file pane and there is a long list of file you can not scroll the list without clicking in that pane. In all older PD versions you could scroll the list.

File deletion and emptying of recycle bin  is still OK but not as fast as Win Explorer of Explorer++. Powerdesk still has some hooks in the system that is slowing this down.

there are still those 2 locked files in the temp folder and a folder called PowerdeskA in Temp with those same 2 files.

Powerdesk takes over the right click menu to much when in PD. I use 7Zip and I do not have access to it when in PD. Yes PD has a zip/unzip/whatever but you still have to click on the item Powerdesk in that menu to access it (as it always has been) but with older versions of PD it wouldn't limit the other options on that menu.

I'm loading up a image that I made just before installing this new build. Waiting for fixes again

@Ed Chatlos

The point and scroll issue is common to most programs with multiple panes.  There is a wonderful little program - KatMouse - that solves the problem for virtually every program.  I have used it on XP, Win7 32-bit and Win7 64-bit with MS Intellipoint and Logitech SetPoint drivers.  Although it is many years old, it still works.  :)

http://ehiti.de/katmouse/

I hope this helps.

Gary

My point was that in previous versions of PD this was the norm, IE move mouse to file (right) pane and you can scroll the list. In PD 8 newest build you can't and I think in previous builds you could. I don't need or want another program to do what PD did in older versions and I think in older builds of PD8.

Not only that but it is ONE BIG reason I started using PD to begin with so many many years ago. Every file management program I have looked at recently gets turned down for this one flaw, IE no scrolling without a CLICK. PD use to do this.

I agree with Ed.  The mouse scrool was a very nice feature.

PD3 with dual pane vertical and preview pane open.

Clicked on a zip file in right hand pane. Got a preview pane with vertical bands and contents of zip file listed (one file name bess.bmp)

Double click on bess.bmp and new powedesk process was spawned with panes reversed and preview pane blank.

Not sure what I expected but it wasn't that.

ian

Sorry, Powerdesk 8 P3 in my previous. Ian

So far, I have had no major problems with this release.

Alan, you said, "PS...what happened to the ability to see a thumbnail view of the file you have the cursor on, it's seems to be missing or not working?"

Are you talking about the tool tips?  If so, mine are working fine - if not, let me know and I will try to duplicate the behavior on my system.

Ed, the two locked files are only locked (on my system) while PD is running - unlocked when it isn't.  Did you see if they are unlocked when you are not running PD?

The pane-scrolling issue - confirmed on my system.  Didn't notice this because I am so used to clicking in a pane first (because of other programs), but there is an option with PowerToys to help with this issue if you need it (or can't use Gary's solution).  I would like to see this ability again, but it's not a make or break issue for me.

Also, my context menu works fine - including with 7Zip files, could you elaborate some and I will try to duplicate on my system?

Ian - Yep - PROBLEM - I tried to duplicate your problem with the dual vertical and preview panes all opened.  I got unexpected results too, but not the same as you.  I received an error dialog box from PD itself stating "Error during archive operation."  Surely this is a bug that need to be addressed.

Great progress Avanquest - thanks Mark, Brian and team.  Getting closer!

On the mouse scroll issue.  I'm telling you guys - get KatMouse.  Its a tiny freeware program that solves the scrolling problem in virtually every program.  The fact that PD does not scroll without a click in the pane is a non-issue to me since KatMouse neatly solves it.

Ah, I must have done something wrong.  I installed the new patch on my lappy and there is no improvement in performance when accessing folders with a large number of files (8000+).  The cursor goes to busy mode and it sits there for a very long time before the list is displayed.  My other file manager displays the file list almost instantly.  This is on Win7 32-bit.

No one else is having performance issues?

I had the exact same thing. Worked with synchronizing two huge directories.

Closed synchronizer.

When I tried to switch the right pane to another directory I got the hourglass for at least 2 minutes.

Ian

> Troy Dalton

> So far, I have had no major problems with this release.

 > Alan, you said, "PS...what happened to the ability to see a thumbnail view of the >file you have the cursor on, it's seems to be missing or not working?"

>Are you talking about the tool tips?  If so, mine are working fine - if not, let me >know and I will try to duplicate the behavior on my system.

Thanks, it's actually listed as File Tips, I've been using this program for so long, I didn't actually look to see if the feature was checked on or off, I just assumed that it would be marked as on in my settings.....doh!!!.

Thanks for the reminder and yes it's working now.

Now to move on the sub-directory problem....one thing at a time...right!

Alan

Elaboratetion on right click menu.

With early version of PD when you install a program that adds something to the right click menu it was carried over into PD. With this new build, and previous build, when you install PD it removes most if not all those other entries. In previous builds all I had to do was reinstall 7ZIP to get there right click menu option back. On this build even after a reinstall of 7ZIP and a reboot of the system PD is stopping that option for showing for the right click menu for ZIP files. And this was after I told PD to NOT handle ZIP file duriing the install. I guess the user doesn't know what he wants so PD makes that decission for me.

Another thing that has always bugged me about PD, any version, is the limited selection options for column in Detail view. What this program has been around for 14+ years and they still think the user doesn't want to display more info for the files they are looking at. Like Bit rate for MP3, Camera model of images files.

If you want to make PD better try including some of the things other, simpler, file managers include, even Win Explorer. And make it work.

My GOD there are other file management program that are 1/10 the size that give the user more option then PD. Just what has the development department been doing. Eating BON BONS and watching Oprah.

Can't check any of those thing as PD is no longer on my systems. I installed this new build, ran some tests on the speed of deleting files and emptying the recycle bin, found some stuff I didn't care for (no scrolling without a click and others) and reloaded the image I made just before installing.

I was going to give Ultra Explorer a try but I'm having second thought about it.

PD 8.4.1.7

PD is working better than ever.  Very fast. I'm sure could be better but I read there is going to be a re-programming so I have something to look in the future.  

The search of files is very fast. Maybe 30 times faster and I use this a lot so it is saving me some time.

I highly recommend PD8.

Brian & Mark,

 I am sorry to report, but PowerDesk 8.4.1.7 is back to not being able to use a File Viewer other than the default. Preferences will contain the address to whatever Viewer you designate, but will not use it.

 A strange occurrence happened while renaming a folder. PowerDesk flashed and reverted to the default Preferences and displayed the opening Flash Screen which had previously been turned off. I reinstalled the saved version of Powerdesk.stg and the Preferences were restored.

 The Viewer is not working correctly in XP SP3 and Windows 7 32 bit. I have not checked the other operating systems.

Ed,

My apologizes - I was wrong.  The locked files are finally released when the program is uninstalled, but they are locked when PD is installed, running or not (on my system at any rate).

Gary,

Thanks - KatMouse has a permanent home in my system tray.  As I am very strict on what I run in the background, it holds a place of honor - it is only the 4th program (that I run) that I allow in the system tray.  My processes have now increased from 34 to 35 (idling at the desktop)!

@Troy ...

It is a wonderful little program.  There is an option to hide the tray icon which I select.  I want KatMouse to run, but there is not much need for the tray icon.  :)

Cheers,

Gary

Gary,

Thanks!  But, what I really mean, is that I only have a handful of apps that run at all times, tray icons not withstanding.

Mark, Brian,

I have an interesting observation to report.  I was working on a buggy program (no, not PD) trying to find out where it was failing; specifically, where it was updating  files.  There are utilities to do this, but for now I just did a search for all files modified after a certain date and time.  I did not use PD's file finder for this, but another third party application that lets me use regex.

Anywho, after rebooting, I waited a few minutes for things to settle down.  I then opened PD to get to the program I was troubleshooting and made the changes.  PD was left in its current state (nothing was changed in PD except for the tree and file panes that I drilled down to).

I then ran my file finding program with the search criteria being all files modified right before I began the process.  Yes, I did find what I was looking for, but also something Avanquest might be interested in:

I did nothing in PD except open it and run a program from it.  Low and behold, PD modified the following four files (maybe more):

Info.pad in the All Users directory tree

PowerDesk.stg in the PD Application Data directory tree

PowerDesk.stg in the PD directory tree

kvsdk.ini in the PD directory tree

I've been programming for many years and I never write to a file when I don't have to; I find this is how corruption sneaks in.  Now, you may have very legitimate reasons for writing to these files when nothing has changed with the program, but I would not think so.

Just wanted to bring this to your attention.

EDITED: None of my settings are saved automatically (Save Settings on Exit is not selected), plus I didn't close-out.

Is anyone else experiencing this? I am on a Windows 7 64 bit system and I upgraded to PD 8.4.1.7. I have seen this situation since I upgraded to 8.4.1.4. I am noticing quite a bit of delay and CPU time when you first start Powerdesk and when it redisplays files and folders in the File Manager/View windows. It uses quite a large amount of CPU time during these times. It did not used to do that.

Yes John, and I am on a 32 bit XP Pro system.  But, the delay was cut down significantly with the last patch.

If you click on something before the second refresh (you have to be quick), you can get an Application Not Responding message too (when the program first starts).  I have gotten in the habit of starting the program and waiting a few seconds before I do anything.  It's not the ideal answer, but it works - for now.

Mark, Brian,

Quick question, does it look like the custom toolbar (PDESK.exe) will be kept in future PD releases?  I couldn't quite tell from reviewing previous posts.

I'm at the point where I need to set it up for different programming projects, but if it is going to be dropped, I don't want to spend too much time customizing it.

I am an old Powerdesk 1.0 user and have been purchasing upgrades since it all began and Powerdesk 8 with the updates to 8.3.00 has some issues with memory usage and hard drive access.

I have been using PD 8.2.19 without the updates and all is well, then I install both updates via liveupdate to bring it up to 8.3.00 and everything slows down to a crawl within Powerdesk so I am trying 8.4.17 and it seems to have the same issues,

My Setup is an Intel i7 860 with 4gb ram running XP-SP3 with all the latest updates from Microsoft.

1. Powerdesk 8.4.17 takes approx 1 minute to load every time.

Using PD 8.2.19 it takes about 10 seconds to load.

2. Click on a folder and go and make a cup of java as this takes about 3 minutes and the hard drive is working full time to load the folder which has 3037 items totaling 305GB.

Note: PD 8.2.19 without any updates takes approx 2 seconds to load the same folder.

I am now uninstalling PD 8.4.17 and going back to PD 8.2.19 which works as it should and also I'll be turning off liveupdate as well until these issues are resolved.

Barry I had the same results trying 8.1.17.

8.3.19 was slow and 8.1.14 molasses. 8.1.17 still was slow starting and
moving around. Some operations were reasonable and most were molasses.

Reverted back to 8.2.19 which at least offers smooth maneuvering and fast
operations.

PD 8.4.1.7

Brian posted:  "Extracting a zip using Ctrl-E should now work without deleting any destination files"

finally I tried CTRL-E and it didn't work.  I'm going back to right-click the zip file and extracting the files.

It was "almost" impossible to find this thread. This new version of SC has got to go.

Powerdesk, I don't use it anymore. Moved on after 15+ years. To bad really. But that is just the way it is.

I am still using the Sync program but the file manager NO.

PLease help. I am off subject, but my Powerdesk 5 will no longer put up a menu on right click SEND TO.

If any kind person has any info, I would appreciate. I can't afford additional copies of PD8. Maybe there is a forum for this?

Thank you ,

Ian

Yes this is way off topic and quit a few years to late.

I still have one update for PD5 (maybe I have the CD or floppies someplace-??)

I doubt you will get any help even if you made a new thread. PD5 was what 8-10 years ago. Do you still have the CD/floppies it came on? Best bet would be to uninstall and reinstall.

Good Luck to you.

Thanks Ed for your reply. I am at ian.seeley@comcast.net if you can chat privately. ian

ian,

chech this place: http://tinyurl.com/6edemfo

not sure if the patch was made for version 5 but what can you lose after all these years.

There is a link just below "To install the update:" that will give you the CONTEXTMENU.EXE file that you need.

good luck

Ian,

I don't think your problem is with PowerDesk. The "Send To " Menu is a function of Windows. Other vendors, including yourself, can easily add items to this Menu. You didn't say which version of Windows you are using, but since you are using an older version of PD, I am assuming it is XP. To verify, go to Windows Explore and click on "Documents and Settings". You should see a list of all of the users on your computer, including Administrator, All Users, Default Users, you and anyone else. If you click on any ot them except "All Users" you should see a "SendTo" folder. Each of those folders may have a portion of the list you normally see when you right click an item. If you DO NOT see a "SendTo" folder then your issue is with Windows. Go to Google or any other search engine and enter "Send To Missing" and you will find several cases of the same problem and some of them will have solutions.

Thanks Larry. At (considerable) risk of upsetting Mark and other users, I am running XP Pro. Uninstalling and reinstalling PD5 does no good. Context menus work in all other programs. It even works in PD5 on network connections I think. Installing an old copy of PD6 LE has now fixed my problem, And thanks to "XY" I have more leads to fix PD5 contextmenu file.

It most definitely is a PD5 issue, but as others have kindly pointed out it is a really old product, but one in which I have great faith and fondness.

Thanks, and we'd better terminate this part of the thread!

Ian

Mark,

Again, after a month of running without changing any settings and since last time this happened, some of my PD customizations reset (this time it was the column widths and caption order in the file list pane).

It seems the .stg files aren't very stable.

Dear Avanquest,

I have a screen shot of the folder synchronizer that appears to have a strange listing. I would like to send it to you for interpretation.

If interested, please let me know how to submit a file.

Thanks

ian

Ian.seeley@comcast.net

I should have said - my version is 8.4.1.7

ian

Running things slow can sometimes help determine what's going on.

I had to copy some old code from a diskette (1.44) and I used PD.  That was a mistake.  Just clicking on the A: drive, I could see it refresh the directory about 4 times before it was finally satisfied - before it would allow me access to the files (at least 30 seconds).

When I would leave the diskette by clicking on another drive, it would spend another 10 to 15 seconds refreshing the diskette again, before it would allow me access to my hard drive.

Hope this gives some insight.

Wow, no comment from Mark Manes since 25th Feb.

I gave up commenting here some time ago as I would only be repeating what all posters here have said.

I just want PD to work. Have installed all test versions and only seen minimal improvements, I think. Speed, or lack of, is the main issue.

Layout manager icon is missing since 3 versions back and I cannot find a way to replace it. Layout manager links (I have 5) lose their icon at each update and I have to use 'Replace' in the dialog box every time.

Slow display of folder contents and new folder opens when created. Damn this is annoying.

Where are we going with this product Mark?

Pay for the next version (PD9) after testing and feeding back. I don't think so.

Ian

>Wow, no comment from Mark Manes since 25th Feb.

>I gave up commenting here some time ago as I would only be repeating >what all posters here have said.

Very typical of the manufacturer's support shown for this product, it comes and goes in waves, I guess it only ramps up when too many customers are dissatisfied. Mark it seems has left the announcements regarding the product to Brian Doud, I guess the heat got to much for him.

The product seems to have stabilized for the moment, even though it's still quite flawed, I can only guess the company is planning to put it's effort into PD9, since PD8 is a train-wreck.

I just can't see how they are going to convince us to pay for the newer version, when they have such a poor track record of support for the previous version.

Don't get me wrong, I think the product is absolutely necessary, especially when you do a lot of file manipulation like myself...but how much more aggravation are we as customers going to endure especially when the company is silent and updates to the current product come out slow as molasses especially for the most glaring errors.

Oh well....another rant that seems to be falling on deaf ears.

Sorry

Alan



The barbs aside, Alan is correct about us being busy with planning.  There are various products we're working on, including PowerDesk, which keep us very busy.  It isn't "heat", lack of interest, or turning a deaf ear to the comments, as has been suggested. 

Be aware that Mark continues to actively monitor the forums, and stays up to date on the user comments.  He recently met with the PowerDesk engineering team, and worked with them on various issues for ongoing improvements.  A lack of recent posts doesn't mean that he isn't on task with ways to make PowerDesk better.  Since he manages the Utility Division at Avanquest, PowerDesk is only one of many applications that he oversees.  As such, comments to the forums will be infrequent. 

It's important to note that the patch feedback threads are intended to give our preview testers a place to comment on the patches.  They are not tech support forums where a response to each post should be expected.  We monitor the feedback and take action on issues as we feel is appropriate.

We are expecting to release another update to preview release 3 soon.  This will address a few of the remaining issues that have been reported.  Please be aware that much of work we want to do will be applied to the next version because of the nature of the improvements we want to make.

We appreciate the passionate following, and that our PowerDesk users want continued improvements as much as we do.  A little dose of understanding for the work involved in these improvements would be a nice touch as well. :)

hi Brian,

that's what I thought. I'm very understanding too  ;)

For my normal operations PD is an essential tool. Could be better? yes (faster) But Mike already mention reprogramming is coming and will address the issue.

in any case, PD wins over Windows Explorer any day, and is far superior than many "similar" products (not even close).

can't wait for PD 9.

Sorry about the rant, as I see it, the barbs that you mention were just a gentle reminder that all is not right in Power Desk Land and resting on your previous acheivements in regards to this program does not grant you a polite applause or even a golf clap :) and nor should it,  A harder reminder would be people not buying the product (bottom line) because of poor support and flaws.

As the program stands now, it is slowly getting back to it's former self but with problems from speed to usability, to inexplicable new features that either don't work or create newer problems by their implementation. What's with how the program reacts to sub-directory creation?

Anyways, I know we have to be patient, as you and your team attempt to fix a program that shouldn't have been released in the first place.

I can only wish you the best of luck, I still love this product even though the flaws frustrate the hell out of me...sort of like the newly designed but ultimately dissatifying Soft City Website, whomever redesigned this site should be taken out back behind the old network servers and given 50 lashes with magnetic tape. 

But that's not your problem Brian and nor should it be, you've got bigger problems to deal with.

Thank you for at least chiming in with an update on what the company is doing at this time. It goes a long way in letting us know that you are listening. As you said we are very passionate about this program...so we wait.

Alan

ian seeley says: I should have said - my version is 8.4.1.7

What are you plp smokin'?

http://www.avanquest.com/USA/aq-you/support/maintenance_releases.html

MAINTENANCE RELEASES

The last MAINTENANCE RELEASE of ANY PowerDesk product was for PowerDesk Pro 6 (6.0.4.2). If there are any updates, they would be there. If there ARE other's, Avanquest is wasting your valuable time by posting them somewhere else and not stating so. What's the point in having a MAINTENANCE RELEASES web page if updates, BETA or not, are not on their MAINTENANCE RELEASES web page?

Where you plp seein' 8.2.1.9, 8.3.1.9, 8.4.1.4 and 8.4.1.7?

PowerDesk 8 Click on the magnifying glass on the corner of the box. It says Avanquest Software, not SoftCity. Updates would be there, not at some off the wall SOFTCITY web site that's not listed anywhere. That's how virus's and malware get's spread around; downloading from UNAUTHORIZED web sites.

I noticed that the comments in this forum have slowly trickled down to very little, probably because of the changes in Soft City's website design, it was hard to find this forum since the change and I only found it through a message Brian Doud left in another forum.

You would think that consistency would be a way to maintain a viable and active website, adding bells and whistles or design changes to a website who's whole purpose is about maintaining dialog and support for products, but then burying access to that support, doesn't make sense.

Are you sure the engineers on Powerdesk didn't have a go at this new website design, it just seems familiar that a good product has somehow been changed by design into a bad product with little customer support. 

Or maybe it was just a way to deflect ongoing criticism of some of Avanquest's products by burying the more inflamed sections, oh well

Please ignore Robert's protestations above, since if he had been following the Powerdesk Product on Avanquest's website he would have known about Soft City being a support site of Avanquest's products, he is however right that any new updates/releases should also be reflective on the Avanquest website in order to maintain integrity.

As for latest on Powerdesk, regarding fixes, updates, news, boat anchors, etc.....we fall back on what seems to be the modus operandi.....We Wait.

PS....I have been noticing a lot of Powerdesk (not responding) errors creeping in lately, the program seems to be just pausing a bit before continuing on with what it's doing but of course you don't want to ever see the "Not Responding" message come up, in anything that your doing.

Alan Whitley says: Are you sure the engineers on Powerdesk didn't have a go at this new website design, it just seems familiar that a good product has somehow been changed by design into a bad product with little customer support.

Careful now, you'll get an email from SoftCity rebuking your comments like I did. Read the fine print, PowerDesk is owned by Avanquest which owns SoftCity

PowerDesk is sooooooo good, only once has it needed a patch file and that was wwwwwwaaaaayyyyy back in version 6.

PROOF:

http://www.avanquest.com/USA/aq-you/support/maintenance_releases.html

No where on this web site does it direct plp to click the Help - LiveUpdate so I guess you don't have to. I guess this is Marc-Antoine Ross and Blaise Rabaud's new software service called KEEP UM GUESSING.

Again I put the comment in "he is however right that any new updates/releases should also be reflective on the Avanquest website in order to maintain integrity."

Maybe that will stir something up like maybe....um.....an update!

I maybe a little sarcastic in some of the observations I have, but it only because Powerdesk is one of the few products that is 1st to be installed on my computer.

It is such a necessary program in what I do, I couldn't work without it....so when it's having problems, especially when those problems did not occur in previous versions, I tend to let people know about it. Better here in a forum about the product then all over the net.

It's only because I want those problems fixed and I'm also not very comfortable with a product that i PAY FOR, not living up to the to what it claims to be able to do.

PowerDesk version 8.4.1.7 has come along way since it's initial release, and it's only because I believe that users like myself and others have made suggestions, criticisms both good and bad, that has gotten us to this point.

The fact that this program was initially released with such a very long list of bugs including even basic file management issues not seen in previous versions, warrants questions regarding the motives behind such a release and that any subsequent criticism of the product and the perceived lack of product support is not only warranted but should be expected.

Avanquest may not like this criticism but given the circumstances it shouldn't be unexpected.

Alan

Alan Whitley says: PowerDesk version 8.4.1.7

______________________

Where are you plp getting this?

Exactly, how many discussion groups or threads does one need to read before finding this needle (haystack)?

Is a "channel" what SoftCity calls a THREAD or do I need to learn about "discussion groups" all over again?

If this is "PowerDesk 8 - Preview Release (P3) - Feedback" meaning PowerDesk 8.3.x.x, Where the heck is "PowerDesk 8 - Preview Release (P4) - Feedback"?

I've tried Google for NEEDLE HAYSTACK POWERDESK to no avail.

Fake Trojan Reported/Quarantined

----------------------------------------

When I install PD8, I get two reports from Computer Associates Etrust Antivirus Software Version 7.0.0.115 Signature Version 1.4.1.1512 that

Win32/FakeFLDR_i has been detected and quarantined

during the PD8 installation process.

I am sure that this is going a long way towards screwing me up. Unfortunately it does not matter if AV is on or off, because the AV program is going to find it anyway,

Do you have any thoughts on this matter please?

Thanks.

Ian

These versions are not released to the general public "per se," because they are not yet ready, we are helping to test them first.   When a viable PD patch is ready, it will be made available via the official channels.

Though, I dare to venture, because of all the flack, Avanquest will never extend this opportunity to us again - and I can't say I blame them.  Download and test, report findings here - these were pretty simple request from Mark.

This board has degraded into a gripe-board;  it could have been used to our advantage - we could have effected the changes we wanted.  It was a golden opportunity.

Mark, Brian, you have my sympathies and apologies.  We tried.

Preview 3 (8.4.1.4) Feedback:

1. When I copy or move a large file, say over 100 MB, the screen refresh is very slow. I have to refresh the screen manually.

2. I am unable to save customizations to the tool or launch bar  - I've tried everything suggested in the forum on this issue and it hasn't helped.

3. Program crashes when selecting Windows System32 folder.

4. When creating a new directory, the new directory steals focus.

I know these issues aren't new, but when can we expect to have them fixed? Its been over two months now since this patch was released and nothing new. I don't see how Avanquest can expect anyone in this forum to buy any future Avanquest products, especially PD9, given the numerous issues with this product.

Randall,

I tried duplicating 1 and 3 of your list and did not have the same problems.  I run XP Pro 32 bit.

Have you tried uninstalling, removing all .stg files, then reinstalling (don't forget the ones in Documents and Settings)?  Or have you tried all of the suggestions and still have the problems?

Hi Troy, I don't know why you're not able to reproduce the issues, they've been reported several times. It could be the difference in the O/S. I can try that on a different machine using a trial version (I wish I'd done that in the first place before buying PD 8, but PD 7 worked fairly well).

As far as the .stg files, I've tried that before in previous installs and it didn't work. This is a new fresh install of Win 7 Home Premium 32 bit and a fresh install of PD 8. I can't imagine why the .stg files would be a problem after a fresh install.

What did work for me was to import my PD 7 .stg file into PD 8 and I have my previous customization of the tool bar and launch bar. However, I can't get rid of the welcome screen (previously reported) and when I check "Save Settings On Exit" it doesn't stay checked when restarting PD 8 (previously reported).

I may just go back to PD 7 again. I tried PD 8 before, but uninstalled due to all of the problems. I thought perhaps the patch 8.4.1.4 would improve PD 8, but it still has a lot of issues.

Previous post follow up: I was able to get rid of the Welcome screen and save some settings once I made a few changes to preferences and selected Save Now. I also noticed there's a build 8.4.1.7 that I will try. I hope it works better!

Just a note from me.

About 3 to 5 weeks ago I got a email from one of the head guys at this site. It was about my displeasure with the changes made to this site. I didn't answer it right away because I knew it would do no good.

But then about a week later I did respond to it. I then got a return email BANNING me from this site. Something about my inflammatory remarks about Powerdesk and the way the people that run this site have screwed it all up. I said fine and thank you. I also sent another email to this person requesting that I be removed from any mailing lists.

We all know what happened next. I still got mail. And now it seems I am no longer banned.

Powerdesk in it present version is one of the worst pieces of software I have ever used, let alone paid for.

Oh I remember what I asked in that email. I asked to be removed from this site. I could find any link to a page to remove yourself, cancel your membership, from this site.

I just found the person that emailed me. Richard Bashara

Richard thank you for reinstating me. But please remove me once again.

Thank you.

Randall,

I'm sorry, I didn't verify the version - of mine against yours.  Let me know if the latest version helps - it fixed a lot of the problems I was having, including execution speed.

If not, let me know if you want me to test or check anything else on my system.

With a clean install, that rules out most of the suggestions I would have had for you to try.  8.4.1.7 fixed a lot of problems for many of us.

Ed Chatlos,

you have to do the "unfollow" by yourself. Go to the top of this page.

You'll see "followers : 29".

There is a "-" sign on the left.

Click there.

I have my own humble opinion why you were banned. This area is to post your issues with PowerDesk so somebody will read and work on the solution. You did that but you keep insulting the product again and again and again, using the same words.

I'm working with PCs for 25 years and even though PD has issues I wouldn't know what to do without it. Way better than the other options. I highly recommend it. I'm sure Mark and others are working hard to make an excellent product on PD 9. I'm sure they are sorry PD 8 had these many issues. 

p.s.: don't forget to unfollow.  you shouldn't waste your valuable time in a place like this.

PowerDesk 8 build 8.4.1.7 feedback:

I installed the newest version 8.4.1.7 on Win 7 HP 32bit  and it's resolved most of the issues I was having with 8.4.1.4:

1. The large file copy/move screen refresh issue is gone. Yippiee!

2. The crash when clicking the Windows System32 folder is gone. However, it takes forever for the contents to display. This is not a big issue since I don't have a need to access it very often.

3. The save customizations problem is still an issue, somewhat. Some of my customizations stayed. However, I couldn't get rid of the Welcome screen no matter what I did.

Welcome or splash screens (a pain in my opinion, and should be banned on paid for software) should at least close on their own, but PD8 requires you to check do not show. Even though I did this, it would still re-appear on the next launch. The prefs had Show Welcome screen unchecked. Additionally, the Save Settings On Exit check kept re-appearing, even though I'd unchecked it and clicked Save Settings Now.

I ended up having to uninstall PD8 and remove all traces. I re-installed and then I was able to get rid of the Welcome Screen. However, the Save Settings on Exit check still re-appears. This is very flaky.

4. The problem with creating a new directory and it steals focus is still an issue, but a minor annoyance.

All in all, 8.4.1.7 is better, but I still am not pleased with this software. The only reason I've stuck with it is because I haven't found a good, reasonably priced alternative (Directory Opus is way too expensive). There is a file manager that's close, FreeCommander. They have a beta version FreeCommander XE that looks very promising, and as the name says, it's Free!!!

I wanted to let the frequent visitors here know that I have posted a new preview build for review at: 

http://www.softcity.com/contribution/AMwETMwADN/view/powerdesk-8-preview-release-new-build

There were a few additional items addressed from the previous posting.  Please be aware that some work we want to do will require significant changes, and will not be possible in a simple patch for the current version.

I've also started a new discussion thread at:

http://www.softcity.com/contribution/QO5ATMwADN/view/powerdesk-8-preview-release-feedback

We will be reviewing the feedback comments there.

As I read the Q and A in PR 3, is see that most are experiencing very slow response when accessing folder with a large number of files (exe's ,etc.) So when are you going to return the folder access method you used to use in prvious versions? The one PD8 uses now sucks!

Mark,

You said (above): "I am always collecting information about what cusotmers want/need for the next releases. PD 9 represents a LOT of infrastructure work related to performance. I have discussed this topic in other threads.. we intend to rip the engines apart and rebuild them again using a modern design. This takes more effort than what we can do in a patch."

All well and good, and I certainly appreciate your efforts to clarify/solve problems users are having with the current(?) patch (v.8.4.1.4).  But...

Some of us are still living with the glitches found in v.8.4.1.12 -- the most recent version of PDP8 installed by LiveUpdate (at least on MY computer).  Please see the problem reported as "Refresh bug in new Power Desk 8.4.1.12 update patch" in the OS & Utilities Channel here and note my comment to John Tappero's post in that thread.

Has that glitch been fixed?  I didn't see anything about it above, but perhaps I've missed something.  If the "refresh issue" has been -- or will be -- resolved in a forthcoming Version 9, I'd sure like to know that.  And others would too, no doubt.  Thanks.

--Gerry G.

Hello Gerry,

We do have a new version of Power Desk, it is version 8.5. The issue you are describing should have been corrected in this new version. YOu can find this new version on our website

www.avanquest.com

Mike,

Thanks for the tip/news about PD Pro 8.5 and the link to the website.

Now, how does this work: I have PDP 8.4.1.12 under license; if I download the Full Version of PDP 8.5 will I need to pay for the upgrade, or will my current license be valid until vers. 9.x is released?

In any case, if I do download ver. 8.5, will that install "seamlessly" over my current version AND preserve my current license info?

Thanks for your help & advice.  Am looking forward to trying vers. 8.5 to see if, in fact, the "refresh" issue (among others noted here) is really solved.

--Gerry