Do not turn on file Info in details display, with a large MP3 folder, PD 8 will crash.

Is this the case with PD 8 Patch 1 applied?

yes and pd 7 did not happen on pd 6

Use Generic Icons (View > Show Generic Icons). The non-generic icons slow down the  system.

Switch to dual vertical display under View > File Panes > Dual Pane Vertical. If you have a long, deep tree, the dual vertical display, showing the source on the left and the destination on the right makes it much easier to see where a file came from and where it is going rather than having to scroll up-and-down between the source and destination directories.

I always put the search tool on my desktop.  All you have to do (in XP) is to navigate in Powerdesk to the folder containing powerdesk (under \Program Files\Avanquest\PowerDesk).  Find the executable (pdfind.exe) and drag it onto your desktop or toolbar.  Once there, when you release the mouse, just select Create Link to Application.

Also, once it's on your desktop or taskbar, you can right click on it and select properties.  In that dialog on the Shortcut tab, you can select a new icon for it.  You can find tons of free icons on the web, download them and then use them like this. 

Of course, you can also create your own icons.  I'm not much of an artist, but I have taken a preexisting icons and put them through a graphics program like gimp to change their color or make other small changes.

PowerDesk 8 User Tips

Don't buy the product until they fix it...

Sorry Avanquest, this fantastic product still doesn't work, and if you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen.

I agree with Alan.  I've used Powerdesk for over 15 years and finally could not stand the bugs:  crashes, takes forever to open a folder on a networked drive, locks up, I was even foolish enough to pay for 2 licenses to the new version 8 and then gave it up for something that does not crash and it fast as hell at logging a networked drive(hint:  DO).

Ditto Alan and Ben. Besides the problem with File Info crashing PD Pro, my customizations won't save. I've tried the "Run As Admin" solution, which wasn't. I am prepared to go back to PD Pro 7, which at least didn't trash my custom toolbar whenever I closed it, and if the PD Pro 8 install has set a registry key somewhere that makes it not save customizations in PD Pro 7 either (as is the situation now), I'm going to be REALLY pissed.

Anyone know if there are any open tickets on the customization problem? Seen any solutions other than the Run As Admin one that doesn't frickin' work? That's a show-stopper. There are many features of PD Pro that I use sparingly or not at all, but that custom toolbar screwup really affects my productivity with the utility.

Scott, Check the article at this link:

http://cafe.softcity.com/contribution/zkzNyQzN/view/how-to-fix-saving-issues-on-powerdesk-pro-8-vista-7-64-bit

At first I thought I'd already tried it - but it seems to be critical which icon you use to change the properties and then launch it.  You need to use the icon in your start/all programs menu, not an icon on the desktop or anywhere else.  After I did this I was able to make my changes, save them and then I turned off the "run as administrator" for normal use.

I am not sure if everyone knows who reads this thread--we are close to releasing patch 2 which covers the bugs that I see mentioned in this thread.

It should be posted on here for you all to try this week.

Is there any way to go to folder containing file found through search?

Funny, the "double click the desktop to start Powerdesk" (which apparently is the sole reason for the PDhood~~ background program) doens't work on my PC. Am I missing the glory? It would be handy when PD crashes...

I have used PD for many years because of its flexible dual windows, preview view, the handy utilities (when they work) of PDFind, Dialog Helper, File Sizer, etc. And the handy lanunch bar, drive bar & very flexible icon bar. Plus the PD Favorites.

Until I saw Explorer in Win 7, there was NO competition with Powerdesk from Windows itself. I never used Explorer in XP or before. Now, Explorer is pretty robust. Win7 introduced some novel ways of navigating that take some getting used to. But its options are robust as I said. And its is STABLE.

I like the menued access to key utilities such as mapping/unmapping network drives. It would be nice if PD kept up with the times by allowing me to format my CD/DVD drives (tho I'd not allow formating hard drives of any form thru such a simple menu). Its also nice to be able to print file/directory listings, tho its something I make use of primarily when upgrading computers.

As I've said elsewhere, and many customers have said forcefully, if you want to play in this market, you'd best make RELIABILITY job #1. And support your product. You fall down on both counts. And if people who've used PD for 10+ years say its "too much hassle," you have shot yourself in the foot.