Archiving with Stardock Central 101
A mini tutorial for beginners
Sunday, August 14, 2005 by Corky_O | Discussion: Tutorials
ARCHIVING WITH STARDOCK CENTRAL 101
This mini tutorial is designed to help beginners create, backup, and restore program archives using the Stardock Central archiving functions.
This mini tutorial was created using Windows XP with the default settings, and assumes you have Stardock Central and at least one of the Stardock programs listed in Stardock Central installed.
CREATING A PROGRAM ARCHIVE
Open Stardock Central > select an installed program to archive > click the File menu > mouse over Archive Application > select Entire application (including skins) option as shown in the image below.
Note – you can create the archive including all skins as shown, which will package up all the application files and any skins currently installed, or you can archive just the application. Repeat the procedure as necessary for any additional programs you want to create an archive for.
BACKING UP PROGRAM ARCHIVES
Click the Start button > click My Computer > open Local Disk (C:) > open Program Folders > open Stardock folder > open SDCentral folder > you will see the "BACKUP" folder as shown in the image below.
You can either burn this folder to CD with your favorite burning software, or use the built in Windows XP CD recording software. For information on using the Windows XP built in recording function, you can see my mini tutorial here Link
Note – the archives are stored in compressed file folders (".zip") as shown in the image below. You can also backup individual archives by burning the ".zip" files to CD.
RESTORING PROGRAM ARCHIVES
STEP #1 - Open Stardock Central > click the File menu > select "Restore Archive…" as shown in the image below.
STEP #2 – Select the archive you want to restore, and click the Restore button as shown in the image below. This will begin the extraction and installation process.
Note – if you are trying to revert to an earlier version than the one currently installed or offered for installing in Stardock Central main pane, you will want to use Stardock Central to uninstall any currently installed version before using the Restore Archive function, then make sure the archive ".zip" file is in the "C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP" folder.
You can also remove the complete "BACKUP" folder to another location to prevent any possible loss of files should some unforeseen event compromise your computer. Make sure to replace the folder to the "C:\Program Folders\Stardock\SDCentral" folder before attempting to use the Restore Archive function.
These are the basics for creating an application archive, which I have illustrated using the menu bar commands. As with many procedures performed in the Windows environment, there are other methods for accessing these functions. I suggest using this method to get comfortable with the procedure, then perhaps exploring the other methods (context menus, option selections, etc.).
I hope you found this mini tutorial useful. Until next time, have fun and "Keep On Customizing".
This mini tutorial is designed to help beginners create, backup, and restore program archives using the Stardock Central archiving functions.
This mini tutorial was created using Windows XP with the default settings, and assumes you have Stardock Central and at least one of the Stardock programs listed in Stardock Central installed.
CREATING A PROGRAM ARCHIVE
Open Stardock Central > select an installed program to archive > click the File menu > mouse over Archive Application > select Entire application (including skins) option as shown in the image below.
Note – you can create the archive including all skins as shown, which will package up all the application files and any skins currently installed, or you can archive just the application. Repeat the procedure as necessary for any additional programs you want to create an archive for.
BACKING UP PROGRAM ARCHIVES
Click the Start button > click My Computer > open Local Disk (C:) > open Program Folders > open Stardock folder > open SDCentral folder > you will see the "BACKUP" folder as shown in the image below.
You can either burn this folder to CD with your favorite burning software, or use the built in Windows XP CD recording software. For information on using the Windows XP built in recording function, you can see my mini tutorial here Link
Note – the archives are stored in compressed file folders (".zip") as shown in the image below. You can also backup individual archives by burning the ".zip" files to CD.
RESTORING PROGRAM ARCHIVES
STEP #1 - Open Stardock Central > click the File menu > select "Restore Archive…" as shown in the image below.
STEP #2 – Select the archive you want to restore, and click the Restore button as shown in the image below. This will begin the extraction and installation process.
Note – if you are trying to revert to an earlier version than the one currently installed or offered for installing in Stardock Central main pane, you will want to use Stardock Central to uninstall any currently installed version before using the Restore Archive function, then make sure the archive ".zip" file is in the "C:\Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP" folder.
You can also remove the complete "BACKUP" folder to another location to prevent any possible loss of files should some unforeseen event compromise your computer. Make sure to replace the folder to the "C:\Program Folders\Stardock\SDCentral" folder before attempting to use the Restore Archive function.
These are the basics for creating an application archive, which I have illustrated using the menu bar commands. As with many procedures performed in the Windows environment, there are other methods for accessing these functions. I suggest using this method to get comfortable with the procedure, then perhaps exploring the other methods (context menus, option selections, etc.).
I hope you found this mini tutorial useful. Until next time, have fun and "Keep On Customizing".
sunwukong
Reply #2 Sunday, August 14, 2005 4:49 PM
Reply #2 Sunday, August 14, 2005 4:49 PM
Feature request -- let the user specify the backup and restore directories.
Lantec
Reply #3 Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:16 PM
Reply #3 Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:16 PM
Good one too...I would add a recommendation that new users (especially) set the "Auto-Archive on Application Update" option on just in case of the unforseen. 
sunwukong
Reply #4 Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:51 PM
Reply #4 Sunday, August 14, 2005 7:51 PM
Has anybody been able to archive something huge like Disciples II without the server resetting the connection? I've tried twice and it gets about 360MB or so in (less than an hour) before the server chokes and kills the download. Keep in mind I don't have Disciples II installed -- this is strictly download and archive.
Scarebear
Reply #6 Monday, August 15, 2005 8:03 PM
Reply #6 Monday, August 15, 2005 8:03 PM
Great article. I've never bothered with this, but will now Thanks.
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Reply #1 Sunday, August 14, 2005 4:42 PM