Major scare caused by SDC

from GalCiv2 Forums
When I originally downloaded GC2, using SDC, I did not realize that instead of simply downloading a file SDC was also installing that file in the target directory. Since I use a "download" directory, the result was the GC2 files being expanded in the middle of a folder that has evolved from 5.25 and 3.5 disks through 4 computers over 12 years.



While not comfortable with it, I let it be. Today I was given a boxed set and I thought it might be nice to have a "clean" version of the game running in comparison with the 1.1B3 version my download had become. Obviously, the boxed set wouldn't install because it identified the game was already installed. Fine, I go to uninstall the downloaded version, but there's no uninstall application and windows can't uninstall it because there's a problem with the install.log file.



Hmmm.... I check the forum and find out SDC can uninstall. Great! Once again SDC surprises me by not only uninstalling the original files it installed, but by simply deleting the entire folder. Considering the sub folders contain everything worth saving over the last 12 years had now been deleted, my directory screen was now receiving the "death glare."



Norton Go Back to the rescue. I create a new folder, move all the GC2 stuff into it and head back to SDC to uninstall. Whether the files being in a new directory, or me missing a file, SDC now has to be reinstalled and no longer recognizes I have GC2 installed. Windows add/remove programs now lists GC2 as "already uninstalled." I run registry maintenance regulary anyway, so at this point I'm simply going to delete the old GC2 files.



1) While I've installed GC2 and 3 betas from SDC, at this point I don't remember if having SDC auto install vs simply downloading files was an option...this could all be my fault.



2) Even if it is all my fault, having SDC remove the entire directory instead of just the files it installed is still a problem. If SDC can auto archive, etc., it should also be able to identify what it has installed rather than resorting to deleting an entire directory.



The potential of losing 12 years of files over a simple "mistake" creates a sensation similar to having your life flash before your eyes as your memory runs through its inventory of everything now lost. If anything, all I hope this post accomplishes is SDC's install and uninstall process being looked into to add a bit more information to the user about what SDC is actually downloading/installing/uninstalling.



Thank you.
8,530 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Um...12 years of files and no back-up? That would actually be YOUR fault if you lost them, no?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Um...12 years of files and no back-up? That would actually be YOUR fault if you lost them, no?


Exactly. If you can manage it, get a back up for your back up. I've a seperate hard-drive with everything on it and I back up everything to that twice a month. For critical files or just stuff I don't want to lose, I've two 1gig and one 512mb memory sticks that are my back up's back up.
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have already conceeded that I may have overlooked something that allowed the entire event. But I don't know. Sure, most of that is on a cd-rom in a box somewhere.

The point of the post was to illustrate:
1)that a first use of SDC installed the game when I expected to merely download a file. I would have created a new directory to then install.
2)the lack of an uninstall app with the downloaded version, or at least lack of an uninstall app in the beta.
3)the inability of XP to uninstall the game because of a faulty install.log file
4) #'s 2&3 forced me to uninstall using SDC, which wiped out much more than expected.
5) with just a bit more "documentation" I would have been aware the game was being installed, not just downloaded (and would have acted accordingly). Also, when I chose to have all the game files erased, that's exactly what I expected, not an entire directory erased...again preventable with a bit more documentation.

Since both the original install and last night's "fun" happened around midnight, maybe I just need to learn to wait until I'm less tired. Still, there's no reason not to use my own stupidity/ignorance/lack of sleep in showing that SDC can be fairly destructive with only a minor mistake.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Always got my back ups on CD. btw, Norton is a flaming piece of s*** that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. It IS NOT game friendly. Anti-Virus autoscans are a nuisance, get a manual one. Windows has a built in system restore if something goes wrong. And never let anything auto-install, you should choose the target area, and why were you uninstalling SDC anyway? Having two copies of the same game (albeit different versions) is frankly useless.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Always got my back ups on CD


Answered.

Norton is a flaming piece of s*** that I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. It IS NOT game friendly. Anti-Virus autoscans are a nuisance, get a manual one. Windows has a built in system restore if something goes wrong.


Actually, I have found Nortons to work much better than XP's built in restore. I've full firewall, etc running and after the first prompt, never have any problems.

And never let anything auto-install, you should choose the target area, and why were you uninstalling SDC anyway? Having two copies of the same game (albeit different versions) is frankly useless.


You really should learn to read a post before replying. I was unaware it was auto-installing. SDC had to be reinstalled after moving the GC2 files...don't know why (since SDC is in a sepparate directory). An original copy and a beta copy of the game would allow me to run the same simulation and evaulate the differences for myself. I'm curious like that.

Have a nice day.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
When you click on the game in SDC it says " INSTALL" . Don't know how much clearer that could be.

If you don't have backups of your important files, that is your fault. Stuff happens.