Urgent warning to everyone:

Do not install the DelayDots Spectral Suite!

I just tried the demo, after 10 minutes or so uninstalled it using the uninstall shortcut AND IT DELETED MY ENTIRE VST DIRECTORY!

I am beyond pissed.

Not ony to have I have to reinstall Cubase SX, I have to spend several days reinstalling and re-activating all of my VST!

There is absolutely no doubt at all that it had to be this demo.

I am pissed! Beware!

This happened to me once but luckily I have Norton anti virus and it protects my recycle bin and I was able to locate and rescue 95% of them without harm. Now I never install a VST into my shared directory without testing it in a temp directory first.

If you have Norton AV there's a chance you may be able to recover most of them. Or maybe even an undelete or file recovery programme at this stage would save some as nothing deleted is really deleted until overwritten.

Hey amused,

That is f'ing amazing - it happened before to someone else and they STILL put this thing out?

Thanks for the encouragement.

This is the ONLY VST that has ever done this on my machine.

bummer mate

suggestion

http://www.ontrack.com/

i just checked - you gave in your vstfolder while installing - the installer suggested a subfolder !
i de-installed it to check it and only the subfolder got removed !

MickGael wrote:

Hey amused, That is f'ing amazing - it happened before to someone else and they STILL put this thing out? Thanks for the encouragement. This is the ONLY VST that has ever done this on my machine.

No - I didn't mean with this particular VST - I haven't tried it myself. It's just not the first time a VST with a crappy uninstall routine has been released.

Do you have Norton or something similar then? (here's hoping) There is still a good chance if you do.

Thanks Emerald Table...

aMUSEd wrote:

"Do you have Norton or something similar then? (here's hoping) There is still a good chance if you do.

Hi aMUSEd,

Nice to find some sympathetic ears.

I am running Norton, but when I looked it did not seem to have them in restore.

Just downloaded some recovery apps and am hoping.

Thanks guys.

might wanna crosspost this in the delaydots support forum so Alexey gets a chance to fix the bug

aMUSEd wrote:

If you have Norton AV there's a chance you may be able to recover most of them.

Better than Norton AV,

http://www.symantec.com/goback/

Can't you use system restore???

This has saved me a few times from problems like this,
only yesterday as amatter of fact.

HI

Actually I was the Un-lucky b...... that had all the dLL files wiped from my VST folder on un-installing A Spin Audio product; thankfully I had (unknowingly - so I was bloody lucky)left system restore on (not generally recommended on an audio PC) and salvaged the damage.

But it is a terrible feeling, especially if you have a lot of stuff.

delay dots must be using a different installer now - I have the whole range and haven't had this happen.

Sorry to hear about your woes.

Flipper.

i never install vst's, especially demo's in my main vst plugin volder. I have one called c:\program files\vst\xxxx where x is the manufacturer of the plugin I am installing. never had a problem that way

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the support - downloading a file restore app now to see if that will work.

Even if I have to go through the royal pain in the ass of reinstalling everything, its kind of nice to find some sympathetic folks here.

Thanks.

Dan

MickGael wrote:

Hi Guys, Thanks for all the support - downloading a file restore app now to see if that will work. Even if I have to go through the royal pain in the ass of reinstalling everything, its kind of nice to find some sympathetic folks here. Thanks. Dan

I know it sux and is a pita but various problems have happened to all of use at one time or another. the bright side is that it's a valuable learning experience and you won't make the same mistake again Good luck I hope the restore all works out for you

The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder?
Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder?

I had about 5 beta testers, including my stress tests at 2 machines but noone installed VST into root.
If i requested setup into root folder, i'd not suggested a subfolder by default.

So from this ALWAYS INSTALL ANYTHING TO THE SUBFOLDER.

Alex

The reason some installers do this is because they assume you have a folder called 'Vstplugins' and that is the root folder that they will try to install into. If you change the folder to the one you actually do use (e.g. 'VST Plugins') then the installer doesn't automatically create a sub folder for that plugin.

So when you direct the installer to install into your named VST folder you have to remember to create a plugin folder. Basically, some installers don't automatically create their own program folder if you change the root directory. While most installers do create a program folder regardless of where you install them those that don't are fuckin' thick installers!

Okay if we had such a thread - i thought do not use installers at all. But my musicdsp friends suggested me use them to avoid emails with questions how to install.

I know some ppl supply files zipped and user copy them self into folder he want.
How many of you ready to do that?

I prefer that method. Then I can move stuff around without bothering about what the uninstaller will think...

Aktion wrote:

Okay if we had such a thread - i thought do not use installers at all. But my musicdsp friends suggested me use them to avoid emails with questions how to install. I know some ppl supply files zipped and user copy them self into folder he want. How many of you ready to do that?

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think we should setup a poll
But, actually speaking, zipping files is may scare unexperienced user. From other side, who care?)

Aktion wrote:

I think we should setup a poll But, actually speaking, zipping files is may scare unexperienced user. From other side, who care?)

Simple Solution. Give end user the option. No need to set up a poll!

One download link = exe setup
Second Download Link = Zip File

You didnt account my lazyness But yes i thought about that already.

Aktion wrote:

You didnt account my lazyness But yes i thought about that already.

Aktion wrote:

The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder? Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder? I had about 5 beta testers, including my stress tests at 2 machines but noone installed VST into root. If i requested setup into root folder, i'd not suggested a subfolder by default. So from this ALWAYS INSTALL ANYTHING TO THE SUBFOLDER. Alex

Alex,

To be honest, of the (literally) hundreds of VST I have installed this is the only one that gave me this problem.

I have installed (and removed) many directly from the root folder with no problems at all. It seems I may have been lucky to this point.

Happily, after several hours (and a file recovery app) it looks like I have been able to save most things.

So (knock on wood) no major harm done.

Even so, perhaps you can understand my dismay.

Cheers,
Dan

Quote:

The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder? Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder?

Alex, I can't beleive that.
Your program erases entire folders instead of removing just it's own files, and You blame this on the user ???
You should fall on your knees and write 1000 times "excuse me" , if You program bullshit like that!

Aktion wrote:

The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder? Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder? I had about 5 beta testers, including my stress tests at 2 machines but noone installed VST into root. If i requested setup into root folder, i'd not suggested a subfolder by default. So from this ALWAYS INSTALL ANYTHING TO THE SUBFOLDER. Alex

I agree with WOK, this is a bit thick considering what the guy just went through because of your nonsensical uninstaller. I generally speaking don't install anything in my root-folder, but come on, bit more humility thank you. You made a mistake.

WOK wrote:

Quote: The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder? Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder? Alex, I can't beleive that. Your program erases entire folders instead of removing just it's own files, and You blame this on the user ??? You should fall on your knees and write 1000 times "excuse me" , if You program bullshit like that!

I happen to agree with you on this one.

Installing into the route vst directory shouldn't be a problem - and yeah it's very lazy coding to just delete the whole damn folder without even checking what else is in it- or even just making sure it's not the vstplugins folder - i think we're talking about - 10mins coding? if that?


Kind regards

Dave Rich.

Oh, and I also want for example all my reverb dll's to be in my "reverb" folder - not each in their subfolder. This is pretty common practice. I expect the installer to create a folder under the installation folder I had specified where it places further necessary files, but the dll itself is in a folder shared by many other plugins to be as quickly accessible as possible. A retarded uninstaller like this would in this case erase the whole reverb-folder.

So it was total bs logic to argue that the mistake was his for putting it into the root-vstplugins-directory.

You'll get friends for life here at KvR if you release stuff as ZIP instead of EXE, Aktion. Even after releasing an installer that makes bad assumptions. Installers drive me crazy. So many of them do weird things like add an extra "vstplugins" folder if you try to install anywhere other than your root folder. And others will add their own subfolder no matter what you do and without warning, so I have plugins installed into VSTPlugins\Subfolder\Subfolder ... thanks, genius installer!

ZIP is sooooooooo much better. Put it where you want it. If you want to delete it, select it and press the delete key. No extra folders. No missing folders.

Won't help you now, but I don't have anything in that vstplugins folder ALOT of execs try to install too. I have a VST's folder and I put everything in there. Reason?....like you posted and also because VST'S does not belong to any installer directory and if I ever find one installer with that directory, I will make another folder

the installer is fixed.
you will get zip files from now.
(edit: or not, i better remove uninstall option)
i'm sorry.
thats it.

Aktion wrote:

The demo/release installers has been updated but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder? Do you install programs into Program Files without a subfolder? I had about 5 beta testers, including my stress tests at 2 machines but noone installed VST into root. If i requested setup into root folder, i'd not suggested a subfolder by default. So from this ALWAYS INSTALL ANYTHING TO THE SUBFOLDER. Alex

Well ahem .... You say ...... "but tell me why on earth you installing to ROOT vst folder?"

I am sure Thousands of us out here have plenty of Plugs right in the VST directory.
Back 5 years ago ... thats where they went (Some hosts could not even see subfolders)
I have same folder now I did 5 years ago....

I use subfolders for products that set them up themselves ... But just drop other dlls right in the VST folder.
I know I am not the only one but i have never had a Problem
I Hope companies stop using these install / uninstall methods that confuse people and are capable of doing this.

original flipper wrote:

HI Actually I was the Un-lucky b...... that had all the dLL files wiped from my VST folder on un-installing A Spin Audio product; thankfully I had (unknowingly - so I was bloody lucky)left system restore on (not generally recommended on an audio PC) and salvaged the damage. But it is a terrible feeling, especially if you have a lot of stuff. delay dots must be using a different installer now - I have the whole range and haven't had this happen. Sorry to hear about your woes. Flipper.

Major attack of deja vu here - I had the exact same problem and the same fortuitous solution:

http://www.kvr-vst.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=55701&highlight=

I'm confused now - are you me or am I you

Regards,

Derek.

I have stuck a lot of things in my root VST folder.

Installers aren't consistent. Sometimes if you try to install something called "Dog" in C:\VST\Dog, the installer automatically makes a subfolder and you wind up with "C:\VST\Dog\Dog". Or worse, something like "C:\VST\Dog\Program Files\VSTPlugins\Canine Audio\DogVST 1.2 Demo" On the other hand, sometimes it puts it exactly where you tell it to.

And that's why we like not having installers

I think have 2 distribution solution is good idea.
I go for it.

Btw, on OSX i can not find any uninstaller at all.

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

This little proggy has saved my life on one occasion. If you use it immediately after deletion, you have a very good chance of recovering your files.

HI

"Derek up North" - although you posted your experience first, to this day I believe that I had my folder wiped before you - I was just TOO devastated to post my woes, on seing your post though I saw the opportunity for a bit of group 'grief' bonding.

BTW - if you wish to revisit my thread it's on page 2 .

Flipper.

original flipper wrote:

HI "Derek up North" - although you posted your experience first, to this day I believe that I had my folder wiped before you - I was just TOO devastated to post my woes, on seing your post though I saw the opportunity for a bit of group 'grief' bonding. BTW - if you wish to revisit my thread it's on page 2 . Flipper.

The group grieving does help doesn't it (I felt a right plonker until I realised I wasn't the only one who'd done this!).

At least it's taught me to be more careful with my plugin installs!

Regards,

Derek.

hi all,
I had the same problem with this damn installer.....I installed to ..../vstplugins/sounddesign and after unistall the entire sounddesign folder was gone!
Beside the fact the the plugins are crap (IMHO), the installer is even crappier - and that´s an objective fact!
never again delaydots......

rant over!

Tell me r.u.sirius r u stupid?
Did you ever read thread at all?
I have fixed that damn installer 2 days ago in same say that thread appeared - it is not delete folder until it not empty.
I want the plug-in installed to dedicated folder and installer follow that option.
Yes that was my failure it is deleted whole folder - im sorry about it again. There is zip option will be available shortly.

No, I´m not stupid at all. I read this thread - but it was too late for me. Damage was done some days ago already.....
Sure, anybody can make a mistake, and it´s nice that you admit it and fixed it - but calling your potential customers stupid, after they followed your offer to test your stuff is advertisement at it´s worst!
very bad style.....

Did i _called_ you stupid? I _asked_.

And well, you just said you're not potencial customer anymore

I offer to close that thread. I have way much things to do than repeat same things again and again.
I found some unpleasant wonder of mac programming that i have to fix.

Once again, sorry about that.

Aktion wrote:

Did i _called_ you stupid? I _asked_.

Yeah, *right*.

Just as "are you a fucking retard!?" is a totally sincere questions with no further implications whatsoever. So yes, imo you did call sirius stupid. I think you should try to be a bit more polite for the sake of you own business. Even if a customer loses his cool, you should not lose yours...

You see, even if he did swear (quite foolishly imo) that "never again delaydots", I'm pretty sure you could have made it well again by being diplomatic and courteous. Instead you took a defensive stance...

.