Hoster Shutting Down - Stopped Working: Upgrade DirectX and WMP

[admin]

Gentlepersons, this thread has run its course and now is onto other topics, which makes it hard to answer. If you want to start a new thread topic, you are welcome to do so.

Part of the problem is that we have had to upgrade our Microsoft Development Studio, converting from a 5 year old setup that has been great... until this year.

Microsoft every once in a while throws us a curve ball. This time,it was DirectX and Windows Media Player. We were forced to upgrade to solve some of the problems we fixed in 4.22. That's where we are today.

Further, I am now handicapped, having lost 50% use of my left hand... and I'm left handed. I can't touch type any more and make MANY typos constantly, requiring me to go back and edit all the time.

The buck stops here. It is my mistake that MTU didn't upgrade our XP, Vista and Win7 "Upgrade Changes" pages. We didn't tell you that you would need to make these changes. With all the stress we were under,it was a relief just to get the blooming 4.22 out the door.

For the MASSIVE number of users, and ALL new users who have the latest DirectX and WMP, they saw no problems. Those of you converting up, are now forced to upgrade IF...you want the bug fixes that came with these Windows upgrades. I'm sorry. We have protected you folks for years, sometimes spending thousands of dollars more, versus require OS upgrades. It was out of out hands this time.

As to upgrades, our $69.99 is a 60% discount off a new copy. We have ALWAYS requested that you buy an upgrade every 12 months, but never enforced it until now. We always changed the Registration Code generator when we did a major upgrade,such as Hoster 3.x to Hoster 4.x. that forced the upgrade.However, our costs have gone up also.

Now, we will next start on 5.0. Tempo change and an improved key change are becoming a major request, and we are loosing some sales to cmpetitors. that gets our attention very quickly. The upgrades you folks pay (when they are paid), doesn't begin to pay for our development costs. It is more to cover our support costs, especially with a release like 4.22 with the aid we are providing to existing customers.

One of my goals for over a year now, is to add a Tools menu command that will have a checkbox by each major feature. If you don't want to upgrade your computer,you can turn them all off, then turn one on at a time, until YOUR computer goes into overload.There is no way we can know in advance that:
1.This processor (AMD is always worse thatn Intel on audio due to patents)
2. This minimum RAM
3. This graphics card with such and so driver version (some work,some don't)
4. This optical drive that may be worn out or not, but it's always MTU's fault
5. Windows XP Home/Premium/Whatever with these upgrades,but not those upgrades
6. Windows Vista with its many permutations that was the suckiest OS there ever has existed, and all its myriad of faults blamed on MTU
7. Windows 7 which is the best Microsoft has done in a long time, but still flawed until SR1 releases
8. 32-bit or 64-bit of XP,vista or Win7 (gag)
.
.
.
1,000,000. The list for combinations on a PC is truly endless and every person can have a totally different problem from the last.

Now, I'm very tired and ask your indulgence on this post. I've triedto set the record straight on why you few have had problems. Each of you are appreciated,and as a result of my realizing we had not updated our instructions, I spent over 4 hours today doing that. I've emailed MTUSUPPORT to review my changes, as he is our resident expert and will know where I goofed... and I'm sure I have somewhere. So,by noon tomorrow, he should have corrected my mistakes and the upgrade pages should be accurate. If you want to wait until then to read and follow our directions,I would suggest you do that to not waste your time.

Again, I am sorry we didn't get the upgrade requirements out earlier. Eventually we fix things so everyone is running.

We are VERY EXCITED about 4.22. We finally had enough data, and the scoop on Directx and WMP to find and fix real problems. We are happy so far that so few are having problems. That is always the risk with a massive change like we did here.

I'm now closing this thread. Dale can decide to reopen it if he feels there is a continuing need to address the original topic. I for one think it has run its course... now with 135 posts on a range of topics.

Good night.