Download queue wiped

[mazzuce]

I extracted 0.33.4 (WinXP 32-bit, normally run as non-admin user, admin user extracted the new version to the Program Files dir). 

I'm not sure I recollect all the details correctly, but when it first ran (or maybe when it first shut down after running the new version) it displayed an error dialogue for some problem with a fairly long filename (using a GUID or hash as part of the name?)  I believe the next time it ran the download queue had been wiped.  In addition, now on shutdown it complains about not being able to create C:\Program Files\alt.binz\queue\queue.idx.  I can probably change the file permissions so that programs executing as the non-administrative user can create folders in the Program Files\alt.binz dir...but alt.binz really should be using the user's profile to store configuration such as this so that one doesn't have to - and either way it shouldn't wipe the queue. 

I checked the alt.binz\misc dir and the latest queue-related file appears to be a copyof_queue.abz file that is five weeks old    I haven't found a more recent queue file anywhere else yet.  I'll see if I can use this old version + cached files in the NZB dir to reconstruct the missing additions to the queue, but that won't weed out missing deletions from the queue.

It also seems that starting 0.33.4 touches the file modification date of the binaries in that folder (par2.exe and unrar.dll), which is weird and somewhat suspicious and doesn't seem necessary.

[davidq666]

from which version did u upgrade to 0.33.4?
 
about the queue see:

https://www.altbinz.net/forum/index.php?topic=4479.msg19429#msg19429

Just a warning. New organization of queue, so there may be few bugs (or not). Also, when switching back from this version to older - queue WILL NOT be loaded.

...
It also seems that starting 0.33.4 touches the file modification date of the binaries in that folder (par2.exe and unrar.dll), which is weird and somewhat suspicious and doesn't seem necessary.

nope that is not so strange because those two files are created a new at every start...

[Rdl]

Well, everyhing is very clear. You obviously gave permissions for misc dir. But with new queue storage method, queue is now stored in /queue dir. If you want altbinz to store everything in users dir you shouldn't have put misc dir in same dir as exe file(this behaviour is described many times before) If misc is detected it's presumed altbinz have full permission to write to its root dir and that includes making new folders, otherwise user dir is used. Queue gone -> it has loaded old style queue and when it old queue was deleted and new one (/queue) should be saved.

Par2.exe & unrar.dll extraction is normal with every start. What exactly is suspicious? If you don't trust the program/author - you shouldn't use it.

[mazzuce]

from which version did u upgrade to 0.33.4?

I believe it was 0.33.0.

If you want altbinz to store everything in users dir you shouldn't have put misc dir in same dir as exe file(this behaviour is described many times before)

I installed alt.binz many many versions ago.  I may not recall correctly, but I don't remember that the first version I installed had the option to put the misc dir anywhere else. 

Even in 0.33.4, when I go through all the options in the dialog that appears when I hit "Setup", I still don't see an option to put the misc dir somewhere else.  If getting this location right - especially given that it is normal and "correct" for Windows programs to be stored in the Program Files directory where non-administrative users do not normally have modification rights - then this setting should be more prominent.  And in either case the default location for misc should be in the user's profile - users should have to specifically choose to put it somewhere else.

If misc is detected it's presumed altbinz have full permission to write to its root dir and that includes making new folders, otherwise user dir is used.

Making such a presumption is incorrect.

Wiping the queue when the presumption turns out to be incorrect is a serious bug - at a minimum it should leave the filesystem in a state from which the new queue file structure can be created in the future from the old queue when the permissions are fixed.

What exactly is suspicious?

Binaries on a Windows machine are generally created once and then left alone, other than program updates/upgrades.  Changes to binaries at other points in time are often a symptom of malware.  I'm fine if alt.binz is extracting/recreating these on every startup, but it should use a method that preserves the timestamp of the file in the archive (as most popular archiving programs do).

[Rdl]

'misc' folder logic is there since 0.25
I didn't mention there is an option for that in setup. Default location for 'misc' IS users dir.

[mazzuce]

Default location for 'misc' IS users dir.

That's good.  I'm confident I did not override the misc folder location to move it out of the user's profile, so that may not have always been the default in the past. 

I didn't mention there is an option for that in setup.

Is it located somewhere else?  I don't recall ever seeing it, although it's possible I could have forgotten.  How do I change it in my installation?

[Rdl]

Is it located somewhere else?  I don't recall ever seeing it, although it's possible I could have forgotten.  How do I change it in my installation?

Best way would be to move all dirs except lang dir(if you have it) out of altbinz root folder, then start altbinz, let it create dir structure in users dir, close altbinz, overwrite dir/files structure in users dir with the ones you backed up in step1, start altbinz

[mazzuce]

Thanks Rdl, will try that.

[mazzuce]

After removing all folders in the Program Files\alt.binz directory except lang\, when starting 0.33.4 I get "Cannot create file C:\Program Files\alt.binz\misc\unrar.dll.  The system cannot find the path specified.", and a similar error for a different file in misc\ on shutdown.  Any other thoughts on why it's still trying for a misc\ subdir?  For non-admin users: the Program Files\alt.binz folder has Read & Execute, List Folder Contents and Read permissions, as does the lang\ subdir, and altbinz.exe has Read & Execute, Read.

[Rdl]

OS?

[mazzuce]

OS?

WinXP SP3 x32.

[cell-gfx]

I just lost my entire d/l queue after receiving an error about a floating point operation. I then got an access error and Alt.Binz crashed. Re-opening the program gave me a blank download queue.
I'm running on W7, but not running it as an administrator. Is there any way to restore the old queue, or am I stuck with rebuilding it?
Also, is there any advice on how to run optimally in W7, ie. as admin, etc?