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Would it be smart or stupid to download BIAB2016 into a BIAB2014 download-folder?

I was thinking it might save some gigabytes of download, since a lot of the realtracks are the same (as that archive is progressively growing)

My concern is that perhaps BIAB2016 would skip downloading updated realtracks if it thinks they have already been downloaded?

So, is it necessary to download everything as if it was a first-time install, or could I safely merge the download-files of BIAB2016 into those of BIAB2014? (at the time of download, not at the time of installation, which I understand is to be done into/on-top-of one's earlier BIAB-install)

If possible, we would only have to download those files that are actually new, and not the whole archive all over again.

Thanks

Last edited by JEL; 12/10/15 12:52 AM.
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I always install on top of my current version. I've only used an external USB drive so I don't have experience with downloading, but a PG Music staffer (Andrew) said that they were going to modify the download manager to check and not download files identical to existing ones. I don't know whether that's implemented yet.

Your instincts are correct - there is a huge amount of duplication in each new version, primarily from thousands of RealTracks, space-wise.


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If the download files are the same (f.ex. RealTracksxxx-yyy.exe), then I would think downloading the new over the old should not be a problem. You just want to make sure you have everything you need.

The advantage, though of keeping the old separate from the new, even if there are duplicates, are you then know exactly which files went with which package (so if you go back to install 2014, you would just install the 2014 files). But you may not see yourself doing that.

Then, once you install everything, I would archive the installation files to offline media (either a USB hard drive and/or DVDs); once installed, no need to keep them in your download folder taking up hard drive space on your computer.


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
a PG Music staffer (Andrew) said that they were going to modify the download manager to check and not download files identical to existing ones. I don't know whether that's implemented yet.

Your instincts are correct - there is a huge amount of duplication in each new version, primarily from thousands of RealTracks, space-wise.


Thank you smile
I will hold out on buying until later in december then, hoping the download-manager will be updated.
Saving 20-30, or perhaps more, gigabytes of traffic is worthwhile I think.



Originally Posted By: jford
The advantage, though of keeping the old separate from the new, even if there are duplicates, are you then know exactly which files went with which package (so if you go back to install 2014, you would just install the 2014 files).


Indeed smile I have the BIAB2014 downloads backed up on external media, and I am not going to delete those just yet.

My hope was that I could put the BIAB2014 downloads on my internal harddrive, and then perhaps avoid having to download anymore than just the new/updated material if I pointed the BIAB2016 download-manager into that BIAB2014 download folder.

The BIAB2014 download-folder is just over 50 gigabytes big. I wouldn't mind if I could skip re-downloading a big deal of that data for BIAB2016 if I basically already have it via BIAB2014 smile

Thanks.

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I'll try to find out how the download manager works.


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This year when I purchased the upgrade, I received a list of new files for 2016

There was also a list of files from 2015.

I only downloaded the files in the 2016 list (as I already had the others)

However, I purchase the Audiophile, and except for the main program, all the files come on a disk, as disk is the only distribution method available for the Audiophile version.

Regardless, you might get a separate download list of only the new files, like I did

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Right, we would need to know what it says for the RealTracks for the regular (not audiophile) version. Can anyone reading answer that, please? It could help clarify whether they are just the new ones, or the whole collection from many years.

FYI, for anyone who doesn't know why VideoTrack mentioned that the external hard disk is the only way to distribute the audiophile version, uncompressed audio takes up about 11 times the size of the compressed .WMA files shipped in the regular version. That required a 1.5 TB (terrabyte!) drive last year. And with 200 more new RealTracks in version 2016, the space needed only gets bigger each year.


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Download:
Download is the install file, from there the single files for your use are extracted.

I don't know your financial status, but a 4 TB disk holds all my music software that I did download or have on CD or other electronic media. And there is stll lots of room. 1 TB costs about 30-something Euros overhere if you buy a good quality drive.

Installing:
There are some files that you have more than once. So far there is a reason that some of PGMusic's programs have their own file access path. Combining these would save you just a couple of giga bytes.

You always should install over the existing installation. That
1. maintains your settings,
2. keeps your extras,
3, saves disk space.

You will need more disk space with each new update. Some of the disk space could be reused when you save your downloaded software after the install onto an external backup drive.


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There was one exception to the general rule that each new year's version requires more disk space. When the Elastique algorithms were first introduced, it allowed two out of every three RealTracks to be not used. As a consequence, the total package size decreased. I concur with everything else written, and it's safe to say 2016 requires more space than did 2015.


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Build 428, just released, adds improvements to the download manager, including not re-downloading files.


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Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
you might get a separate download list of only the new files


I'll see what happens when I put in the order smile

Originally Posted By: GHinCH
I don't know your financial status, but a 4 TB disk holds all my music software that I did download or have on CD or other electronic media. And there is stll lots of room. 1 TB costs about 30-something Euros overhere if you buy a good quality drive.


Yes, harddrives are not the main concern. It's more that downloading a lot of unnecessary gigabytes both takes a long time and clogs up the internet-line for all that time. I am on free traffic, but still, no need to put more load on the system than needed smile

Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Build 428, just released, adds improvements to the download manager, including not re-downloading files.


That's my cue smile
Go for launch smile

Thanks a lot for your replies and help.

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False alarm. For the first time I can remember, the update (#428) was removed because of other problems. There will be another expected next week. As #428 had the fixes to the download manager, perhaps you should wait.


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Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
False alarm. For the first time I can remember, the update (#428) was removed because of other problems. There will be another expected next week. As #428 had the fixes to the download manager, perhaps you should wait.


Thanks for posting this!

I've noticed a few threads popping up with various error-reports also, so I've decided to hold off until I see where all this is going.

I don't know if these issues are perhaps because people are spanned out on 3 types of windows (7, 8 and 10), but personally I'm staying on win7.

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I downloaded and installed Build #428. What errors do I need to be aware of? Ray


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Some context menus .. also with 428 some people could not launch the program.
Some keyboard shortcuts not working also.
Mr Gannon removed 428 download and recommends reinstalling 427 (ignoring any warnings about earlier version).
See the top of the BiaB forum list.


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Thanks, just installed Build # 427. Ray


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