Nov 2, 2012

PCCrafter is GONE GONE GONE

I had mentioned in previous posts about the state of pccrafter ( http://chocolateonthekeyboard.blogspot.com/2011/12/tis-sad-day-comingpc-crafter-is-closing.html )  and its closing. But this week it became official. Now if you click on ANY bookmarks or links you and or "I" may have included in blog posts or webpages I have made - that were linked to pccrafter  - the link will take you to an error page, and/or provocraft.com.   

So if you didn't download ALL of your purchased downloadable content, in the past almost 2 yrs we've known the place was closing down, you have now lost that ability.

Please make sure that if you do have pccrafter collections installed on your computer that you BACK THEM UP!!!  You can use an external drive, a thumb drive - which can be bought in 8gig to 64gigs worth of storage capability.  I always back up my graphics collections to multiple locations. I use portable external drives to back up my computers : documents, photos, graphics, music and video.
I like using thumb or flash drives (usually 16 or 32 gigabyte size) to store or backup/copy to - entire specific collections:

I save my entire PC HugWare folder - to a thumbdrive (since I have over 18gigs worth - I use a 32 gig thumb/flash drive for that)  - the PC HugWare folder contains all of my "INSTALLED" collections. So when I need to copy to a new computer, I just copy over that entire folder.  I also save other large specific collections I might buy from certain places online, such as DAISIE Company, or NitWit Collections etc.  I've invested a lot of money in clipart I've bought from those sites, so its important to me to back them up. But remember any drive can fail, your computers hard drive, an external drive, thumb/flash drives etc are all vulnerable to failure. So if something is important, irreplaceable, or that you would be heart broken to lose - back it up to more than one place.

I also use the ClickFree.com C6 model external drive to back up my "entire" computer. The C6 model backs up not only all the usual stuff, but also my Software Programs that are installed, and my computers operating system. (Currently all of my computers are running Windows 7) 

You can also use Online Backup Storage sites such as Carbonite or Mozy

Sites such as Carbonite and Mozy would be most valuable to those who fear a disaster - where your home is destroyed and your computers with it, (sadly what many are going through now after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the USA), or if your computer is stolen. Having your computers, documents, photos, graphics, music and video in "Cloud" storage, could be worth its weight in gold.

PCCrafter at one time in their 10+yr run on the internet truly was the best source of downloadable Clipart.  Their artists, and the varied styles offered to us through the years was amazing.  I personally own over 600 complete clipart sets, called Creatables, and Scrapables, Cardables. and then I have several months worth of the Monthly HugClub content - which included Paper Dolls,  scrapbook/card toppers, home helper sets - which had blank calendars, recipe cards, note paper etc.

A very select few artists that once upon a time sold their art in downloadable form at pccrafter - do continue to sell their artwork online.

Laurie Furnell sells at Etsy and at Aimee Asher.com
Tammy DeYoung sells at Aimee Asher.com
Joy Hall sells at Aimee Asher.com
Tammy Sherman sells at Aimee Asher.com

Gina Jane (Johnson) sells at DAISIE Company,com
Shelly Comiskey sells at DAISIE Company.com

Check my side bar listing of Clipart & Printables resources (under the "freebies" listing) to find websites that sell downloadable clipart.


28 comments:

  1. ugh ugh ugh!! I was so sad to see that I couldn't access anything yesterday. Good thing I just went there a few weeks ago and ran through my list and d/l the ones I didn't have installed... dunno how that happened either lol

    Do you happen to have the spreadsheet listing the artwork by artist? I somehow lost that file that circulated the message boards for a while.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I do have a spreadsheet of the Hugware listing. I sent you an email a couple of weeks ago, when you first posted this.

      Delete
  2. Hey Mary..
    You've helped me before, but since getting a new computer, it won't let me authorize my deluxe version of the browser. It lets me download it, but when I put my info in, it says error and takes me to Cricut. I have all my art backed up, but cannot get the deluxe browser to work so I can have transparent images. I have the lite version and it's fine. Any suggestions?

    Cindi
    absees123s@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I contacted support@cricut.com they emailed me a username and password that works. However with newer versions of windows you will have to tell the program to run it with the older version or windows.

      Delete
  3. I have the same dilemma as Cindi. I had to reinstall my operating system and therefore had to reinstall the pcHugware Deluxe Browser but no luck. It wants me to Activate the program again, and obviously it can't be re-activated since there is no pcCrafter. Sigh! Any suggestions from anyone with the same/similar problem?

    Cal.
    c.goo@hawaiiantel.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am just finding your post due to a google search. SAme thing for me. New computer, I have everthing backed up. When I try to open the program it asks for my email and password and then I get an error timed. If I click forgot password (which I know was correct) it takes me to Cricut.com. I just want to have it back to use it. Any suggestions? I would so appreciate any help.

    Laura
    breyman@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. lynnhardyman@hotmail.comJanuary 24, 2013 at 3:11 AM

    my computer died over christmas to my dismay all my pcCrafter was on it when i went to the website had gone i emailed provocraft who basically said tough !6 years of collecting am now in a bind as it was my turn to help my sons class with there valentines project and now can't there are going to be a lot of disappointed 7 and 8 year old boooooooooooo

    ReplyDelete
  6. OOOOH. Thank you... I just NOW, today, Found out that they no longer exist.. I was devistated... Thank you so much for keeping a list of those that still sell their art..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Old PC crashed -- but I'm too clever too fall for that -- my Clickfree is on automatic. And NO WAY was I going to lose my "huggy stuff" I THOUGHT I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT TO PRESERVE MY STUFF!

    Sigh...

    I too am in the "bummer" stage. Backed up the whole shamgoo onto my Clickfree but darn it all - my fonts are no where to be found! Cannot re-install my Deluxe Browser either - same results at the poster above.

    Thanks for your listing here. But NEED two of the fonts desperately.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just found your post due to a Google search and I wanted to ask you if by any chance do you have a Hugware list upgraded, by date, author. It is very confused for me looking my backs up without a list by author, and with no website on line.-
    My email is hadalatina@gmail.com in case you have a list. I am Claudia from Buenos Aires.
    Congratulations for your Blog, I've enjoyed it a lot. Regards, Claudia

    ReplyDelete
  9. I too am upset at the news..... Can I get a copy of the list sent to CroppyCat@yahoo.com ? Thanks! I had herd they were going out of biz and I did back up all my files however when I reload (due to reformat) the software it says I have to unlock it.... I had to do this before and PC told me that after 5 reinstalls they have to unlock somehting so how in the heck do we do that now if they are gone :( NOT happy at all! SO many files lost forever or can you open then with something else? Thanks for letting me vent.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have contacted pccrafter several times...I have lost just hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of clipart...they will not make it good..said they sent out emails that they were taking it down..well I never got an email to tell me the final shut down...so, I've lost most of my clipart and was a member since 2003

    ReplyDelete
  11. AND to add.....also same problem w/the hugware deluxe..can't activate it! I had to reinstall winxp and just lost everything.. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have the same feelings as Anonymous. I'm so upset - I didn't get the message either and have lost hundreds of clip art graphics. I too can't activate the hugware deluxe. And I have $80 credit that has been transferred to Cricut - which I have never used. so frustrating!!

      Delete
  12. I still have almost all of my Hug Ware but am completely bummed that I can't use the Deluxe Browser. The Lite browser still works, but I can't do a search with it. It tells me to purchase the Deluxe Browser, which I already did, but can't get it to work. Has ANYONE found a way to get this to work? Thousands of dollars in their clip art and I can't search them for the graphics I would like to use. If anyone out there can help....I would love you forever!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you, and I have been so terribly disappointed as well that we cannot use our amazing clip art. Did you get any response back to your note. It is now 2020...If you got any help please contact me D3000@aol.com

      Delete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I don't know if this will help anyone, but I stored all my thumbnails on a DVD-R (a CD-R will work, too, depending on storage), and I use it as a private browser. I can click through my collections, and then when I want to, I can open my 1TB of storage and dig deep into the well of old computers and pull out just the image I want. It's been super helpful since I was a beginning 2003 member, too. I have duplicate copies of everything and never did like the browser. Just a thought for some of you with Deluxe problems. I never did deluxe, as I was too cheap. :-O

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Curious if you are now able to use your hugware? Deanna d3000@aol.com

      Delete
  15. I moved to the US and lost the Deluxe Browser and the Pc Hug Ware too, I have the cds with the designs and backed all of the other stuff but can't find a software to open them and use them. Any ideas? Thank you in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I realize this is years later but has anyone found a way to see and use all the clip art we bought from pccrafter? Is there anyone that knows how to use it please contact me ,,, coolwhip12198@yahoo.com thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did anyone ever reply to you??
      Deanna
      D3000@aol.com

      Delete
  17. I am also looking for someone that can tell me how to bring the images into another program and have the background transparent. I use my clipart in Photobooks and (in the Hugclub program) I could click on the image, hold down the Ctr & Shift key and drag it to the book and it would be transparent. Now it has a white background around everything. Please email me at wyodudette@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Please email me and tell me if you have the link to the PC Crafter Browser Delux
    D3000@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, I just sent you an email with the deluxe version with the instructions to install and make it work. I just did in my new laptop so I know it works. Do not copy and paste the email and password, type it in. Hope it works and have fun.

      Delete
    2. Hi! I have the same problem with the deluxe version can you email me the instructions too please. Marcela4mil@hotmail.com

      Delete
  19. I have the PcCrafter working in my old laptop and I think I still have all the info on how to install it and make it work. I will check for it and come back to you girls. I have no idea of how to make them work in another program, if you find out please let me know!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Late to the party, but is there any hope at all? I have so many HugWare CD's but a new mac computer. I hate to toss these. Any hope?

    ReplyDelete

I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog! Thank You for your Feedback or Comments.