Download problems

[Ivan the Kulak]

I wanted to download Rise and Rule yesterday, but every time I try to get it my download manager tells me the file size is 20 kilobytes...NOT! I am using Star Downloader on a dialup, in the past this has worked very well for getting big files, though it takes all night to get something the size of 50 MB. This isn't just a problem with RaR, I get the same thing with other sites and big files. I am running XP with SP2, automatic updates turned on. I wondered if some recent update has caused this problem. If anyone can point out the problem and suggest a fix I would appreciate it.

 

[ainwood]

Moderator Action: Moved to computer talk.

Are you sure its not trying to download the webpage rather than the actual files?

 

[vbraun]

I think you will never be able to get it all downloaded. Even if you get it working and going overnight it will stop at some point.

Happened to me when I had dial-up all the time.

 

[Ivan the Kulak]

ainwood, that's what it sems to be doing, downloading the html of the web page, at every site I try. I am going to try reinstalling the downloader to see if that fixes it. Other than that, got any suggestions?

Edit: just got the new version of Star Downloader, installed it, getting the same thing. Anyone got any ideas?

 

[marshal zhukov]

You seem to be trying to download a picture.
When the program attemps to download I doubt the you will see something like ".exe"in the end of the filename you will most likely see ".jpg" . If the end of the file is ".zip" or ".rar", maybe it could contain the correct URL for you to download the file. I am not sure.

20kb is too little for a webpage, that seems more like a picture, IMHO

 

[Ivan the Kulak]

No, it is downloading whatever file I select, and giving it the filename the link says it is (ZIP, EXE, whatever) and then when I open it with a hex viewer it is HTML text. I tried this on a few sites and on a couple I was actually able to dl stuff correctly. So, maybe it has something to do with how the link is presented to IE? All I can think of is somehow one of the updates screwed up the way it gets files off the internet. I used Star Downloader to get DyP for vanilla civ quite awhile back, and had no trouble with that.

Edit: checking the web page, i found a bug listed in which IE6 will not intercept file extensions correctly all the time, so this may be the problem. I guess I will have to try a new download manager. Anyone have any suggestions for a good download manager?

 

[Speedo]

This happens when your download manager isn't able properly capture the url of the file. Best bet is to try another prog. I personally use Internet Download Manager, I think they have a free trial.

I think you will never be able to get it all downloaded. Even if you get it working and going overnight it will stop at some point.

Happened to me when I had dial-up all the time.

The entire point of a download manager is to be able to resume downloads... I've downloaded more than a few files that were 5-600MB, and my ISP disconnects me automatically after 4hrs. Even if we're able to get cable anytime soon, I'll most definetly still use it.

 

[marshal zhukov]

The entire point of a download manager is to be able to resume downloads... I've downloaded more than a few files that were 5-600MB, and my ISP disconnects me automatically after 4hrs. Even if we're able to get cable anytime soon, I'll most definetly still use it.

Automatically disconects you !!! That has got to suck as hell, I would be furious.


Anyway, Ivan the Kulak
Have you ever tried Download Accelerator Plus? I've been using D.A.P. for years and I have few complaints. It's a Shareware though, I almost sure it has no spyware.

The new version has a quite interesting interface.

 

[Ivan the Kulak]

Ok. Got Internet Download Manager. It doesn't have the file extension bug, and I was able to get Free Basic of off the freebasic website, a compiler I wanted to play around with.

But... tried to get RaR off of civfanatics again, got the same thing! Downloads an html page. At least IDM tells me the problem: file size unknown, can't download file correctly. I would guess I will get this with other download managers I try as well. Anyone have any other suggestions? I tried to get it off of fileplanet, but it turns out you have to have a subscription (and pay) to dl anything from there. I wonder if Firaxis knows they are charging to use content from their product. If I were Sid or Jeff, I would make fileplanet pay a license fee, lol.