r_steele
asked on
Cannot download files in Internet Explorer
When I try to download files in IE6 I get the usual promts for file location etc. then the File Download dialog shows but the progress bar is already at 100% and the download finishes normally. However it only downloads a fraction of the file. (e.g. 169K of 36Mb file). It seams to happen with all files types (exe, zip, msi, etc) and from all web sites. I have a laptop connected to the same adsl link and it can download ok.
So far I have:
run a full scan of system with Norton Internet Security 2005 - nothing found
run a full scan with Adaware - few tracking cookies removed
Run a full scan with Windows Defender (beta 2) - nothing found
uninstalled IE6 and reinstalled - no affect
Disabled Norton Internet Security - no affect
run sfc /scannow - no affect
Deleted temporary internet file/cookies/history etc. - no affect
Deleted IE index.dat for user - no affect
I am really running out of ideas and need some help urgently.
So far I have:
run a full scan of system with Norton Internet Security 2005 - nothing found
run a full scan with Adaware - few tracking cookies removed
Run a full scan with Windows Defender (beta 2) - nothing found
uninstalled IE6 and reinstalled - no affect
Disabled Norton Internet Security - no affect
run sfc /scannow - no affect
Deleted temporary internet file/cookies/history etc. - no affect
Deleted IE index.dat for user - no affect
I am really running out of ideas and need some help urgently.
ASKER
Just tried downloading with FireFox 1.5 and get exactly the same problem. So it obviously isn't IE that's causing this.
Are you doing "Right Click -> Save Target As..." or just clicking on the link and waiting for the dialog? does doing it the oither way change anything? Just a thought that maybe it's downloading the page the downloads are on (ie an antileeching page) and not the downloads themselves....
Have you tried to open the files that result from these botched downloads? Can you open them in notepad? are they readable? or binary?
If they truely are the beginning of the file you're trying to download, there must be some sort of block in the way. Are you on a wireless link on that computer? is the laptop on a wireless link? Maybe your router is to blame. Is this a new problem or one thats been around since "x" happened? Very rarely does stuff like this happen "out of the blue." If you turn off Norton Internet security, does it work? Have you tried safe mode with networking?
Just a couple ideas,
Brian
Have you tried to open the files that result from these botched downloads? Can you open them in notepad? are they readable? or binary?
If they truely are the beginning of the file you're trying to download, there must be some sort of block in the way. Are you on a wireless link on that computer? is the laptop on a wireless link? Maybe your router is to blame. Is this a new problem or one thats been around since "x" happened? Very rarely does stuff like this happen "out of the blue." If you turn off Norton Internet security, does it work? Have you tried safe mode with networking?
Just a couple ideas,
Brian
ASKER
I am left-clicking on links, but I just tried save-ratget-as with the same result.
The bit of the file that it does download is binary and does look (in notepad) like the start of the file.
Both laptop and PC are wired to the router.
I have tried turning off Norton - same result.
I haven't tried safe mode yet - will give it a go.
The bit of the file that it does download is binary and does look (in notepad) like the start of the file.
Both laptop and PC are wired to the router.
I have tried turning off Norton - same result.
I haven't tried safe mode yet - will give it a go.
Has this been a long time running problem? or is this recent? Do the Event logs show any errors that might be clues? (right click 'My Computer' -> Manage -> System Tools -> Event Viewer) For example the download is opening too many TCP connections and windows is closing them.
can you download ANY files? pictures, for example? Stuff under 1MB or under the apparent ~165K file size limit? Trying to get a feel for whether this is a browser issue (although if both IE and Fox don't work it's probably not) or some kind of windows problem relating to TCP. If we can find files that you can download that are size X, but ones that are size Y or larger you can't, then that may point somewhere.
Is this the only internet related problem you have? Can you FTP to sites and download stuff? does IM work? do you ever play games online? P2P?
Brian
can you download ANY files? pictures, for example? Stuff under 1MB or under the apparent ~165K file size limit? Trying to get a feel for whether this is a browser issue (although if both IE and Fox don't work it's probably not) or some kind of windows problem relating to TCP. If we can find files that you can download that are size X, but ones that are size Y or larger you can't, then that may point somewhere.
Is this the only internet related problem you have? Can you FTP to sites and download stuff? does IM work? do you ever play games online? P2P?
Brian
Greetings, r_steele !
Google Toolbar is know for interfering with operation of IE. Disable Google Toolbar and Yahoo Toolbar, and dry downloaading again.
Looks like something is blocking the download of files. Disable your antivirus and firwall programs one at a time, and see if you can download. Disable other background programs, like antispyware, popup blocker, ad blocker, and any Norton program.
Best wishes!
Google Toolbar is know for interfering with operation of IE. Disable Google Toolbar and Yahoo Toolbar, and dry downloaading again.
Looks like something is blocking the download of files. Disable your antivirus and firwall programs one at a time, and see if you can download. Disable other background programs, like antispyware, popup blocker, ad blocker, and any Norton program.
Best wishes!
ASKER
No toolbars installed.
Tried all the disables described without sucess.
Tried all the disables described without sucess.
ASKER
I can run command line FTP and transfer files (60Mb+) without a problem and also copy files from one machine to another on my LAN.
I do not use IM or P2P games.
Nothing relavent in the Event Log
I do not use IM or P2P games.
Nothing relavent in the Event Log
ASKER
Curiouser and curiouser -
I just tried donloading some files of diferent sizes from Download.com:
a file of 312K downloaded 54K the first time and 97k the second time
a file of 3.12Mb downloaded perfectly and repeatedly
Both were exe files.
I just tried donloading some files of diferent sizes from Download.com:
a file of 312K downloaded 54K the first time and 97k the second time
a file of 3.12Mb downloaded perfectly and repeatedly
Both were exe files.
Have you been trying out or just uninstalled some other antivirus or firewall software?
Also, have you been making any sort of changes to your system startup settings or XP services?
ASKER
no to both
>> Curiouser and curiouser -
I just tried donloading some files of diferent sizes from Download.com:
a file of 312K downloaded 54K the first time and 97k the second time
a file of 3.12Mb downloaded perfectly and repeatedly
Both were exe files. >>
This does look like a dialup problem. Are you using dialup for internet connection? If so, try downloading at a different time, a less busy time.
I just tried donloading some files of diferent sizes from Download.com:
a file of 312K downloaded 54K the first time and 97k the second time
a file of 3.12Mb downloaded perfectly and repeatedly
Both were exe files. >>
This does look like a dialup problem. Are you using dialup for internet connection? If so, try downloading at a different time, a less busy time.
He said before he's on ADSL.
Additionally it doesn't seem to be a hardware issue. I was going to suggest you hook up the computer directly to the modem to cut the router out of the loop, but I doubt now thats the cause.
Since you can download the 3.12MB file and not the smaller one, this seems like a sporadic issue not determined by size. There has to be some random event (or maybe not so random) disturbing the transfer.
Did you ever try the Safe Mode with Networking approach? Have you been able to guess when this started?
You said you could transfer via FTP and also machine to machine via your LAN setup... Can you do any such transfers over the internet? For example search for something on www.filemirrors.com, they index ftp and http severs.
Good luck,
Brian
Additionally it doesn't seem to be a hardware issue. I was going to suggest you hook up the computer directly to the modem to cut the router out of the loop, but I doubt now thats the cause.
Since you can download the 3.12MB file and not the smaller one, this seems like a sporadic issue not determined by size. There has to be some random event (or maybe not so random) disturbing the transfer.
Did you ever try the Safe Mode with Networking approach? Have you been able to guess when this started?
You said you could transfer via FTP and also machine to machine via your LAN setup... Can you do any such transfers over the internet? For example search for something on www.filemirrors.com, they index ftp and http severs.
Good luck,
Brian
ASKER
Haven't tried safe mode yet.
I Can ftp (command line) from the internet.
It isn't randon; the 3Mb file works every time, the others never work. When they fail they fail with varying amounts of data transfered. Having looked in the files it is the same file, just varying amounts of it.
I Can ftp (command line) from the internet.
It isn't randon; the 3Mb file works every time, the others never work. When they fail they fail with varying amounts of data transfered. Having looked in the files it is the same file, just varying amounts of it.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
The download location(as seen in the registry) is just the last location saved to rather than being a default location, and I have tried lots of different destination folders.
The MTU size for my ADSL link is set by my router and this can't be the problem because; I know the router hasn't changed, and the laptop that I use is using the same router and doesn't have a problems with downloads.
The MTU size for my ADSL link is set by my router and this can't be the problem because; I know the router hasn't changed, and the laptop that I use is using the same router and doesn't have a problems with downloads.
Use a Download Manager. Download Express should work
http://www.metaproducts.com/mp/mpProducts_Detail.asp?id=18
http://www.metaproducts.com/mp/mpProducts_Detail.asp?id=18
Have you tried a download manager?
ASKER
I think that I have resolved the problem. I have upgraded the firmware on my DSL router (Netgear834G) and all downloads are now working. I cannot account for why it was working with my laptop but not the PC, but the problem has gone.
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I think the closest suggestion (which got me looking at the MTU settings on the router) was from mediamax.
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I think the closest suggestion (which got me looking at the MTU settings on the router) was from mediamax.
www.getright.com
I've seen this many times with IE, and there is no way past it... (according to me)