Help with stopped downloads.

January 28, 2009 10:36 AM

My Mother-in-Law's computer stops downloading files at about the 2.5 -3.MB point no matter what the size of file. Example, she attempts to download Picasa from google and the first 2.5-3 MB downloads, but then the rest of the 9MB file quits. It is not just Picasa, but any file over 3-4 MB.

This happens in FireFox, Explorer and Outlook express.
She uses Windows XP and has plenty of free hard drive space. Any solutions?
Thanks!.

posted by Beaufort to computers & internet (14 comments total)

That sounds like her hosting company is throttling her.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 10:42 AM on January 28

That is what I thought at first, but she has just recently moved and changed ISP.

And she is still having the same problem.
posted by Beaufort at 10:46 AM on January 28

Does she have any of those silly 'internet-accelerator' programs?
Kill any funny helper programs that are running and give it another shot.
posted by dunkadunc at 10:56 AM on January 28

Nope. She doesnt have any of those running.

Her new ISP is Road runner cable, she used to be on Verizon DSL
posted by Beaufort at 11:08 AM on January 28

Have you tried booting up in safe mode and seeing if it still happens? Does it occur during like a transfer from a thumbdrive?
posted by Rubbstone at 11:32 AM on January 28

No problems transferring from a thumbdrive or card reader. I haven't tried safe mode yet. I am trying to get her fixed using Logmein.
posted by Beaufort at 11:43 AM on January 28

How about trying a linux live CD to see if the problem is the OS or hardware/connection related. What about her network? If she's on wireless try plugging directly into the router or modem.
posted by 6550 at 11:51 AM on January 28

Have you tried an FTP client?
posted by odinsdream at 11:54 AM on January 28

Second the Live CD. Download Knoppix, burn, keep it in your toolbelt for things like this. The first thing I would've done would've been to boot up Knoppix to see if I could download the file.

If I could, it's the operating system: format reinstall
If not, it's the hardware/broadband, go from there.
posted by teabag at 12:00 PM on January 28

Might be worth disabling any anti-virus software and trying a download ; I ran into an annoying bug like this a while ago. I can't guarantee that it's the problem, but it's worth a quick shot.
posted by sektah at 12:10 PM on January 28

This is happening on her desktop.

However, I just tried to download a large file on her wireless laptop and it did the same thing.

I am going to try ftp now.

Thanks for all the help.
posted by Beaufort at 12:20 PM on January 28

However, I just tried to download a large file on her wireless laptop and it did the same thing.

Ah HA! Is this a router issue? Try resetting the router, then plugging straight into the cable modem.
posted by dunkadunc at 12:25 PM on January 28

It must be her router.

It makes sense now that I think about it.

Thanks for all the help.

I will get her to plug straight into the cable modem and then reset her router.

I will post if this works.

thanks again.
posted by Beaufort at 12:46 PM on January 28

I've had this problem in the past with old firmware on a router (though with slightly larger file sizes).

You should check the version of the firmware in the router and see if it needs to be updated.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 4:14 PM on January 28