What makes a download 'freeze'?

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  1. Posts : 149
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
       #1

    What makes a download 'freeze'?


    Far too often, I find myself with a download which 'freezes' towards the end – it just stops at, say, 90% completion. Today, I had one which stopped at 99%. Most annoying. The files I'm downloading are from the usual hosters – rapidshare, depositfiles – and I'm using Firefox's built-in downloader.


    Can anyone tell me what causes the download to 'freeze' and whether I can do anything about it?


    Thanks for any suggestions.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #2

    Welcome
    Try in a different user account, make a new one for tests if necesary.

    You might also try running CHKDSK to clear temp folders.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 149
    Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for that, rich.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 17,796
    Windows 10, Home Clean Install
       #4

    Your welcome
    If the above does not work, you may want to look for conflict with clean boot
    How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

    As an edit to my above post you may want to download and use, Ccleaner to really clean up those temp files and other files that are not needed.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 63
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #5

    If it is freezing at 99%, I'd wager it is an anti-virus program that is scanning the download before moving the file to your download directory. You may want to look at the anti-virus program you are using to see if that's the culprit.

    Snarks
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 824
    Windows 7 Professional 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
       #6

    SnarkyTwit said:
    If it is freezing at 99%, I'd wager it is an anti-virus program that is scanning the download before moving the file to your download directory. You may want to look at the anti-virus program you are using to see if that's the culprit.

    Snarks
    I agree. MSE is notorious for this especially if Group Policy is set to notify AV
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 710
    Win7 Pro x64
       #7

    Odd. Having lived with a flaky ISP for years this "freezing" problem for me means the connection gave out (though it happens at any point during the download, not the "always freeze at 99%" thing). Which is why I've had to rely on download managers. This is one of the main pet peeves I have with browsers, especially IE. When a connection times out can't they just retry or something, instead of simply hanging forever? That really sucks, to put it bluntly. It's 2010. You'd think pause-retry-resume would be part of the damn TCP/IP protocol or something by now. Or that the download box would have any other button instead of just "cancel". Jeez.

    Back to the OP... pooksahib, other than the suggestions the others gave about checking your a/v, have you tried using any download managers and seeing if you can get a complete download?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,009
    Windows 7 Ultimate x86
       #8

    I wouldn't automatically assume the error/fault is with my computer.
    Especially Rapidshare is extremely popular and due to speed break for free users it has a big fluctuation in transfer speed (on top of that no more resume for free users that's why I try to stay away from RS)
    Depositfiles always was pretty unreliable for me.

    Try Jdownloader for those hosters
    even with reliable hosters you just add the links and the program does the rest.

    -DG
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Run a speed test. If your upload speed is much slower than your download, there's your problem. During a download, your computer has to send out a packet to verify receipt of a packet or series of packets, usually contaning an MD5 checksum.. a relatively small piece of information, but this accounts for upload traffic averaging about 8% of the rate of the download. If these packets don't get out, the download freezes. This usually isn't a problem except in heavily populated areas, but anytime the UL/DL ratio is less than 1:5, chances are during peak internet usage, chances are the ISP can't provide all the bandwidth it has sold to it's customers, and upload speeds get reduced. Reduce outgoing traffic too much and nothing comes in either.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 824
    Windows 7 Professional 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600)
       #10

    Seeing this 99 percent stall on a daily basis, I feel confident that it is the AV. Next time you download something, have Task Manager open and on top with your AV highlighted. When you get the stall, notice what your AV is doing in Task Manager. It is scanning the file before it is written to the final location.
      My Computer


 
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