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Frequent "corrupt" download files

I currently have Lion installed on a 2011 MacBook Pro and a Mac Mini (Core2 Duo) - with a couple other systems waiting for a few upteas to PPC apps.


I have had frequent issues in the past couple weeks with downloaded files being corrupt. Including downloads from various places using Safari - and from Apple Software Update - but also from in app update downloads. The files download but the are unuseable - ro fail a checksum on decompress.


I did not change anything in my network setup - and in 20+ years of being a Mac user - do not recall having this sort of trouble. In one case I had to download the same file 4 times before it worked.


I was thinking it might justbe this MacBook and something is not right - but just had the same thing on the Mini - so unless it is something screwed up with my ISP - it must be a Lion issue - as I have yet to see it on the Snow Leopard system.

MacBook Pro 2011 17, Mac OS X (10.7), iPhone 4 32GB

Posted on Oct 1, 2011 1:14 PM

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53 replies

Oct 28, 2011 3:06 AM in response to Clems-ZRH

Hmmm, I'm a pretty heavy downloader and have not had one issue downloading a file from anywhere, either directly or through Software Update. I have a reliable IP server, and my Lion OS is completely stable on my older Macbook Pro, and there are only a very few people on these forums with the issue, so I would highly doubt it is Lion. Have you repaired your permissions with DiskUtility?

Nov 13, 2011 2:39 PM in response to Clems-ZRH

I too have noted frequent corrupt downloads on both my Mac pro and my MBP over the past few months. I never had a problem over the past 10+ years. It occurs with any regular update or iOS5 initial download and update. The files eventually have downloaded properly after many days and a dozen or so attempts. I also have TWC 50 Mbps internet connection for the past few months coincident with the problems- related?

Dec 9, 2011 9:40 AM in response to Matt Wolanski

I have the same issue on my MBP, two Mac Mini Servers and a MacBook, all running the latest Lion version. In my case I can narrow it down to files downloaded by http(s). All other download methods (Usenet, FTP etc.) work just fine.


- ISO's (Linux for instance) download fine until you want to mount them (unknown file system). MD5 check on the files produce the wrong results.

- Apps from the App store wich are "large", let's say 10MB and up, are corrupt according to iTunes.

- Software Update doesn't allow me to install Safari or iTunes updates (large)


When I download the same files with a Windows laptop (had it hidden somewhere, hoping I would never have to use it ever again), everything is fine.......😢


It has nothing to do with my Internet connection, since it can be reproduced on all Macs with a different ISP (UMTS). Wireless, wired, doesn't matter......


I hope someone addresses this issue, it's a real pain in the b***

Jan 5, 2012 10:20 PM in response to Matt Wolanski

In my case it was an issue of the DSL router (Thomson TWG870U, firmware STBA.01.39).

When I turn off routing in the router configuration then everything works perfect (set 'switch mode' to disabled, i.e. no LAN, MacBook directly gets a WAN IP address from provider). I downloaded >11GB Mainstage/Logic content and >20 GarageBand exercises without any problem. These downloads kept failing before and occasionally one was ok after the n-th attempt. I was so disappointed with Apple and now I am really glad that the corrupted download problems (that also drove me crazy when doing the iOS 5 update) are 'only' a local router problem.

Jan 19, 2012 4:44 AM in response to tuxthedownloader

Interesting that your router was the problem. For several months now I have been experiencing corrupt downloads on my home network and not just on the macs, also my windows pc's have the same problem when downloading from the itunes store.


I completely reinstalled my macs but the problem was still there, so I ended up calling the cable company as the problem was likely to be in the network. They have changed over the cable modem (Thomson TWG870U) for a Cisco one but the problem is still remains and the technician believed the cable connection was good.


Interestingly I noticed that the windows pc's also experience corruption on downloads but its not as obvious and they are more likely to succeed in downloading after several attempts than the apple computers. In particular I noticed in the Windows event viewer that large updates from Microsoft regularly fail and take several attempts. I tested this by manually downloading a Microsoft Service pack >400mb and it took seven tries before it succeeded.


This week I have 5 different Pc's all trying to download a movie from the Apple Store but all failing with error -50. Also my macbook air has been trying to download a 10mb update from the App Store for over 10 days but failing with the error (Hash Mismatch).


I have also tried downloading large files for my mac from several sites (e.g. Adobe, Symantec,etc) and the downloads are usually always corrupted (Checksum failed). In one case I downloaded the file 40 times before I had success.


Something is definitely going on as I have never experienced this type of error before and I am using several different varieties of pc/macs to access the internet and they all have similar problems.


Based on my discussions with a Networking expert, corrupted files are sometimes linked to the following problems:


* Faulty RAM

* Failing HD

* Failing NIC (Network Adapters) both local and in your ISP's infrastructure

* possible interference with the file through some points in the internet infrastructure


The problem fluctuates from week to week and most downloads resolve eventually but it is a really frustrating problem. Definitely the Apple computers have a worse time of it than the Windows pc's.



1 X Windows 7x64

2 X Windows Vista 32 laptops

1 Macbook Air (late 2008) 10.7.2

1 Mac Mini (10.7.2)


Cable provider is UPC 120mb downstream/10mb upstream

Frequent "corrupt" download files

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