Problem downloading zip files - Stops randomly. potload.com - Macbook

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Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

Problem downloading zip files - Stops randomly. potload.com - Macbook

Hi,

Having a problem downloading some ZIP files.

At the moment most are coming from potload.com (a hosting website).

I have been successful in downloading other zip files, minus any from this website.

The files from here get to a random spot, and 'complete' the download as if it had finished, but hasnt.

Are there any internet settings that can be blocking this etc?

I have tried:
Removing all preferences, plugins and a full re-install of Mountain Lion.

I uploaded a zip file to another website, it worked fine, uploaded to potload.com and it got halfway.

Any ideas?

OSX Mountain Lion 10.8.3 - Macbook Pro Retina.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on May 4, 2013 1:41 AM

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Answer 1

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 4, 2013 5:15 AM in response to Timmyface

does another browser download the same files successfully ?

It does sound like an issue with their servers, although I see reasonable speeds currently.

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Answer 2

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2013 5:19 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Forgot to mention that sorry.

No firefox doesn't work either, still stops it randomly.

I can download the same files on another (windows based) laptop in the same room/network.

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Answer 3

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 4, 2013 5:41 AM in response to Timmyface

you could try switching user agent via Safari-Develop (enable it via Safari-Preferences-Advanced) - choose some windows IE version

also test by copying the link & using curl -O link (including the http part) in Terminal

which will place the file in your Home folder

If a modest or reasonably quick download, may also be able to check using safari when booted in Recovery (I haven't tested downloading there) which would exclude any OS X settings, as if an erase/install.

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Answer 4

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2013 6:06 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Tried the User Agent - still stopped the download.

Done the terminal idea - a whole lot of random letters/symbols/sounds were made, than right down the bottom amungst it it says:

"curl: (18) transfer closed with 101219557 bytes remaining to read"

Are you on the same OS? I have erased and reinstalled, so.

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Answer 5

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 4, 2013 6:19 AM in response to Timmyface

If you erased/installed - probably not much to be done in browser.

the curl part didn't seem to work properly, albeit that the transfer was closed, as you had found in safari.

it should be in this form, just replace with your link

curl -O https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5014163?answerId=21936960022#21936960022&ac_cid=tw123456#21936960

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Answer 6

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2013 6:26 AM in response to andyBall_uk

Thats what i had in the Terminal. It had downloaded a bit, i assume with all that code etc, but than stopped.

I had one simultaneously downloading in Safari at the same time, if that mattered?

I can try again with just that if you like.

And yeah, this happened before, erased, installed, and still happening.

Edit: Trying that curl again now. Its not making sounds/code and looks like its downloading.

What will this mean if it does work inside this and not safari?

Thankyou by the way.

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Answer 7

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2013 6:31 AM in response to Timmyface

And the same thing happened, with that same error code. "Transfer closed"

And i seen a real inconsistency with download speed, often dropping to 0

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Answer 8

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 4, 2013 6:46 AM in response to Timmyface

I'm seeing 300-600k, always changing, but a 130MB zip completes ok.

Can you try using another connection ? (macbook mentioned, so might be possible)

on one hand, you've erased/installed, still have problem, but PC works, and seeningly the site overall is ok with apples.

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Answer 9

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2013 6:50 AM in response to andyBall_uk

I can try another day at a different location, but the macbook pro doesn't have an ethernet port, so i can't try that.

But yeah, reinstalled to no help, a windows pc on wifi downloads it, you can download using a mac...

Running out of options here.

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Answer 10

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

May 4, 2013 7:56 AM in response to Timmyface

I tested here again, got very slow transfer, then it closed before completion.

Something their end.

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Answer 11

Timmyface Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2013 11:35 PM in response to Timmyface

Anyone else experiencing this/have any other ideas?

Trying to download off Mediafire, and other hosting websites which are ending in the same results.
Mediafire - got 90% than the speed slowly went down (0.1kb per sec - not downloading untill reaching 0 and stopped)

Same on 2 different macbooks, even in windows using parallels

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