Resuming download

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Level 2

205 points

Resuming download

When downloading large files (over 30MB), sometimes my internet connection gets interrupted (I've got a mediocre DSL connection). The progress in the download window appears to be progressing, but if you watch it you'll see the file is no longer being downloaded, and the download time is slowly increasing. I click the "x" stop button, then I click the "resume" arrow. Usually the file begins anew, but occasionally it resumes the download. There's been times I've been a minute away from completing a lengthy download only for it to stop.... then instead of resuming, it starts over. Very frustrating. This is from the same site - so sometimes the file resumes, usually it just starts over.

Is there a way to insure the file will resume? If it's been downloading data for 30 minutes, where does all that go when the file begins downloading from the beginning? Isn't it on my computer somewhere? Can someone explain how this works?
PS: I'm using Safari 2.0.4. I've tried Firefox, but I found the resume never worked.
Thanks!

G4 867Mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Jan 23, 2007 12:44 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 23, 2007 10:45 AM in response to mudbug

Hi-

What type of router are you using for your DSL? Is it a wireless unit? MacFixit is featuring a piece this week on drop-off problems with 3rd party wireless routers. It's a good read. If it appllies to you, have a look before they archive it, making it unavailable to non-subscribers.

Specific to your question - If you stop a download, go to your designated download location. There, you'll see the file ending in .download. If you look at the file size, via the Get Info or Preview panel, you'll notice the file size matches where the download was stopped. Once a download completes, the related file disappears, replaced by the .dmg or .zip, or whatever file extension is used.

The resume function is not so much dependent on Safari's reliability. The onus is more on the provider of the content and how they set up the download. Some downloads access the initial file, starting up where it left off. Others, will simply write over the initial download file, essentially starting over again.

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Answer 2

mudbug Author

Level 2

205 points

Jan 23, 2007 11:21 AM in response to Hawaiian_Starman

I use an Airport.

Thanks for the answer; I understand what you're saying. But guess the real reason as to why sometimes it resumes but usually it does not has something to do with the other end. I was hoping I was missing something (on my end) in that I could insure always a resume. The only thing I've noted of late is if I wait a few minutes to restart the download after stopping it, I'm seeing more resumptions than restarts.
Thanks for the comments.

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Answer 3

Jan 23, 2007 3:37 PM in response to mudbug

Hi -

There are ways to strengthen your DSL connection through the Airport unit.

I don't believe your machine has an Airport Extreme card (you can determine such via the Apple Menu>About this Mac>More info>Network>Airport card).

Next, open AirPort Admin Utility.app in your Utilities folder.

Double click your Airport Unit (if it doesn't appear in the list, select "rescan"). Once the panel opens, select the "Airport panel". Down the bottom, in the 'mode' drop down menu, change the setting to 802.11g onlyif you have an Airport Extreme card. If you do not have an Airport Extreme card, change the setting to 802.11b only.

Also, click on the Internet panel. Mine looks like this:

Make any changes necessary to conform with your Network TCP panel.

Next, in the Airport panel, click on base station options:

My panel looks like this:

Make changes as necessary.

When you are complete, select "update". Your Airport unit will reset. Wait for the green light to appear.

Let me know if that creates more stability with your DSL connection.

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