Download Tips and FAQs
The tips below have been known to fix most common problems
associated with downloading files from the Internet.
- Download during non-peak hours.
- If your browser presents more than one option for the file,
choose the one that will save it on your hard drive. This will ensure that you can find it
and use it later.
- Try restarting the browser, or clearing the browser cache.
- Disable call waiting.
- Don't allow anyone to pick up phone extensions.
- Don't minimize the download task. Keep it to the front, and
disable screensavers.
- You can significantly accelerate your download time by
disabling your anti-virus software.
- If nothing has happened after 3 - 4 minutes, it's ok to cancel
the attempt and try again.
- Reboot your system, or re-dial your Internet connection. If
your PC has been on over 48 hours, it can degrade your performance. And if your connection
to your ISP is poor, re-connecting can sometimes get you a better line.
Download FAQs
The following are the most frequently asked questions. These
answers may help you resolve your particular download issue.
"I click on the links on your Web page, the pages never
change."
You may be hitting the server during a busy time of day. Web
pages generally load within 30 seconds. If it's taking significantly longer to load, you
may need to click on the "Stop" button at the top of your browser and click the
link again. This will force your browser to retry the connection. There will be occasions
where you will have to repeat this several times if the server is busy or there is a lot
of Internet traffic. There is generally less Internet traffic in the early morning and
late evening hours.
"I click on the link to download the file, but nothing
happens."
If you are clicking on a link to download a file without
getting a response from the server, you might try using the right mouse button to click on
the link. Select "Save Link As" (for Netscape) or "Save Target As"
(for MS Internet Explorer). You will then get the "Save As" Dialog box. Select
the directory in which you want to save the file, then click on "Save". Be sure
to remember the directory you save the file to.
"In Netscape Communicator after I download the file, I
get the message 'Unable to launch application'."
When you clicked on the link to download the file. Netscape
opens a dialog box prompting you for an action. You choose "Open" instead of
"Save". The file did in fact download, but since there is no program capable of
"opening" the file, you received the error message. Be sure you select
"Save" instead of "Open". The file was not saved to your system.
"After downloading, I get a dialog box asking me to
choose a program to open the file. Which program do I choose?"
Your browser prompted you for an action just prior to
downloading. You chose either "Open" or "View" instead of
"Save". Again, the file will download but there is no program that is capable of
opening or viewing the file. The file was not saved to your system.
"I have a very fast computer, but the download is
either taking too long to complete or it just stops. Am I doing something wrong?"
Even though you may have a very fast computer system, tons of
RAM, and a very fast modem, the slowdown could actually be occurring between your computer
and our server. More than likely, you're trying to download when there's a lot of Internet
traffic, which can greatly decrease your ability to download or connect to our site.
Evenings are always the busiest on the Internet. You could also have a simple problem,
such as line noise between your computer and your ISP.
There are still many other reasons why your download is
taking a long time. This is only a short list of problems that can affect your
connect/download speed.
- Your Internet provider has a slow connection to the Internet.
- Their systems are running at maximum capacity.
- Your ISP's Internet provider may be experiencing technical
problems.
- Your local phone company is experiencing technical problems.
- One of the major long distance carriers in your area is
experiencing technical problems.
- One of the Internet Backbone providers is experiencing
technical problems.
- Heavy rains, flooding, storms, snow, power outages and other
external conditions may all effect your connect quality and/or speed.
"I was downloading the file to my floppy drive and part
way through the download it said, "Unable to write file" or it just stopped
downloading."
A floppy disk can only hold 1.44 MB of data. The file you're
downloading is significantly larger than that. It will not all fit on one floppy disk. You
need to save the file to your hard drive.
"I downloaded the file, but now I can't find it on my
system."
Windows® has a search feature. Click on "Start",
then "Find", then choose "Files and Folders". In the "Named"
field, enter the file name you're searching for. When it find the file, it will appear in
the window below. You will also see the path to the file next to the file name. Make sure
that you start the search from the root of each drive (example: D:\), and that you check
the box to search all sub-directories.
