Vista - Download failing to complete

I'm attempting to download a DVD image (an .iso file) from the Dell website.
It's about 2.5 GB in size. The download starts well enough, gets to about
240 MB downloaded and then just stops. I've let the download sit for twenty
minutes while it is totally stopped, with no internet activity noted on my
DSL modem. I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium with IE 7, all fully
patched and updated. I've never run into this issue before.

There are no error messages shown during the download. Any ideas? I'm
checking Google, but the hits I'm getting don't clarify the issue.

Kevin wrote:
When downloading very large files, like Dell's Linux image for instance,
it's best to use either an FTP client like Filezilla (free) or torrent it.
If Dell offers a torrent, try uTorrent. I use Azureus on the Mac and I
believe it's also available for Windows.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OjAzl%23vbIHA.5892@xxxxxxIf the issue doesn't fix itself, I'll try an FTP client as you suggest. But
why would the download simply stop in the first place?

Kevin wrote:

I'm sorry but without being able to see your computer on your network, I
can't answer that. Are you using http? If so, try a different browser.
Perhaps you need to upgrade your router's firmware if that is applicable to
you. Too many variables and not enough hard data, I'm afraid.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OZHEwH0bIHA.5984@xxxxxxI'm using IE 7. I don't have Firefox installed, and prefer to use IE
anyway. The router does not have an updated firmware version available, but
I don't think that's the issue as there has never been a problem like this
for me to date. I've downloaded lots of files well over 1.0 GB in size with
no issues.

Kevin wrote:Then what has changed between the time you could download files and the time
you couldn't? Is the problem only on Dell's site or on other sites?

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OaoLsT1bIHA.4712@xxxxxxTo my knowledge, nothing has changed on my system with the exception of any
Windows Updates that have been downloaded and installed automatically. I am
not currently downloading any files of any size from any other websites.
So, I don't know if very large downloads can be completed from other
websites.

I have noted, now that I have just tried for a fourth time to download this
file, that there may be a connection between the elapsed time of the
download in progress and my system going to it's Power Plan state. The
current Power Plan state is Balanced. This is where the monitor goes dark
in twenty minutes and the system goes to sleep in one hour if there is no
activity detected. But, this problem with the download halting seems to be
taking place at about 35 minutes into the download, which is to take about 3
hours and 45 minutes at my present connection speed.

This last time I attempted this download, I right-clicked the file and chose
to Save As. I had been simply left-clicking to invoke the Save File dialog
box.

Kevin wrote:
It is quite possible that your hard drive is going to sleep or some other
power management issue is causing the problem. I'm assuming you're
connected via ethernet; I certainly wouldn't attempt to download a huge
file over wireless. So go into Device Manager and find your ethernet
adapter (NIC). Double-click it to get its Properties. There should be a
Power Management tab. Uncheck the box that allows Windows to turn off this
device. Also go into your regular Power Management in Control Panel and set
everything to "never" for just this one download.

I understand that you don't want to use third-party programs, but if it were
me I'd use Filezilla for FTP or a torrent (if Dell offers torrenting). At
least when you use an FTP client or a torrent client you can resume from
where you left off (assuming the server allows that). Even if you try it
this way, I'd still make the Power Management changes temporarily until you
get the download.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:erHG4x3bIHA.1188@xxxxxxThanks! This is the best information I've seen all day! I'll check in
Device Manager to see if my Ethernet adapter has been fiddled with as you
suggest. I'll also take a look at Filezilla. Thanks again!