EXE downloads and plugin downloads stop for no reason

Well, for no reason I can discern. See if anyone out there can crack this problem. I've searched the forums, and came up empty as far as finding an exact match of the problem.

The problem: Downloading EXE files and what I assume are EXE files (Flash Viewer update, Java update, etc.) stops after a short amount of progress. There's no warning message, no error message, no clue at all given by the OS; the progress bar just...stops. It waits patiently, even if I cannot. It'll stay there all day if I let it.

Replication: It's inconsistent in that some EXEs do download just fine, but consistent in that the same EXE files always freeze. Consequently, I don't have the latest Java updates, Flash Viewer updates, and more, and I can't download Yahoo Messenger or Windows Live Messenger. The latest problem: I can't play my new game, Company of Heroes, until the in-game patch downloader installs the latest patch. Problem is, it freezes.

System configs: This happens on both of my Vista Ultimate 32-bit machines at home: one a home-built desktop, one a Gateway laptop. The problem files, updates, and circumstances are identical between the two machines, so please no "homebuilt-bashing" or "Gateway-bashing" in regards to this issue. Seriously, the only things in common between these two machines are (1) I'm the user (2) the OS (3) same network. Desktop is cabled Ethernet, laptop is wireless 802.11g. I'd list all the memory, processors, hard drives, etc. here, except since the same problem's on both systems, I hesitate to think that the problem is in some quirky, hiccupping component. In any case, these are the only two Vista machines in the house.

Attempts at fixing: I have Defender turned off. I've even uninstalled (temporarily) antivirus. At one point, I reinstalled Vista, but stopped pursuing that avenue when I realized the laptop was having the same problem as the desktop. If I know the URL, I can use one of the XP machines in the house to download it no problem, then transfer over the network. But this doesn't work with an installed app's internal auto-updating in Vista, of course.

Hiccupping: Does "hiccupping" have one "p" or two? I'm stumped.

Is it a browser problem? This crossed my mind. So on both systems, I've tried to download EXEs (when I knew the URL) in multiple browsers: IE7, Firefox 3, and Opera 9, all with the same result. I haven't tried special download managers, but figured they won't help, anyway, with an installed app's internal update attempts (like Java's).

Did I screw it up? I haven't screwed with the system registry on either system. The extent of my customizing the OS on these systems, aside from installing some common retail consumer software, consists of changing the screen background and getting the PCs connected to the home network.

Why I'm at my wit's end: I had a heart attack last month (I'm only 41), and this stress is not helping my recovery. I can't even play my game while recuperating at home! It's torture! I'm also wondering if, perhaps, there's some security setting in my Linksys router or something that's blocking these somehow. But if so, I can't find any setting in the documentaton or UI, and why some EXEs but not others?

Please, somebody, if you know of any pointers, please share. Don't make me re-post posing as a female for more responses. I really don't make a convincing woman, and these heels hurt.

Thanks!

Hi Akambe and welcome to a world where there are 90% men.

I think I had the same problem some years ago. I'm not sure if this will do any good, but it's better than nothing.

Click on Accessories and RUN and type this sfc /scannow
This will repair windows or replace either corrupt or missing files.
Have the OS DVD in drive while doing this.

Also on RUN type msconfig and on the StartUp tab disable things you don't want starting up. Try disabling everything and see if there's any difference. Something could be conflicting with other applications.

Other things you can do is to clean your HDD with ccleaner.
Enable Advanced options while doing so which will eliminate a lot of garbage from your PC. It's all safe to do so.

Hope this helps.

AllMac said:

Click on Accessories and RUN and type this sfc /scannow
...
Also on RUN type msconfig and on the StartUp tab disable things you don't want starting up. Try disabling everything and see if there's any difference. Something could be conflicting with other applications.
...
Other things you can do is to clean your HDD with ccleaner.

Click to expand...

Thank you, AllMac--it's great to receive help from above from the land down under.

I'll try a couple of those options, but I need to clarify that this behavior began from the moment I installed Vista--this problem has been there from the get-go, from a brand-new Vista install (desktop) and from initial system OOBE (laptop).

Have a great weekend~

Akambe said:

AllMac said:

Click on Accessories and RUN and type this sfc /scannow
...
Also on RUN type msconfig and on the StartUp tab disable things you don't want starting up. Try disabling everything and see if there's any difference. Something could be conflicting with other applications.
...
Other things you can do is to clean your HDD with ccleaner.

Click to expand...

Thank you, AllMac--it's great to receive help from above from the land down under.

I'll try a couple of those options

Click to expand...

No joy. Still pukes on its shoes.

Some other options you could try:

1 - Does your modem/router have some kind of built in feature which limits downloads of potentially dangerous applications?

2 - Check your firewall settings for signs of limitations on different files. Try turning it off. Turn off UAC -->msconfig, under one of the tabs, select turn off UAC. It's the biggest bother ever that exist on Vista. If it doesn't help you can always turn it on again by clicking on the other option.

3 - The Vista version you have may be faulty since you installed it both on the desktop as well as Laptop. Is it possible for you to install it on an empty hard-drive and see if downloading works as it should?

3.5 - Try a different Internet connection.

4 - Check out the Tutorial Section on possible solutions.

I know this is a Vista forum, but my suggestion would be to try out a different Operating System.

Because you are using the same on both, it's impossible to know whether this problem is related to your OS or the hardware.

I'd reccomend heading over to Ubuntu and downloading a Live CD that will run from the CD drive. It's a fully functioning operating system, and will allow you to connect to the internet with Firefox.

Can you try running off an Ubuntu Live CD and downloading EXE files? This will help us target the root of this problem so we can help troubleshoot further.

Thanks, and hope this helps you.

Thao said:

...my suggestion would be to try out a different Operating System.

Click to expand...

I'll try that--I hadn't considered using a Live CD on the Vista system just for downloading EXE files, but I've used Live CDs before, so I'll give it a shot. I already figured it was an OS problem, since I can download anything I want on any of our home's XP systems (also wirelessly networked), so that's how I've usually handled problem EXE downloads thus far.

The really frustrating thing on my end--one without an easy current workaround--is that neither XP nor a Linux distro can help me when a program within Vista is finding its own patch downloads and attempting updates, then failing. Java updates are one, but I think I can poke around the Java site and just download the latest full version, or a patch if one's available for download (clunky, but it could work). Not so with Company of Heroes, tho--it uses a within-interface download method, it doesn't tell you what patch it's trying to download, only that it IS trying, so when it fails, there's nothing I can do but retry.

*sigh* Vista. Downloading an EXE/patch should not be rocket science.