Download problem

[Andy_gr]

Hello,
I have this online RPG game. After you install the game it downloads automatically the latest patches..it updates the files you have.
I have a problem with these updates.
As my files get updated normally from the server, some specific files stop getting updated/downloaded on the same KB or MB spot everytime.
I tried to get in contact with the game's tech support and they send me those files via email. But still, even when i download them via email they still freeze on the same spot. They are not large files..i have updated larger files than those for the game.

The funny thing is that previously i have installed the game and updated those files normally..and played the game normally...but when i did a format to my pc and i tried to reinstall the game..that is when this problem occured.

Is there something wrong with my pc or modem? Can you plz help me? :(

I am using Windows 98 SE and a 56K

Thanks.
{email address removed}

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

I would download a run security scanning software if you have not already done so. This would include antivirus, spyware and trojan scans. If you don't have them already, you can find links to download them in mjc's security thread. (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15179) I would use AVG and maybe an online scan for viruses. I would use Spybot and/or AdAware for spyware. And it would probably be a good idea to run Hijack This and post the log here. The kind of problem you describe often seems to be due to malware.

[Andy_gr]

ok thanks. I will try what you told me. I just formated my pc. I hope this will solve my problem before doing any virus scans.

[Budfred]

You just now reformatted your computer or you did before the problem started?? If you just did it and turned the computer off before reloading Windoze, it is likely that any garbage would have been flushed out with the reformat. If this is so, the best bet would be to install an antivirus and firewall to protect against any problems happening again and then run spyware scans occasionally. You can get those all through mjc's security thread.

If you mean that you reformatted before the problem started, it could be a matter of a driver being wrong or something along those lines.

BTW, I noticed that your email address is removed and this is a security thing as well. SPAMbots scan open forums like this for email addresses to send SPAM to, so unless you want to be on every major SPAM list around, it is a good idea to avoid posting your email address.

[Andy_gr]

Hi,
First, I formatted my pc some time ago and installed windows and everything else again, including the game I was playing. As soon as I installed the game and it started downloading the updates from its server that is when the problem occured. Before the format it was all fine.

Second, before I read your first reply I formated my pc again hoping to solve that problem and killing any viruses (if I had any) because I haven't installed any Anti-Virus software :( yet.

Now, as soon as I install windows again I will make sure I install an Anti-Virus too. I have downloaded the software you suggested in your previous reply for future problems.

I want to agree with you, it probably was a virus or other hijack problem. I kept on getting explorer error messages for a while and as soon as I run Adaware it was solved..but the game problem wasn't. I will see what happens after the format and make a post to let you know.

oh btw..about my email..I wrote that I would appreciate for someone to reply to me via email and I wrote down my email address. I will not do that again :rolleyes: thanks for the tip.

Thanks :)

[Andy_gr]

Hello Budfred,

After I formated my pc..I reinstalled windoze and the game. As it started downloading the files again for the update..it still stops responding on the same file. It downloads any kind of files of any size. It just stops responding on that same one everytime when it gets to half of its download.

[Budfred]

There are 2 options I would try. One is to try an online scan to see if you might have something still infesting your computer. If you didn't shut it down before rebooting, some viruses can lurk in RAM and reinstall themselves.

Second is to load and run a different browser to try to download that update. You can install and run more than one browser and this could be a browser problem. If it still doesn't work and you are malware free, I would contact the company or consult any forum/FAQs for any clues about whether there is something wrong with the update.

[mjc]

What are you using for a download manager?

If it is something other than IE, have you tried clearing the download manager's cache?

have you tried clearing IE's cache (temp Internet files)?

If you aren't using a download manager how about trying one?

I use Stardownloader (http://www.stardownloader.com), not for any acceleration, but the simple fact I need resumeable download support.

[Andy_gr]

Hello,

I will try an online scan to see if anything is still on my pc. I am not using a browser for my downloads. The game uses its own download browser, unfortunately I cannot change that. I mean that as soon as I click on the game's icon, a download window pops-up of its own...from the game..and it starts downloading. But as I said on my first post, I got in contact with the game's technical team and they send me that file that wasn't downloading via email. It again stopped responding even if I was downloading it via email.
Yes, I tried to clean the Temp folder..I also played with the cookies.
Still nothing happened. The game's tech team dos know what emight be causing that problem and they cannot help me :( . I will download Stardownloader to see if I can use it with the game.

Since you mentioned RAM. I have a problem with it. I don't know if that has to do with the game problem...but I just want to ask you if it does. I have installed on my pc 576 MB of RAM. I have three slots on my motherboard. I have two 256MB RAM chips and one 64MB RAM cheap. But each slot reads up to 128MB of RAM. So even if I use a 256MB RAM it reads it as 128MB RAM. So, the pc reads that I have only 320MB RAM installed. Why does this happen? Does this have to do anything with the game?

Thanks

[mjc]

have three slots on my motherboard. I have two 256MB RAM chips and one 64MB RAM cheap. But each slot reads up to 128MB of RAM. So even if I use a 256MB RAM it reads it as 128MB RAM.

Umm......yeah you have another problem, alright.

It could be that your RAM is not the correct type for the motherboard, that your board has some sort of limit, or the RAM is bad....etc. Please start a new thread in Core hardware about this problem.

[Budfred]

Also, check out this thread, (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=23516) it talks about a similar problem.

It could be that your download problem is related to the RAM problem. I will post this link and a link for a RAM tester in you new thread to address it there.

[Andy_gr]

hello again,

I was thinking about changing the pci slot. Could that help? could the problem be if my modem is bad? I am also using old drivers.

[Budfred]

Moving the modem wouldn't hurt, longshot possibility that it might help. A bad modem is possible, but not likely since you probably wouldn't even be able to get online if it were bad. Old drivers shouldn't make a difference if they were working before....

Did you try the other downloader???

[mjc]

I wouldn't even think about the game, the modem or anything else until you get the RAM problem fixed......

[Andy_gr]

Hi,

Well I have the RAM problem first priority for now..I now trying to fix RAM and then trying to check for the game..I ran a different memmory test..everything seemed fine...with no problems :( . I think that's bad.

Anyway..i tried the downloader you suggested..it seems extremely good on other files that I wanted to download...but it cannot use it for the game because it has its own. I don't know if there is a way that I can change the game's download with something else.

[Andy_gr]

Hello again :),

Budfred you wrote something before that I have a question on it..

Budfred wrote:If you didn't shut it down before rebooting, some viruses can lurk in RAM and reinstall themselves.

My question is...after rebooting or shuting down the pc, doesn't RAM completely empties itself? How can it be possible for the virus to still be inside it?

[Andy_gr]

Hello,

I tried using my 2 old 64MB RAM sticks that were working fine with no problems...and I tried to update the game again... still the same thing happened on the same file..on the same 12KB spot. This means that it is not a RAM problem right?

[Budfred]

The way that the virus lingers in RAM is if you don't shut the power off. Simply rebooting may not clear RAM memory since it continues to get power. RAM works only when powered, so shutting down for a little while allows the memory in RAM to fade.

Yeah, it seems likely that it isn't a RAM problem anymore. Is this a legitimate copy of this game? If it is not, it may be corrupted or the download may have some copy protection.

Also, did you do that online scan??

[LadyGrey]

Off topic here, just wanted to thank mjc for the link to Stardownloader. Been looking for something like that but all I was able to find was full of spyware and adware. LG:)

[Andy_gr]

Well, I ordered the game from its company alright, it is not a copy. The original cd came with the expansion. You don't need the original game to play the expansion like most games do. So, you can install both games in different directories. At the original game you have to create an account to play. At the expansion you don't have to because you can only use the account from the original game. So, each game has exactly the same files. Well, the download problem exists on the original game as well as the expansion game. Which means that it is not a faulty cd because as I said before both cds have exactly the same files to install and update. The same file that the original game update stops responding...is the same file as the expansion game update that stops responding. I used my friend's cd who also plays the game...this time the updates freeze on another file everytime. So, I don't think it is the game that has the problem..but I think there is something wrong with my pc. :(

Yes, I tried that online scan..no viruses where found. I also use AVG, AdAware, and Spybot daily. No errors on those scans either.