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downloads lock up

  • 2 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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For the last week or so, I have had problems with downloads. The first 90% or so goes by as fast as it should, but then the last few seconds take up to about a full minute or so to complete. This is very disconcerting (annoying, actually), as I am not sure whether or not the download will complete. Further, I have (dare I say) used Internet Explorer to go to the same website to do the download, and it has worked as it should.

The problem has occurred on different websites, so I'm confident it's not a host site issue. I have made no recent changes to my anti-virus software. My equipment consists of a laptop running Windows 7 connected directly to a Netgear DM111PSP modem which is connected by DSL to the internet.

Any ideas about what might be causing the problem?

For the last week or so, I have had problems with downloads. The first 90% or so goes by as fast as it should, but then the last few seconds take up to about a full minute or so to complete. This is very disconcerting (annoying, actually), as I am not sure whether or not the download will complete. Further, I have (dare I say) used Internet Explorer to go to the same website to do the download, and it has worked as it should. The problem has occurred on different websites, so I'm confident it's not a host site issue. I have made no recent changes to my anti-virus software. My equipment consists of a laptop running Windows 7 connected directly to a Netgear DM111PSP modem which is connected by DSL to the internet. Any ideas about what might be causing the problem?

All Replies (2)

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Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings and disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

(If you're using an added theme, switch to the Default theme.)

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu by clicking on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item:
FirefoxSafeMode

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode" Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

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It is possible that anti-virus software is corrupting downloaded files or is interfering otherwise.

Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work.

See: