Are you using a download manager/accelerator? That can often be the cause of corrupt downloads, though I've never heard of it being as widespread as you describe.

daryl:

Yep, just the larger files - I'm guessing at the size though - smaller (1MB-2MB) files seem to have been fine. Nero and Quicktime/iTunes are each over 35MB, though. I'll try a more controlled experiment late tonight or tomorrow (Have tix to the Jazz-Nuggets game tonight :-) I will try a DL via the dial-up (on the old PC), and I'll also try the same DL with the old PC via DSL. I didn't even get a dial-up modem for the new PC. By the DSL company, you mean the hardware company, don't you (Actiontec), as opposed to the phone company? The DSL modem has a two ports - one USB and one Ethernet port. The old PC is hooked to the USB, and the new PC is hooked to the Ethernet. I may try the same DL on each port. Hmmm... that may have something to do with it...

I don't remember the details, but it seems as if "Installshield" begins, and then returns the error message. Is Installshield a stand-alone program? I thought it was a component built into the .exe files?

Jive:
No download manager/accelerator that I installed. I'm just learning XP and it's various intricacies, so I don't know what XP has buit-in, that's why I asked about any switches/settings. The old PC has 98SE, and since I had been on dial-up, I wasn't been too worried about a serious firewall. Now with DSL, I'm always connected, so I'm sloooooly learning more about security...

Sometines just writing things out helps me figure out a strategy....

Thanks for helping get me started - You're right, though - it is a pain in the arse.

Any other ideas?

Frenchy

Here is something way out of left field, but here it goes.

I use Micrografx Picture Publisher 10pro. (Which was bought out by Corel and they ceased making it :( When I installed it, it interferes with links and basically anything clickable in internet explorer. It also caused problems with any program that I tried to install after its installation. I put two and two together, uninstalled PP10 and voila! no more issues. This left me with a dilemma as I like PP10 and want to use it. I did some searching and found another user who made a patch for it to fix the problem (not a fix by the company or Corel, just a regular guy who was fed up with it) and I installed it, after reinstalling PP10. The links worked, downloaded apps worked, apps worked from the installation cd's and I was back in business. I did run a Trendmicro Virus scan and it came back negative.

Just a thought; I don't know what programs you have on there, but there could be a similar issue. I still use that patch to this day and have not had a problem since.

j razz

Have you tried simply copying a known good file from a CD, DVD, or another hard disk, onto the same disk where you are storing your downloads? You need to make sure that you don't have something really fundamental that is causing corruption when files are written to the disk. Try copying a large EXE file that can be run just by clicking on it (i.e., it doesn't need to be installed).

If you are simply using the browser to download files, there is error checking going on, so I don't suspect the line is the problem. A bad connection simply makes the download go slower, because of all the re-tries, but the file should not be corrupt.

Hey John - This is next on my list - that is trying a large .exe file from the other PC, using a 1394 HDD, but I am beginning to suspect something more "fundamental", as you put it...

I have copied files (a large number, as well as large files, totalling about 100GB, including some video files as large as 4GB) from the old PC to an external 1394 HDD, then to the new PC internal HDD's (but to the physical drive which contains the boot drive). After completing the transfer, I ran FolderMatch (a file and folder comparison/synchronization package), and had some random files and folders which were not synched, as I would have expected (I originally used Windows Explorer to copy the files). Foldermatch compared and appears to have synched them fine.

A couple of things I did try late last night...

I went back to a restore point I had created upon completing installation of all MS WinXP updates, which was prior to any other DL's and program installs.

(1) Disabled the XP firewall AND the NVFirewall that came with the MOBO and tried a couple of other downloads (Nero and Vegas 4e)

Nero installed fine and seems to run fine (at least a cursory start up)
Vegas would not install - error message that file was corrupt, or "reached an unexpected end"

XP firewall re-enabled

Downloaded same two progs on old PC (which is running 98SE and has no firewall other than ZoneAlarm on it. It's attached to same DSL modem, but via USB) - Nero and Vegas both installed fine on old PC.

(2) tried to DL the Microsoft "Windows Installer CleanUp Utility" as described here: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301 which is a very small file, and it would not install, due to corruption...

(3) Ran memtest86 v3.2 and came up with no errors in memory..

Here's the biggie: In the middle of all this (somewhere between 1 & 2), while clicking an a website (happened at least twice - once on MS and once on Sony), the PC spontaniously rebooted - no BSOD, screen went blank, and rebooted. Then, while still on the DOS screen (in POST?), right before it should load the XP startup/logon screen, a DOS message popped up on the bottom that "an OS could not be found"...

I rebooted to the "recovery console" using the XP CD and got back into Windows seemingly ok, but this happened 2 or 3 times rather randomly...

I'm starting to think it may be a MOBO (Asus A8N-SLI) or a chipset (nForce4) issue

I'm surfing around, but am sure hoping for some generic or specific advice from the group here...

Thanks

Frenchy

Have you tried checking your cables going to your internal hard drive? I once had a faulty ribbon cable that worked when it was bent a certain way but didn't when it was allowed to "relax" in the case. I replaced it. It gave me some of the same troubles that you mention in the sense that sometimes it could not find an operating system. You might also want to try using a different power plug from your PSU to hook into the hard drive.

j razz

the PC spontaneously rebooted - no BSOD, screen went blank, and rebooted

Obviously that is not at all normal. While lots of things can cause this, my immediate suspicion is memory. I've had this exact thing happen at least half a dozen times over the years with memory that is either bad, or which had slightly wrong memory specs. I last ran into this about a year ago after purchasing memory that was exactly the same brand and type as what was already in the PC, yet it turned out to be bad.

The way to confirm this is to run a really good memory test. The one most people recommend, and which I used, is memtest86. It is free. You install it on a bootable floppy or CD-ROM, re-boot, and then let the thing run for an hour or two. I highly recommend you try this.

Memtest site

jrazz-

I am considering the IDE cable. I originally set up the machine with the Primary IDE drive on channel 1 as the boot drive (C:), and put my data on the SATA drives. I replaced the stock, flat ribbon cable with a round one from CompUSA, and tonight's plan is to reinstall the stock one and try a different power plug for the boot drive.

John-

"Obviously that is not at all normal." LOL - I have to agree with you there ;-)

I was suspecting memory also. I did read about and try memtest86 v3.2 (see #3, above) last night. It was late, so I just let it run and went to bed. When I checked it this morning (about 5-6 hours later), the PC had shut down, so I restarted it, and let it run for just under an hour - it ran through the test 100% (on the top line) and showed no errors, so I stopped it and it rebooted fine, then had to come to work to earn a living (and post here, of course). That's why I'm now thinking MOBO...

Frenchy

Sorry for not reading your post more carefully. I missed that you had already used memtest86.

I just had a laptop die. First computer I've ever failed to repair. It was definitely the motherboard, but being a laptop, was virtually impossible to repair (I don't have tools to do re-flow soldering). It would sometimes get through a whole boot cycle, but other times would hang before Windows was entirely booted. I removed the hard drive and tested it and was able to determine that it was OK. I re-flashed the BIOS.

Good luck with your problem.

Are you aware of this issue concerning large ATAPI disks?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013/

Have you set your computer to not reboot automatically so you can read the error?
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/russel_02may13.mspx

Is your system Prime95 torture test stable?
http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

Mobeius:

Thanks for the additional info...

I have SP2 installed, and there is no problem recognizing the two internal 200GB HDD's, so I don't believe the first linke you provided is an issue...

Thanks for the 2nd link and info on the shutdown/reboot issues - I will investigate further from there...

On the Prime95 torture test, It was in the back of my mind to check that out, so I'll give it try tonight or tomorrow.

As a general system update:

Memtest86 ran for about 3 hours with no errors or faults.

I went out of town for the weekend, so I didn't work on it but for a little while last night. I did run TrendMicro and PAnda's on-line virus scans. A minor virus (I forgot which) and some bad cookies were found and cleaned up...

It's inconsistent. Some more info...The spontanious reboots have only come while online. It happened twice on Friday, and NOT ONE reboot last night in about two hours. I was able to successfully DL and install V4 (40+MB). YEAHHH!

I then tried to DL and install Google Earth and Picasa (about 11MB and 4MB), and neither would not install due to corrupt install file. So, I'm kind of floundering here.

I'm going to try the Prime95 test - any advice for what I should look for?

Depending how that comes out, I'm probably going to perform a full reformat of the C: drive and reinstall WinXP from scratch, just starting over. I haven't installed that much yet, so it won't be a MAJOR project, but rather a minor pain. My data files are on the other drives.

So that's where I am so far...

Frenchy

Apologies if this has been addressed or ruled out, but have you tried a different power supply altogether? I've had that happen twice in several years and around 15 PC's built or upgraded, once a PSU had just worn out, and the other time it wasn't powerful enough to handle the upgraded components. Both times it exhibited symptoms such as sporadic reboots.

David - no apologies necessary. Everything on the build is brand new. I have thought about the PS, but it's also a brand new 450W unit that came with the new Antec Sonata case. So I suppose that could be the problem, but I haven't really stressed it out yet. Last night I ran the Asus moitoring program that came with the MOBO, and the CPU temps never got above 35-37 degrees C...

I would certainly do a quick search of the registry for EnableBigLba and make sure merely applying the patch turns this on.

A Newegg reviewer has this interesting thing to say about the nVidia firewall:

Cons: - The Nvidia firewall software is a nightmare. It will corrupt your life. DO NOT INSTALL, all incoming data you download will be corrupted. If you MUST use it turn OFF your windows firewall.

Sounds like that could be the problem! I found that here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?DEPA=0&Type=&Item=N82E16813131524&SortField=0&Pagesize=&Page=4

Prime95 torture test just stops with an error if there is a problem. I usually run it with the case fan unplugged to simulate a really hot day!

Moebius~

I will check the 48-bit Logical Block Addressing Support reg item and MS KB info - thanks.

I had read the same about the nVidia firewall, and have since turned it off, but I'm still experincing corruption. Will probably uninstall

I also found some info at MS about emptying the windows/prefetch and temp Internet folders, then downloading the latest installer. We'll give that a go as well, before reinstalling...

I ran memtest86 and came up with no errors. Last night I ran Microsoft's "Windows Memory Diagnostic" all night and came up with no errors either, so I'm thinking the RAM is ok. Before I came to work this a.m. I started the Prime95 torture test - we'll see what it looks like tonight...

As an engineer, I relish in solving problems, but as a human being, I hate having them...

Frenchy

I may have overlooked it in previous posts, but have you tried another Network Adapter?

I notice that ASUS A8N-SLI has an onboard LAN.
Perhaps this is a place to try?

Ayath

Well, here's an update (and a conclusion, hopefully) on my situation. Thanks to all who replied.

To restate above, I ran memtest and the MS memory diagnostic, with no errors. I unchecked the "Automatic restart" in Startup and Recovery dialog of My Computer --> Properties-->Advanced. Then ran Prime95 torture test all day. Sometime during the day, BSOD came up, with a STOP error - DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL with some other parameters - The bottom line, according to an MS support article, is that this error comes up when "... a driver uses an incorrect memory address..." or some other items. Re-booted, and upon boot up, POST did not even recognize my primary IDE HDD, which has the OS on it, and would not even boot. Grrr....

Managed to boot from the Windows install CD, and still would not recognize the IDE HDD. Drive letters on my two other SATA drives had been changed, one of them to C:, and I was unable to reset that drive letter, or do much else. Turned off PC and had a drink...

Unplugged SATA HDD's, rebooted from XP install CD. The main IDE HDD was recognized this time, along with the partitions I had created earlier. Yeah!! Reformatted (NOT quick) the primary C: partition, and did a clean install. So far so good. Then installed drivers and a few apps from CD's that came with the MOBO, Video Card, Keyboard. Did NOT even install the nVidea firewall this time - we'll just go with Windows for now. Able to connect to web, get all 350,000 MS updates and patches ( I KNOW there were only 350 earlier...). While this was going on, I thought back to earlier install/update, and recall an error coming up that the .NET 1.1 framework was unable to install. I had tried another time or two, but was unsuccessful. I decided not to worry about it, since .NET 2 had installed fine, and had forgotten about it until now. So, maybe this had something to do with my issues?...

I set restore point, rebooted, go back to DL the same things that had been causing me issues before (Vegas, MS Powertoys, and a couple of Google tools - Earth, Picasa and Toolbar - I have these on my machine at work, like them, and use them quite a bit) These DL's went fine, and the installs were flawless this time. Right On!!!! I played around with these for a while, and things seem to be fine again. By now it's after 1 a.m., and wake up call of 5:30 is only a few hours away, so I called it quits feeling good again.

So thanks again to all who responded. I'm not certain what was really causing the problem, but I think it must have been one or more of the following: a virus, the nVidia Firewall, a corrupt DL/update of the .NET 1.1 framework, or something else (brilliant, Watson!). Now I can just need to install the programs I use regularly on the new PC, and get back to editing all those DV tapes!

Frenchy

Frenchy

Hope you have smooth sailing from now on with your new system. My new system is up and running (many of the same components as Frenchy) and I DID activate the nVidia firewall. I have not experienced any problems. Maybe the forum citing above from Moebius which stated "DO NOT INSTALL, IT WILL CORRUPT EVERYTHING" might have experienced a problem similar to Frenchy. I did not activate the Windows firewall since activating multiple firewalls is probably not good? Anyway, I might try to find out how to turn nVidia off (or Uninstall) and go back to ZoneAlarm. That one I know how to use and has kept me safe (I hope) for the last four years.

TomG