File stops at 85%, yet download reads at 51KB
 

Hi, I've been attempting to download a file for over 12 hours.

I am running LimeWire 3.6.14

Mac OS X 10.2.8

DSL

I've read TONS of the "sticky" and other downloading problem posts. Still no answer to my question. Which is:

I am downloading a 200+ MB file that is "stuck" at 85% for well over 5 hours ( I am doing other things around the house - I'm not actually staring at the computer that long).

However, the speed reads a rate up to 51 KB/s. And it has been doing this for a LONG time (hours). And still no progress beyond 85%.

I've been all through the preference files. I've gone from being a "nice" guy where I have many upload slots and sharing files, to a "dick" where I don't allow anyone to share, and no partial downloads.

I've gone over my computer specs and it runs sharp. At this point I suspect the file is actually at fault.

Or can the experts here tell me otherwise? have I missed some key information?

As a test I found the same program offered in another file. The exact 200+ MB size as the "stuck" file.

I have started to download this one, as well. However, the first file had at least 8 sources/hosts.

This new file has none.

Both files are 4 star quality.

I've only reached up to 49 KB/s with the newer file , but it appears that I may / or may not have an answer in about 2 to 3 hours (in regard to the file being at fault).

But if it's better than the last file (where it tells me I ony have 12 minutes left at 51 KB/s .....for the last 5 HOURS) then I'll take it.

Is there a way to help that file stuck at 85% (yet "still" downloading at 50+ KB/s) - seems like a lot of wasted time if I can't.

Well, the update is the file did nothing. So I gave up on it, and downloaded another file (of the same size and nature) and had non problems with the download.

Still....it would be nice to know if this has occured in the past, and if there is a way to fix it (in case I come across this again - and have NO option of a different download source).

Anyone?

Files can get "stuck" as you've seen, for all the reasons that people disconnect form the network. I've read of people asking for an option to "pause" downloads--maybe you hit a servent that has implemented a "pause" upload.

You can view the vendor/IP information for the file--control click the column headers to see those options. Maybe you hit a 'bad' or old vendor. This won't be conclusive, but does give more info to wonder about.

There are a couple of 'oh well' tricks to babysitting a file. Enter a new more specific search to revitalize that file; also try the Resume button. Too, delete the file from the Download Pane, then go to the Library Pane and select it from the Incomplete list, and hit the Resume button to send it back to the download pane. Maybe File->Disconnect then File->Connect will get you a better set of hosts.

Lastly, don't trust the numbers too much, especially on large swarmed files. Since the file is downloaded in 100K chunks, there are situations where later chunks might be completed before earlier ones, or some chunks need to be replaced. Maybe you were getting the fast earlier chunks from other who too are waiting for the last key piece which could originate from a little old modem user!

Is this sort of what you were getting at?

Yes, it is, and I figured as much. I was pretty muc just stating my case for others who may also find themselves in the same situation.

Nice to hear some feedback on it.

In the case of the file, I managed to get it done via another host. Everything turned out fine. I've been a supporter of LimeWire for ages now. Always a lurker, but I figured why not poke my head in and see what's going on.

Many folks have different expectation out of this program/network. I've always been more laid back. Seems to work for me. Thanks again.

Jet--I ran across another reference to a similar situation on a different forum. Can you mail or PM me a file name I can try? There was mention of new code to overcome chunks from slow hosts when faster ones are available: might be worth a more careful look.

A file name as in the one I was attempting to download?

I'll send you a PM....since I think it's not wise to name the file in "public".

Looks like something odd going on: it's as if the file is repeatedly downloading or the numbers are really messed. At 37KB/s for 200 minutes, I figure my hard drive wrote ~440 MB of a 221MB file. Can a math expert comment?

Stief, yeah, you should saw my expression when I woke up in the morning to see the file had not moved an inch! And I was peaking at 50+ KB/s. It's funny that your problem started at 87%, whereas mine was at 85%.

I suspect the problem was with the file, but I don't know "where". I downloaded another file of the same data.

But guess what, since that old file was just doing nothing I didn't "kill it" (since I heard you had an idea about it) but later that same day that file went through like nothing happened.

Strange indeed.

Don't kill it and see if it eventually goes through.

Do you suspect it IS writing to the disk, but soooooo slowly that only a fraction of the data is making it? I'm just tossing out wild ideas here.

I just tried with another file (99MB mpg) that worked fine a few weeks ago--same thing: very high rates, hard disk working hard, but not completing in any predictable time. Now that I have a better idea what to look for, this one is behaving the same way as the earlier one. Even if a slow host is the primary source, there's a lot of undesirable hard disk work going on.

So--I'm guessing there's something in the 3.6.15 code that's not quite right. Maybe the file is stealing from itself? I'll revert back to a 3.6.7 and see what happens.

btw----both files showed lots of alternates, but never any uploads of the partially downloaded file in the monitor pane. Before, downloading a popular file would fill my available upload slots.