Downloads suddenly stopped working

[lyndsiesal]

I sell downloads exclusively. Everything has been working fine (for the most part) for nearly a year until today, now all of my downloads are coming up as "invalid or corrupt" for my customers. These downloads used to work just fine, and I didn't change any settings. I'm so upset. I have no idea what to do. Any advice is VERY much appreciated :)

[jhande]

If nothing has changed with any of your shops files, it is more than likely a server/host issue.

 

If the downloads don't work at all and you receive an error message, then it could be your host used an outdated backup. Yes, host sometimes change things on their end and reinstall so-to-speak backed up files.

 

If the downloads are actually downloading (or seem like they are) but are stating they are corrupt, my guess is a connection problem with the server. Either timing out or something causing packets to drop.

 

I would contact my host and see if anything has changed recently on their end.

[lyndsiesal]

Thank you. They seem to be downloading, but the actual ZIP files are saying they are corrupt when anyone tries to extract the files. Arrrgggh! I hate that I have no control over these weird hosting issues. :rolleyes:

If nothing has changed with any of your shops files, it is more than likely a server/host issue.

 

If the downloads don't work at all and you receive an error message, then it could be your host used an outdated backup. Yes, host sometimes change things on their end and reinstall so-to-speak backed up files.

 

If the downloads are actually downloading (or seem like they are) but are stating they are corrupt, my guess is a connection problem with the server. Either timing out or something causing packets to drop.

 

I would contact my host and see if anything has changed recently on their end.

[jhande]

Do a test...

 

Pick a file from your site that gives you the corrupt message and upload a new zip file. Try downloading it yourself and see if it is still corrupt. If it is... contact your host as the file is being messed with during download.

 

At least that's my quess!

[lyndsiesal]

I did that. At first I thought something was wrong with my file. What's confusing me is this:

I can't download when I'm signed in as a customer. If I just copy/paste the ZIP file URL location in my download folder, the file works just fine. The problem is downloading from the download button on the order page if that makes sense. The actual files I have uploaded are fine. :blink:

Do a test...

 

Pick a file from your site that gives you the corrupt message and upload a new zip file. Try downloading it yourself and see if it is still corrupt. If it is... contact your host as the file is being messed with during download.

 

At least that's my quess!

[lyndsiesal]

I just noticed something else. The file I have uploaded is 68KB. The one that is downloading is 56KB. Hmmmm. I wonder why it isn't allowing the whole file to download?

I did that. At first I thought something was wrong with my file. What's confusing me is this:

I can't download when I'm signed in as a customer. If I just copy/paste the ZIP file URL location in my download folder, the file works just fine. The problem is downloading from the download button on the order page if that makes sense. The actual files I have uploaded are fine. :blink:

[jhande]

I just noticed something else. The file I have uploaded is 68KB. The one that is downloading is 56KB. Hmmmm. I wonder why it isn't allowing the whole file to download?

 

The download that actually works is 56KB instead of 68KB?

Were you able to unzip the file and all was well?

 

I still think if nothing has changed on your shops file end, then contact your host. Something between you download link and the file is messing up the code.

 

Quick run down on file downloads (in simple terms since I'm simple :lol: ).

 

Your link sends a signal to the server to download the file.

The server starts sending the file, but it is broken into smaller packets of information. The size of those packets is kind of determined by the use or how busy the shared network connection is (bandwidth).

At the beginning of each packet is information telling the receiving computer how to re-assemble the file.

So your one file might be broken into 4 or more files that gets put back together when your computer receives them all.

If there is a problem (missing info from the header) in the transmission of one of those packets (smaller files) then when the receiving computer tries to put them back together... it says it is corrupt.

 

If the link isn't working when you are signed in as a customer, my quess is that something in the code or the location of the file on the server changed. I don't know enough about how osC intergrates a download link as a customer to be useful on that end. Possibly your host restored files or the database utilizing outdated info?

 

Sorry I couldn't be of any great help. :blush:

[lyndsiesal]

Thank you, you've been very helpful. I wish my host was too, but they are telling me that it's something in my code. Nope. I didn't change a single thing! I'm switching tonight. What a pain :rolleyes:

[Guest]

I am looking for help on this same issue.

[arietis]

Thank you, you've been very helpful. I wish my host was too, but they are telling me that it's something in my code. Nope. I didn't change a single thing! I'm switching tonight. What a pain :rolleyes:

 

how are you uploading the files? when using your ftp program to get the files to your server, you need to make sure that the file transfer is in "binary" mode. if it's "text" mode, that could explain the differences in the files sizes and the corrupted .zip when downloaded.