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Problems Downloading
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 | Download goes very, very slowly and never finishes. |
| Download seems to be going well, but terminates before completing. |
| Download completes but an error message reports the file is corrupted. |
Folks report trying the download over and over and over again, always getting the same error. We know this is very frustrating! If there was something we could do on our end, believe us -- we would do it. The problem is not on our end, at our web server, so there's nothing we can do to help.
Where's the Problem?
The problem lies somewhere between us and you, between our web server and your computer. The Internet is a mind-boggling complex network of computers working largely independent of one another.
Further, the file you request is divided into chunks, called packets, that are transmitted through this chain of servers and ultimately to your computer, where they are reassembled into a single file. The more packets there are, the more possibility there is for error. Let's look at each one of the problems described above.When you steer your web browser to www.ScoutTroop.com, you are not creating a direct connection between your computer and our server. Your computer's modem connects to a server at your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP's server in turn connects to other servers, often many other servers, that ultimately connects to our server where the file resides. For example, if I connect from my home in Lester Prairie to my web server in Minneapolis I might be routed through six servers in six different states!
Slow Speed: The packets move at the speed of the slowest link in the chain of servers. Our server is connected to the Internet via a T-1 line, which is really-really fast. There's no possibility that our server is the cause of the speed problem (unless it's malfunctioning, which is unlikely). Your computer is connected to your ISP via a modem, DSL or cable. Things can get so bogged down that a server somewhere in the chain decides to give up and terminate the process. Sudden Termination: Even if the packets are traveling quickly, all it takes is one slip-up and the process shuts down.What Can You Do?Corrupt File: Even if all of the packets arrive at your computer, it's possible that one or more were damaged during transmission. The installation program does a self-check to make sure that everything is in the right place. Even a single byte of data is wrong, the entire file is rejected. While there is the possibility that we have a corrupt file on our server, it's not likely.
Back to TopSlow Speed: Disconnect from your ISP, wait a few minutes, and try again. You might end up being routed differently. If it's still too slow, wait until off-peak hours when servers aren't so busy. Try very late at night or very early in the morning.
Sudden Termination: Same as above -- disconnect and dial up again.
Corrupt File: There's not much you can do about this. You'll need to download the file again. Feel free to contact us and get confirmation that the file is OK on our end. We'll be happy to check it out. If our file is corrupt, we need to know!
