[HelpDesk] download issues

[Jigme Rangdrol]

We did try to contact your server admin an web team but it seems you are 
the only contact we are allowed to accesss. We realize you are probably 
not the person to deal with this issue but perhaps you might pass it along.

We have tried to download the file : ldraw_setup_2006q1_full_i.exe 
<http://www.ldraw.org/files/ldraw_setup_2006q1_full_i.exe>
by following the link, filling in the secret code box and allowing your 
script to place the executable file on our hard drive.
We have done this 6 times.
Each time, after a random amount of time, we get the message that the 
file can not be saved because the host file can not be read and the 
download terminates.
The download size when this happens varies from 1.3 megs to over 39 megs!

Since your server does not allow our download manager to connect and 
retrieve the file and does not allow downloads to resume there is 
nothing to do but allow the whole farce to begin anew.
This of course is compounded by the total lack of documentation as to 
either the file size or specific instructions for us poor schmoes who 
litter the web with dial up/Firefox/Windoze set ups.

Your instructions state:
"If you are experiencing issues with these installation instructions, 
please see the LDraw Help Desk <http://www.ldraw.org/article/7>."

However the help desk only tells you to read the FAQ and it of course 
says nothing about the issue or any other download issues.

One could be led to believe that the reason for the mandatory secret 
code step in your download regime is to reduce the number of automated 
downloads chewing up bandwidth.
This could lead reasonable people to think the file may be largish or 
your budget is tight or both
We would like to point out that:
a.) It is in your best interest to warn the public of large file sizes. 
With our dial up and your current regime we have been hogging bandwidth 
for over 10 hours and still dont have the file and a good many people 
would just give up and not only drain your resources but never 
contribute anything but negative reviews to your org.
b.) Mechanical downloads would not be reading the page! There is no 
reason to hide the file size from them nor us.
c.) Download managers like our Free Download Manager may be nice big low 
brow targets for Admins but they are not your enemy if you are on a 
budget. They save both time and bandwidth and you can still have all the 
secret code box things you want.
d.) We used our download manager to efficiently download Lego's Digital 
Designer, all of LeoCAD's files and MLCAD. These entities bookend you in 
all these issues.
e.) If, in fact, the file is not large at all and the server is in some 
way fritzzing up the download, there is no way for us to know nor any 
way to contact the server Admin to fix it.

If in fact you do wish to allow us to download this file please tell us 
just how it is to be done and what the file size is supposed to be.

Thank you for your valuable time.



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