Large Files Won't Download

Woke up this morning and suddenly cannot download any large files (though small ones are still OK). Tried to download a 175 MB video on Megashares and it always only gets to 41.8 MB. a 350 MB video on Megashares gets 51.3 MB. Tried to download Linux from Ubuntu which is 695 MB and that gets 59 MB before stopping. Same story regardless if I use Chrome, Firefox or IE. I'm on Vista, by the way. Any ideas?

Router needs a reset?

I went to ThinkBroadband and am able to download the 50 MB test file without any problems. However, every time I try to download the 100 MB test file, it stops at 65.3 MB. Every time I try to download the 200 MB test file, it stops at 38.2 MB. And so on. CenturyLink support believes my 2Wire modem is going out. Do you agree or can you suggest a different "fault?" Should I try "resetting" my current modem first, as you suggested may be the problem? Please note that I used the modem/router to transfer a couple of large files to an external hard drive and that worked just fine.

[Moderator]

Forgive a silly question, but do you have enough free space on the drive?

There are no silly questions. But, yes, I do have 73 GBs free.

CenturyLink support believes my 2Wire modem is going out.

The 2Wire modem is one you bought, right?  Didn't CenturyLink send you a modem when you started your account with them? 

Actually this is the one the gave me (or perhaps I upgraded for a fee at the time of sign-up). As I got it in 2007, it is no longer under warranty. I bought a new modem that CenturyLink suggested but I'd rather avoid unboxing something and using it briefly only to try to return it if that is not the issue (then again, if you guys think it sounds like it COULD be the issue, I'll go forward).

I'm a CenturyLink customer.  But, my modem was issued to me by Embarq, the telephone/DSL provider who preceded CenturyLink in my area.  Embarq provided the modem as part of the DSL package; in other words, it did not cost extra.  I assumed CenturyLink did the same but I just called them and learned that they charge a monthly fee for modems issued by them.  Customers "grandfathered in" from Embarq, like me, can still use the free modems.

I bought a new modem that CenturyLink suggested ...

Did you buy it from CenturyLink?  As I understand it, CenturyLink does not sell modems, they lease them, starting at $4.95/mo.  Exactly what is your situation?

Info: http://www.centurylink.com/home/internet/

I went to ThinkBroadband and am able to download the 50 MB test file without any problems. However, every time I try to download the 100 MB test file, it stops at 65.3 MB. Every time I try to download the 200 MB test file, it stops at 38.2 MB. And so on. CenturyLink support believes my 2Wire modem is going out. Do you agree or can you suggest a different "fault?" Should I try "resetting" my current modem first, as you suggested may be the problem? Please note that I used the modem/router to transfer a couple of large files to an external hard drive and that worked just fine.

Yes, reset your modem if you haven't yet. And any routers as well. Just unplug from the mains.

Raptor: Tried that now - unplugged and left unplugged for a long while - but still the same thing.

soybean: Qwest preceded CL in my area so I must be grandfathered in as well. As for the one I just purchased, CL suggested one that is CL-approved that is sold at Wal-Mart. So that is what I have and that is what I guess I will try next. :-(

BTW - Did a virus scan and nothing came up. Just seems so weird that it keeps stopping at the same MB size (ie. 65.3/100 MB, 38.2/200 MB, etc.).

[Moderator]

Whats the Total size of that HDD ? ?

Total size is 146 GB. And with the new modem I am still having the same problem.

[Moderator]

Did your ISP supply the router as well ? ?
If so request a line chech and/or onsite test.

ISP (CenturyLink) suggested I buy a specific modem at Wal-Mart. (I do not have a router.) Did that and they just checked the line and say that it is pulling the right speed. Again, it is not killing downloads at random, it is doing so at a specific file size each time, depending on the size of the whole file.

From everything you have posted, it sure sounds like an ISP limitation on downloads, although I'm surprised that you have talked to Centurylink and nobody mentioned any limitations.  As strange as it sounds, it could be that the people you have talked to don't know about the download limitations.  A number of people in tech support are not that well trained.  There are a number of people in tech support that are extremely sharp, and some not so much.

If I understand what you have done so far, you don't have a router, have changed modems, and there is nothing your computer should be doing that would limit downloads, so that only leaves your ISP as the problem.

Everything was working fine yesterday! Now my ISP says that the equipment they have me wired too is congested so they will rewire Monday. But is that false hope? What's weird is that it always stops at 65.3 MB when I try the 100 MB test file and 38.2 MB when I try the 200 MB test file. Tried several other too and same whole sizes always stop at the same partial sizes.

Well, just discovered that all works fine in safe mode with networking. Now what? :-(

(Going to sleep. Exhausted. Will check this thread in the morning. Hey, its a start...)

[Moderator]

That may mean wrong network driver installed...or missing /bad chipset driver.

Check Control Panel/Device Manager for any Yellow ??'s.

If none then run a TCP/IP fix...

What protection softwares, firewall is installed and running?

No errors in device manager. Tried a TCP/IP fix but still same issue. As for protection, the only thing I've got is AVG and I installed that yesterday AFTER all of this began happening to check for viruses. Again, nothing found.

One thing of note, I performed a "netsh winsock reset" two days ago in an effort to fix a com surrogate error connected to a DIVX update. Could that have caused any of this? If so, how do I undo that?

[Moderator]

This is why we love details on here...

Winsock Fix...

Darn, still a no go. :-(

Woke up and all of the sudden it is working without any problems. Wow. I wish I had an explanation in case it happens again to me or someone else but I'll take the gift... thanks for your help!

[Moderator]

Gremlins....