partial downloads not being picked up on further 'searches'

[uncletodd]

I apologize in advance if this problem has been tackled before, but I couldn't find a link through 'search'

running Vista 32, LW 4.18.8 (reinstalled after trying LW 5 --ugh, but that's for another thread..

all incomplete D/L are listed in RED but show the appropriate size that has been downloaded
when clicking on to 'resume', all partial D/L's are listed at 0% which I know is incorrect because I can get them to play
and when doing a catagory search for the incomplete file and that incomplete file is listed, it doesn't download automatically unless I physically cancel the old one and click on the same newly posted listing
hope this made sense
it's probably a simple fix but it's bugging the snot out of me
any help/suggestions are appreciated

[Lord of the Rings]

I just woke up so a little slow in understanding. lol

incomplete files will be red in the incomplete folder 'if' you have partial file sharing turned off. Even if you enable this, only new incomplete downloads will be colored black.

Another reason they can be red is if LW no longer recognises them. This might be due to LW making a duplicate which it is or did use for the downloading file.

* Another reason might be the days you have it set to keep incomplete files. Check under Tools -> Options -> Saving. This setting is unavailable in LW 5 from memory. If their use-by date has been past, then LW 'might' have wiped all record from them in it's downloading history preferences. (I have mine set to 9999 days.)

I presume you have tried Resume from the Library window. If they are already listed in the downloads window then this will not have a major effect. But in cases where LW refuses to load incomplete files into the download window, they need to be resumed from incomplete window; in this scenario, they will all show zero % downloaded until the files actually start to download again where their previous download % will show.

Now for a general statement about incomplete files. Some people only come onto the network once a week or less. So you may end up with having incomplete files for many months as you await those people being online or hoping there are alternate sources (other people sharing identically hashed file.) Continual searches, using Get More Sources & coming online at different times consistently may eventually help such files to download.

I guess it depends on whether there are alternates for the files or not. Sometimes finding an alternate, then if that downloads, cancel the one you were unable to download & remove that incomplete file from the incomplete folder.

OH .. you can right-click the heading-bars (column headings) & choose to show more options. This is available in all windows. Choose to show Extended Tooltips. Then hover your cursor over the files. This will give you some information about each file (eg: when it was started, how many KB's downloaded, whether any data is corrupted, etc.)

[uncletodd]

it might be the partial file sharing thingy---it's been off because (I'm thinking) who wants just a piece of a file instead of the whole thing---sure you might want to tag it but....
thanks LOTR

[uncletodd]

another thing that is happening after tweaking the system---files that I D/L today (partial) are in black BUT after logging off (the proper way ) and when I start LW hours later, those same files from earlier in the day are now in RED with 0% saved upon using the 'resume' function--what am I missing here---it's gotta be something simply stupid
thanks

[Lord of the Rings]

If you turn Partial file sharing off at any stage, LW's preferences will lose track of those files, thus even if you turn it back on 10 mins later they will eventually become red.

I presume your partial file sharing is turned on right?

Other than that I'm not sure why that would happen. But why are you using the Resume function if the incomplete files are already in the download window ... or were they missing from the download window? It'd be my guess incomplete files that did not show in download window & were resumed from incomplete folder would not be capable of partial file sharing (might be wrong.) The process might have temporarily tricked LW.

What sort of changes did you make?

[uncletodd]

just to clarify--partial sharing is on
My main question is still why aren't the incomplete files being recoginzed in a catagory search where the same exact file is there. If I delete the incomplete file from the main d/l window and then click of the same file in the search window I can d/l the file and it picks up immediately with whatever % has already been saved previously

[Lord of the Rings]

Unless your LW preferences are partially corrupted, it suggests the file you saw in search results does not have 100% identical download hash even though it's basically the same file. However in your scenario, it does sound like something is amiss. If your incomplete files keep disappearing from the download window by themselves & you are continually forced to resume them from the library window then something is definitely wrong. In that scenario then yes LW has not initially detected the incomplete proper download hash (until you have resumed the file from Library incomplete folder or pressed download from the search results) & thus cannot compare such to search results. Hope that makes sense.

[uncletodd]

I kinda figured there is a corruption issue here. Had a similar situation a few years ago with compatibility/corruption of D/L's with Zone Alarm (using McAfee now--it's free for me for a little while longer) and at that time I found on the ZA site a way to fix the problem and that was by going into the .LIB folder and deleting certain files.
Is this an option for my situation or is it more logical to do a complete uninstall/reinstall to get back to square 1 again? I know I'm going to lose all the incomplete downloads (right? since they are corrupted in the hash value only not the content, and what's the sense of keeping them if...). Right now even any new D/L that is incomplete during a session is initially listed in black but if I shut down LW and restart hours later, the same file is now listed in red
thanks again

[Lord of the Rings]

Do you have Extended Tooltips turned on? Right-click the heading bar of any window such as downloads window & choose that option. Then you can hover your cursor over a file in the download window to see if any data has been lost due to corruption.

I get the impression your LW is not shutting down properly. Perhaps not closing fully before you shutdown the computer. Do you have LW set to shutdown immediately, that's probably the best option.

It might also be a corruption in your preferences folder. If you wish to make a note of all your settings, then do this: delete your LW Preferences folder whilst LW is closed; instructions here: Point #2 & 3 in Fixes for Limewire (sample image included at bottom of page.) or if using vista see http://www.gnutellaforums.com/genera...der-vista.html but LW must be closed at that time.