Understanding and Preventing a Download Crash

There is nothing more frustrating than a slow computer and even worse, a slow download. The minute you need to quickly download an application, file, or PDF your computer turns into a tortoise and all the convenience of modern technology gets thrown out the window.  Great!

There is no reason to be frustrated. Luckily, there are several common reasons for slow downloads and even download crashes that are simple to understand and simple to fix.

Slow Downloads Reason # 1

Your computer hates you. Now, that was joke! Honestly, one of the most common reasons for a slow download is the website you are downloading from.  If you are on a popular website that is experience many downloads their server might become overwhelmed. Every server can only handle a maximum number of connections and/or download at one time.  If you get a message that states something along the lines of “time out error” then this might be the problem.

In addition, the computer you are trying to connect to may be extremely far from your location and you may be dealing with many hops. If you don’t know what a hop is, it can be easy to understand what it is.  Basically, when you download you are trying to connect to another network. Your “data packets” need to jump from router to router to router to reach their final destination.  Each time your data packet makes the jump to another router it is called a hop.  The more hops, the longer your download may take.

Slow Downloads Reason # 2

Cables, and modems, and bears… OH MY!  Alright, well maybe not the bears. Hardware such as your cables, modems, and routers can greatly affect your download speed. You should regularly check that all of the important pieces are attached, working, and in good condition. If one of your cables is not plugged in properly, the whole problem could lie in that simple connection. You might be able to perform a speed test depending on your computer. Often, you router or internet modem will show you the connection level with a series of small lights on the front.

Slow Downloads Reason # 3

The “m” word. Once you are infected with malware or a common virus, it has the potential to affect just about every component of your computer experience. Although it can be frustrating, there are countless programs sold on the market today that can clean your computer and rid it of anything harmful or counterproductive. Don’t assume that you are free of malware or a virus until you run a sweep of your computer and know for sure.

These might not be the only symptoms of a slow download or a download crash, but they are a good place to start.  Hopefully, you can improve your download speed in a few simple steps.  If you need further assistance, it may be in your best interest to do a search of issues with your specific computer, software that you use on a daily basis, and check in with your internet provider.