Why can't people download a .ZIP file?

by 45 replies
51
Inside my member's area I link to a few Zipped folders for people to download. They work perfectly fine for me to Right Click and Save As... but I have gotten a few emails from people saying it doesn't work when they do this.

Why would it work fine for me (in multiple browsers) and not work for them at all? Is it their fault? Or is there a better way to do it?
#main internet marketing discussion forum #download #file #people #zip
  • It's entirely possible that they're doing something wrong. You'd be surprised at how many people don't know how to download, or even unzip, files.

    Denise
    • [2] replies
    • Or their security software, browser settings, are preventing the download.
    • Yes...the "beauty" of support
      • [1] reply
    • Banned
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  • What's a .ZIP file?
    • [2] replies
    • Just for John
      ZIP file

      A small file used for taking the rough edges off, over used zips.

      You know when you get a jacket half way zipped and it jams well a zip file fixes it...
      • [1] reply

    • I hope you are trying to make a funny!

      Dixie
      • [2] replies
  • Hmm... I say next to everything "You MUST RIGHT CLICK and SAVE AS" but I guess they could still be doing something wrong.

    But just to make sure: there is nothing special I have to do to make it work?
    • [2] replies
    • Add this tag to your download link...

      Then just tell them to "click here"

      Make it as "Dummy Proof" as possible, right clicks do throw people off.

      Hard to imagine, I know.


    • Yep, wave your magic wand and give your customers the computer knowledge and skills to understand how to download and unzip files.

      Just teasing, of course. It sounds like you did everything right.

      Denise
  • I would agree with Eric ... just force open new window and add "click here" and if they still have problems then they do have some software installed that is stopping the download.

    James
  • Thanks for the advice!
  • Some times the old fashioned method works - left click on the mouse - and (sometimes) like magic the download window will appear! Quite where the file will download to however, using this method, is an unsolved mystery, but for a Warrior it is merely just another challenge.

    Regards,
    Jeff.
  • i had this problem a while ago. basically if you have many people downloading .ZIP file at the same time, sometimes it gives an error. It is wise to have a copy of the zip file sitting on another host and provide a mirror link
    • [1] reply
    • Yeah great advice.. if you do have a large amount of members downloading it is always good to have mirrors setup. This is one place a resellers accounts can help.

      James
  • There's a security software application available (wish I could remember the name of it!) that as a security "feature" will rename your zip file to it's own file format, bascially making it useless.

    I guess the theory is, if you can't open a file then it can't spread viruses.

    I suppose it's true.

    Perhaps some of your customers are running software like this?

    cheers
    Sam
    • [1] reply
    • Sam, it could be CA Firewall which changes the extension to .efw

      Harvey
      • [1] reply
  • you can create a mirror with a different file name as well.
    works, in case something is wrong with your browser's cache
  • Someone on this Forum got a complaint a while back from a customer who said she couldn't open his zip file because she doesn't have a zip drive!
  • As Denise said, the best is to ask your customers what had gone wrong (again, provided they can tell you exactly what happened). Customers can sometimes do funny things that we think won't happen.

    As for me, clicking on zip files (not right click) would prompt me "Save As.." window.

  • Make a video and show people how to download and unzip a .zip file, maybe this can help
    • [1] reply
    • Then you'll have to teach them how to hook up their speakers and how to play the video.

      If they're having trouble clicking a link...
      • [3] replies
  • Actually, it depends on the drivers in your computer. Some older versions can't read / open a zip file.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • This is so true, and many without Adobe Reader installed will click on a pdf file, get an error message, then assume the download is bad.

      Then it's off to the support desk, while many time angrily blaming the seller.

      Comes with the biz I guess!
      • [2] replies
  • I am glad I am not the only one that runs into these type of "obstacles." Some of the things we think are common sense for even Non-IM savvy people, just might not always be.

    My general rule of thumb used to be that if my mother can do it... then anyone can, but I am seeing some people that have a harder time than her.
    • [1] reply
    • By looking at your pic, I'd say your mother is probably pretty young. And even though she might not have grown up with computers, she probably started using one at work years ago.

      A lot of the people online these days are much older than that, many are in their 60's and 70's, and never really worked much with computers, if at all. So the whole concept is really foreign to them, and even the minor things (like unzipping files) need to be explained.

      Denise
  • It's a good thing to know that MacOS X has a pre-built in zip system that can compress and uncompress.. No software to download, no winzip needed, no drop zip needed, none of that ..

    James
    • [2] replies
    • Really think this through.

      In many cases the people buying off you have problems because yours is the first digital product they've ever bought online.

      Now you can completely screw them up and put them off buying off you or anyone else online for months or years...

      Or you can take the time to work out what their problem is and solve it...

      Then put very simple directions on your download page so no one else has that problem.

      If you make the experience as smooth as possible for the newbie and deliver real value they'll buy from you over and over.

      Kindest regards,
      Andrew Cavanagh
      • [1] reply
    • You mean just like Windows has?
  • May be they don't know what is. Go to winzip and ask em. (compressed file format older than dirt)
  • I see that same issue from time to time with my customers. If they just can't download it, I usually give them an alternate type of download. It's easier than trying to figure out why they can't download the file.
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    Why can't people download a .ZIP file?

    Inside my member's area I link to a few Zipped folders for people to download. They work perfectly fine for me to Right Click and Save As... but I have gotten a few emails from people saying it doesn't work when they do this. Why would it work fine for me (in multiple browsers) and not work for them at all? Is it their fault? Or is there a better way to do it?