Downloading from the "Top Downloads" ListThis Top Downloads functionality was added in response to customer comments and requests surrounding the availability, discoverability, and performance of accessing Subscriber Downloads. The delivery source for files in the "Top Downloads" list is different from the delivery source for other downloads - offering the ability to compare providers and delivery mechanisms to our MSDN and TechNet Subscribers, with the overall goal of providing a better overall user experience. GeneralWhat products are "Top Downloads"? What is the difference between "Subscriber Downloads [and Product Keys]" and "Top Downloads"? How do I access other MSDN or TechNet subscriber downloads? How do I get Product keys for my "Top Downloads"? What is an .ISO file? How do I use .ISO files? What is the Akamai Download Manager and why do I have to use it? How do I install the Download Manager software? How do I start downloads using the Download Manager? How do I install downloads with multiple parts? TroubleshootingWhat if Internet Explorer crashes when I try to download any file from Akamai? What if my network/Internet connection terminates? What if I cannot install the Akamai Download Manager? Why do I get a fatal error message in the Akamai Download Manager? Why do I get a Network Error when trying to download a file using the Download Manager? I am a subscriber and I have logged in, but no downloads are listed. How come? I click the link to start a download, and it looks like nothing happens. What is going on? What else can I do if I have trouble downloading?
General What products are "Top Downloads"? This list features Microsoft’s newest software downloads available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. These will typically include versions of: - Windows Operating Systems
- Microsoft Office products *
- Visual Studio development tools (for MSDN Subscribers)
- Microsoft Exchange and other server products
* Because there is limited space for descriptive text with "Top Downloads", some popular downloads such as Office 2007 that include important download description details regarding prerequisites or product keys may only be available through Subscriber Downloads. TOP What is the difference between "Subscriber Downloads [and Product Keys]" and "Top Downloads"? You can still do everything as you always have through the "Downloads and Product Keys" link in the upper right hand corner. .gif "MSDN benefits list")
or .gif "TechNet benefits list")
The "See all available downloads" from the "Top Downloads" area also takes you to the same functionality you are used to. "Top Downloads" was developed to provide a more direct way to initiate a download of a limited set of selected products. The "Top Downloads" file delivery is also through a different provider, which allows us to evaluate alternatives. TOP How do I access other MSDN or TechNet Subscriber Downloads? You can access all available subscriber downloads by clicking the "See all downloads" link, or by clicking the "Subscriber Downloads and Product Keys" link from the list of benefits in the upper right hand corner - if you are logged in. TOP How do I get product keys for my "Top Downloads"? You will need to request product keys through the "Subscriber Downloads and Product Keys" link or through your volume license (VL) administrator - depending on whether you are using the retail or VL version of the product. You can access all available subscriber downloads as well as request new product keys by clicking the "See all downloads" link, or by clicking the "Subscriber Downloads and Product Keys" link from the list of benefits in the upper right hand corner if you are signed in. TOP What is an .ISO file? An .ISO file is an exact representation of a CD or DVD, including the content and the logical format. TOP How do I use .ISO files? There are 3 methods to download products as ISO files: - Use CD-R or DVD-R writing software to download an image file and write it to a blank CD-R or DVD-R.
- Open and copy ISO image files and their contents to a local folder using special tools, much like ZIP files.
- Virtually mount and access ISO files as a device.
TOP What is the Akamai Download Manager and why do I have to use it? To help you download large files with reduced chance of interruption, Top Downloads requires the use of the Akamai Download Manager. You can easily pause, resume, and stop the download process. Use the Download Manager for efficient installations, time-saving features, and automatic restarting if the download process is interrupted. TOP How do I install the Download Manager software? The download manager installation automatically begins once you click the product name in the list of Top Downloads. Click on a product to download. A new browser window will open alerting you that the Akamai Download Manager is required if you have not previously installed it. If you have not already installed the ActiveX control or the Java™ applet, an information box will appear in your Microsoft Internet Explorer browser prompting you to install the Akamai Download Manager add-on. .gif "Install ActiveX")
Click on the Information Bar and select "Install ActiveX Control…" .gif "Akamai ActiveX Control")
A dialog box will open to install the Download Manager software from Akamai Technologies, Inc. Choose Install. You may also get a user account control warning if you are using a Microsoft Vista operating system. .gif "Security Warning")
After the Download Manager is installed, a Save As dialog box will open. Choose a location to save the download to, then select Save. Choosing the Desktop usually works as a consistent place to start. If you just finished installing the Akamai Download Manager, you may need to go back to the "Top Downloads" list and click the link again to initiate the download. .gif "Vista Save As")
If you are running a Microsoft Vista operating system, the file will be saved to a "virtualized" location. Vista disables the ability of a user to save files to certain reserved locations. For more information, see Microsoft KB Article 927387:Common file and registry virtualization issues in Windows Vista. .gif "Vista Temporary Internet File")
.gif "Vista Virtualized location")
The Download Manager window opens to begin installing your product download.
.gif "Download Client")
TOP How do I start downloads using the Download Manager? - Once you have installed the ActiveX control or the Java™ applet (which is based on the specific browser you are using), the Download Manager window opens to help you manage the download process. Whether you use the ActiveX control or the Java™ applet is based on what browser you are using. Click the link to start the download.
- If you have not already installed the ActiveX control or the Java™ applet, you will be prompted to install the software before downloading the product.
See the steps and screen-shots above if you need assistance installing the ActiveX control. TOP How do I install downloads with multiple parts? Some products have multiple parts to download, such as CD1 and CD2. Multiple parts allow you to install products with large file sizes in smaller blocks of data and time. Download parts (such as CD1 and CD2) are selected and downloaded individually. After an individual download is complete, the "Top Downloads" list will be available to select another download, or to go to the system that contains all available downloads. Downloads with multiple parts may have special instructions or prerequisites for installing them. For these reasons, these may sometimes only be available through "Subscriber Downloads and Product Keys" rather than through "Top Downloads" in order to display required instructions and/or prerequisites. TOP
Troubleshooting What if Internet Explorer crashes when I try to download any file from Akamai? Some users have experienced an Internet Explorer before the Akamai Download Manager appears. The dialog box may appear saying that "Internet Explorer has stopped working". This may happen to customers that have enabled proxy settings within Internet Explorer. Workaround for this issue: - Reopen Internet Explorer if it is closed
- Press the ALT key to display Menus if hidden by default. Select Tools > Internet Options
- Click the Connections tab, and then the LAN Settings button
- Unselect the Proxy server check-box if it is checked (temporarily if needed).
- Click the OK button to close all IE dialog boxes.
- Close the browser and reopen it to make sure changes take effect.
TOP What if my network/Internet connection terminates? The Akamai Download Manager is designed to allow you to pause and resume a download that is in progress. If your Internet service provider (ISP) connection has been idle for too long while a download is loading however, your connection may automatically terminate. You may be able to request that your ISP disable the automatic termination of your connection. A loss of connection may also require that you re-authenticate as a subscriber, and may result in the need to start a download over again. TOP What if I cannot install the Akamai Download Manager? If the Download Manager can not install the ActiveX control or the Java™ applet in your browser, you may have system restrictions. You will need to check with your Network Administrator or IT Help Desk to determine if system restrictions are in place that would impact your ability to install and use the Download Manager. TOP Why do I get a Fatal Error message in the Akamai Download Manager? A fatal error can occur when the file you are trying to access is not available at the specified URL, or if the download link has expired. .gif)
.gif "File Not Found")
TOP Why do I get a Network Error when trying to download a file using the Download Manager? Network Error messages such as those shown below are typically related to network proxy settings. You can view these settings in Microsoft Internet Explorer under Tools > Internet Options on the Connections Tab under LAN Settings. Your network may also utilize a firewall client that implements Proxy settings independently from the browser. You will likely need to contact your Network Administrator or IT Help Desk to determine what proxy settings you should use that will enable you to download files. Some corporate networks do not allow users to initiate file downloads based on security policy settings. .gif "Network Error")
.gif "Network Error in DM")
TOP I am a subscriber and I have logged in, but no downloads are listed. How come? The first time this control is rendered for you, the list may not appear if the data has not been synchronized. If you don't see the list of downloads, visit the Manage Subscriptions page to synchronize the data and to confirm that your default subscription has downloads available and has not expired. It is also possible that no download files have been designated to be displayed for your particular program, level, and country of residence. TOP I click the link to start a download, and it looks like nothing happens. What is going on? Clicking the link initiates a pop-up for most browsers. You will need to enable pop-ups on the MSDN and TechNet Subscriptions sites, either permanently by adding the site to your trusted sites list, or temporarily by using the following shortcuts or hot keys. - In Internet Explorer (IE) 6 - Hold down the CTRL key when clicking.
- In IE 7 - Hold down CTRL and ALT when clicking.
In IE 6 or 7 – Configure pop-up blocking settings under Tools>Pop-up Blocker
In Firefox - Configure pop-up blocking settings under Tools>Options Try the link again after enabling pop-ups. Another known issue is that the Akamai Download Manager or another dialog box associated with the download process is already open in the background. Minimize open program windows to see if you have a dialog box open in the background that is hidden under other windows, and close or utilize that existing dialog box. TOP What else can I do if I have trouble downloading? If you cannot complete a download, you may need to clear the cache in your browser. Follow these steps to clear your cache in Internet Explorer: - On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options and then click the General tab.
- In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Files and then click the OK button if you would like to empty your entire cache of temporary Internet files.
- In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Settings. In the Settings dialog box, select Every visit to the page. Then set the size of the Temporary Internet Files folder to a size larger than your intended download. Next, click the View Files button.
- In the Temporary Internet Files window that opens, open the Edit menu and click Select All. Press DELETE. When you are asked if you would like to delete all the cookies you have selected, click Yes. Click the OK buttons until you return to the General tab.
- In the History section of the General tab, click Clear History and then click Yes. When you are asked if you would like to delete the history of the Web sites you have visited, click OK.
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