# Why Can't I Download This Program? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084 "2008-08-06T21:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/1 "2008-08-06T21:13:20Z")
I was at YouTube recently and when I tried to click on a video, I got the message I need to install a new Adobe Flash Media player. I was given a link to the site. Okay, so I go to the site and try to download the program, but I am unable to download it at all. All that I get is an error message from my computer, then the whole page closes. In fact, if I try to do just about _ANYTHING_ on this website, the error message comes up again, and again the whole page closes. [Here](http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash) is the website I am talking about. I don’t recommend you try to download the program, even as a test. But as I’ve said, if I try to do just about _anything_ there (like trying to get support help or visit their message board) the error message comes up the the page closes. Thank you in advance to all who reply 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/2 "2008-08-06T21:21:51Z")
Are you on a Mac? If so, are you downloading the correct Intel vs. PPC download? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/3 "2008-08-06T21:24:18Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] Are you on a Mac? [/QUOTE] No, we’re still using our old WindowsXP. I know they don’t make them anymore, but it still works good for us. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/4 "2008-08-06T21:30:34Z")
No problems for me under Safari nor under IE on my XP box. What does the error message say? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/5 "2008-08-06T21:31:44Z")
The whole page closes? That sounds more like a browser problem. What browser are you using? What version? Sometimes I think that Adobe is really pushing the limit of browser compatibility with their website. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/6 "2008-08-06T22:41:46Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] No problems for me under Safari nor under IE on my XP box. What does the error message say? [/QUOTE] The **weirdest** thing just happened. I wanted to see what the error message said, to answer your question exactly. So I went back to the site, and I tried downloading the program again, assuming this would give me the infamous error message again. Only thing is, what I got instead is a message on the website that said **I had successfully downloaded the program**! I have theory why this may have happened this way. Maybe the time of day I chose had something to do with it. Up until now, I have tried to download it in the evening or late at night. This may have been the first time I tried to download it at this time. Just a theory. But believe me, up until now, I have been hopelessly unable to download this program. And I have tried many times in the past. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/7 "2008-08-06T23:41:30Z")
I have had issues in the past with Adobe Flash player and Macromedia player. The file just fails to download. I eventually got it off another site. So your story does not surprise me. Adobe need to fix their web site. Si ---
**Author:** ![Grave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@Grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grave)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-download-this-program/459084/8 "2008-08-07T16:50:25Z")
FYI - make sure you got it from Adobe. Naughty little proggie running around lately that mimics Flash updates [Macromedia Spoof + Virus](http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9111858)