I am new here and every time I download one of your offers~soon as I go to open it, I get a warning that it will not open. It always says it doesn't know who created it or it is corrupt/whatever. This infurriates me!!!! I get this all the time so what good is it? What on earth do you do to open these files? I am not a computer nerd and am sure most of you aren't either so how do you do it? I have windows xp and please don't give me all your complicated talk because I won't understand any of it!!!
Also I am on dial up as I live in a very rural area and we cannot get anything else out here yet, so It took HOURS to download the Immortal Defense game the other night and I wanted it to be a surprise for my son's birthday this coming weekend, but when it FINALLY FINISHED it was about an hour or so after the offer was over (not my fault!!!) and it actually said when I tried to open it, that it no longer was valid because of it!!!!!! I could NOT believe it!!!! Here it sits on my computer yet it will not open and just says that each time I click on it! I am so darn frustrated I could scream. The same thing happened when I tried to download the kitten game the first night I joined~I kept loosing connection and then finally got it loaded and it was a little over the time limit and it would not open either and it actually disappeared somehow.
Could someone please e-mail me at my home addy and let me know how and what to do to open these files to get them to work and in simple english because I really want to use these programs without pulling out my hair or turning gray!!! lol!
Thanks so much!
Cathysue
EMAIL REMOVED
never can open file!
(9 posts) (6 voices)-
Cathysue
MemberPosted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberCathy, from your post, I can instantly divine that you are frustrated.
Seems as if you have 3 problems, 2 of which GAOTD can't solve and one that may not really be a problem:
1- you start your downloads way too close to the END of the 24-hr timer... regardless of file size (and some can be quite large) I'd recommend you never start the install process with less than 4 hours remaining... that way, if something goes wrong you might have a chance to redownload, or more likely, you can post a request for help and someone can help before you pass the registration deadline.
2- you use a verrrrry slow link to the Internet... can't help with that. Slow connections have plagued people since long before Al Gore invented the Internet. You'll just have to take that into account and adjust when you start downloading. I can't recall if the download page shows how large a file is involved, and anything above a couple MB will take you a very long time at 56kbps.
3- you try to open the file and your operating system's security settings are correctly alerting on software if it doesn't have a current certificate (the vast majority of these programs do not) While you need to do some self-educating about certificates, we might be able to allay your fears if you'll give us a little more info -
a) what operating system you use - be specific as possible, don't just say Windows
b) what browser you use - be version specific, don't just say Internet Explorer
c) word for word what the error message says - there is a world of difference between your security system not recognizing a software vendor and your operating system saying a file is corruptHope this helps, and you become a frequent user of GAOTD
GAOTD typically begins the 24-hour countdown at 3AM Eastern Standard - http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/eastern-time/
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberCathy, guess there was a 4th problem for which there is no satisfying solution.
At one time or another, many of us would liked to have had a "do over" chance to register after the 24-hour period is up; but that would violate the agreement arranged between GAOTD and the software developers. So, those appls you downloaded but couldn't open/register in the allotted time are, for all intents and purposes, dead as a doornail.
Not that this will soothe current exasperations, but if you have a huge hard drive, consider hanging onto ImmortalDefense. Perhaps someday an eagle-eyed poster like Freewarefan will spot a special offer for it elsewhere. (i.e., the developer may put a free trial period on their own site) At least you wouldn't have to download it again.
Posted 16 years ago # -
LeKanaw
Member@CathySue
Hi Cathy and welcome to the forums.
You might also want to go back through several pages of comments from older GGOTD & GOTD, bc many ppl have the same problem u have, regarding very s.l.o.w. connections.
Several posters have offered solutions.I don't recall exactly what(I have a very fast connection, so I didn't pay attention to those, sorry), but I think it involved some kind of "Download Helpers" (Freeware), that speed up the downloads greatly for ppl in your situation...
But for sure, you have to start earlier than most, bc of your connection.
The s/w and Games have to be dwlded AND activated AND registered before the 24h is up.When I started here, several months ago, I knew *nothing*!!!
But I do read a lot!! I want to learn.
In the first 2 weeks that's all I did, read!! I went backwards reading a couple of months of posts, to at least get a bit of understanding of what was what.
Found many others w the same problems I had, the same queries and some great responses, so I got to learn what to do. I also took a lot of notes, researched stuff on Google.
So it really does help to read *A LOT* :-)Some basic things I've learned, after having lost a few s/w & games:
1-Always verify in the "About" menu, to confirm it is indeed registered.
2-Whenever u see "Check for updates" (in the Help or About menus), make sure you always "Uncheck" it, otherwise you'll loose it.Hope it helps,
Peace, ManuPosted 16 years ago # -
Being on a slow download connection, it is always advisable to use a Download Manager to download the giveaway programs (especially the larger ones).
One of the biggest advantages to a dial-up user who downloads via a download manager - is most downloads become "restartable". This means that if you get half way through a download and your internet gets disconnected - you can reconnect, and restart the download from where you were when you got disconnected. So if you were 70% complete and get disconnected - you can reconnect - then hit start in the download manager - and it will begin at 70%
For broadband (faster) internet users there are many other advantages such as segmented downloads (fast) and queued/scheduled downloads (download a long list of files while the user is asleep in bed) etc.
2 widely used and free download managers I can recommend (and that I use) are:
Free Download Manager
http://www.freedownloadmanager.org/Orbit Downloader
http://www.orbitdownloader.com/Download Managers (there are many) Compared.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_download_managersPosted 16 years ago # -
Archangel
MemberWelcome to the forum Cathysue. I concur with the others. If the file is corrupt then it happened during the download so you do need some type of download manager. What they do is if for some reason you loose connection with the net, they will resume the download when its established again. The second thing is your security settings. Check them. Are you using Winzip or WinRAR to unarchive the files after download?
Oh and one more thing, GOTD doesn't allow any type of contact information to be displayed for others to see. (Your email addy).
Posted 16 years ago # -
Cathy, I feel your pain and, BTW, welcome to the forum. I used to live in a small town and all they had was dial up and I lost many a thing because of it. I have used several of the D/L accelerators and I have found Orbit http://www.orbitdownloader.com/ to be the one I liked the most. It has all the bells and whistles and its FREE(Sorry, just had to do that). I, now, have cable but I still use it as I have a bandwidth cap. If I disconnect and it happens a lot in the snow/storm belt here being in the Niagara Falls(Lake Erie) area, I can resume where I left off and not have to start over. :) Another thing I have found from downloading here with Orbit..ALWAYS use the "Mirror Site". If you use the regular one, for some reason it starts to download something really quick when the page first loads up and you haven't even clicked on any thing then stops. If this happens, delete that and then CLICK on the actual download.
As far as a zip program, I use AlZip http://www.altools.net/ . It can open over 25 or more different types of zips and its free also. It has several other programs that I use also. I like the little "egghead" mascot they use. To me it looks like an owl and you can even set it to what ever color you like. It works, easy to use and its cute which is a bonus to us ladies. :)
Sorry about you losing the game for your son. I was going to suggest the racing game http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2376?replies=1#post-15023 (This is the review about it from Whiterabbit) FWF found but when I checked it out it was 256 Mbs sooooooo... FWF found another site so maybe you can find something there. http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2322?replies=29
<I> So, without further adoo, I direct your attention to what's behind door number three over at stage right:
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3156339
And as an added extra bonus for your hardcore gamers, how's about an extra 101 free games? Just click on the list from 2006, and you've got 'em! :-) </I>
So that is 202 games. Hopefully you can find something there your son might like. :)
Posted 16 years ago # -
Cathysue
MemberWow!!! I feel like I just hit the jackpot!!! I had no idea this was even here! (the answers you all put here!) I am such a dummy! lol! I see I have much to learn about this site...I knew this was here as far as what I wrote to you initially, but I thought the e-mail responses that came were all I received....Now after getting your note at the main site, I see I was wrong!
I deeply apologize for writing where I was not supposed to! I didn't realize before, but I do now and won't make that mistake again. Also didn't realize I should not have put my addy there. (gulp!)
I see so much help already and I thank you all for that! I am excited to try all the links! Wish so much I had come here before!!!!
I made a typing error earlier!I wrote 'dad' when I meant to write 'dap'.
But I would like to try some of the one's you all have recomended as dap has not been the best as it is always having problems.
I also see a link for something to unzip things and that is really exciting!!! Each of you have told me so much info and I am really greatful for that! And I am excited about the titles of each topic discused here and cannot wait for the time I can come and just sit and 'read'!!! That alone will be a great help to me, as you mentioned, Manu!
So~off I go to download that zip thing and see what happens~I also need to get to bed! lol! It is already 5:30 am here and I have been up all night! Geesh! Can u tell I LOVE my puter??? ha!
If any one has any more info to add~now I know where to look!!!
Thanks sooooooo much!!!
Hugs~
Cathy (BIG SMILES)Posted 16 years ago # -
Hi Cathy,
Glad you made it back... now you know where everyone is hiding, you can come straight back here in future. (follow the bread crumbs)
About the email thing, don't worry too much - we usually forgive first time offenders. There are a few other rules (HERE) but posting contact details is probably the most visibly enforced (You just never know who is reading these forums). Other than that, everyone is pretty easy going.
In terms of learning how to do things, and getting some great tips on free software, games and websites everyone is both a teacher and a student, so don't hold back if you have a question.
Hope you stick around, we will get those giveaways working for you, and you can have some fun with us.
Posted 16 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.