Solved Newbie with brand new Win 11 desktop PC: 'download failed' notification time after time after time. Help!

PeterW · Mar 16, 2022

Not being of an age anymore when technological innovations inspire, I've never been one for leaping into the uhknown with the allegedly 'latest and best' -- and especially not where Microsoft is concerned.

I've been contentedly using an old gaming desktop computer (in a massive Zalman case) since it was hand-built (not by me) in April 2013. It has run brilliantly for most of its life, but last year some minor components suffered age-related failure and then, last month, the NVidia graphics card packed up.

Never having had the slightest intention of migrating from Windows 7 to anything else (if avoidable), I've had to buy a replacement. It arrived a couple of days ago, a new Dell Inspiron 3891, which at less than half the physical size of the old Zalmnan, it sits on my desktop with all connections and connectors readily available instead of me having to get onto arthritic knees and fumble around on the floor under my desk.

I always used to afchive program executables in their own separate folders on the Zalman, and in backing up assumed that they'd all transfer safely over to the external drives. However, for some reason, several of the programs I've always depended upon fail to show up in the backup on the external drive, and so I haven't been able to copy them over to the new Dell, still less actually install them.

Solution -- obviously -- just go ahead and download them.

Inexplicably though . . .

I have now a list longer than my arm of 'download failed' notifications showing up in the download folder. No explanation is given for the failures -- that's one failure after another, using both Firefox and Microsoft Edge browsers.

There's nothing wrong with this new PC's connectivity. And yet, and yet, the Belarc download has just failed me in the wake of Kingsoft in the wake of Greenshot in the wake of. . . no, I won't go on. Just take it that it's 'download failure' after 'download failure', regardless of the browser used: I've swirched between Firefox and Microsoft Edge several times to see if it's browser related, but the failures are occurring with both.

If anyone has any idea why aan absolutely brand spanking new desktop PC running Windows 11 repeatedly fails to complete Internet downloads, the info would be much appreciated.

Many thanks, and sorry for eny inconvenience caused by this newbie query.

Bastet · Mar 16, 2022

I don’t currently have Windows 11 but with Windows 10 there’s an option to download just from the MS App Store which is default, you’d need to change this to allow downloads from anywhere.
Win 11: Start>Settings>Apps>Apps & Features>Choose where to get apps & from the drop-down list choose Anywhere.

bobkn · Mar 16, 2022

I have Win11. Virginia's post is correct.

I don't recall ever having to use that setting, but my desktop PCs are home assembled. Maybe Dell chose to save you from yourself.

glasskuter · Mar 17, 2022

Just a wild guess here, but your version of Windows 11 Home wouldn't be in S mode would it? Go to Settings > System > About. Scroll down to the “Windows Specifications” section to see if you are running S Mode. S Mode keeps you from installing anything that doesn't come from the Windows store.
If you are in S Mode, you can easily switch to regular Windows 11. Switching out of S mode in Windows

PeterW · Mar 17, 2022

Sincer thanks for the instant help. Apologies for slightly belated reply but I haven't had time until now (4.20pm, UK) to get back to this pooter. I'm still struggling to find my way around Windows 11 so the guidance about Settings is much appreciated.

Thanks to Virginia's help, I've discovered that Apps/ Apps & features: Choose where to get apps is set at 'Anywhere'.

So that's one stage dealt with successfully: yay!

As to the possibility of this PC running in 'S' mode, the link kindly provided by Glaskuter has taken me to a Microsoft page whose clarity, like much of Microsoft's documentation, leaves much to be desired.

The page advises me to go to Settings/System/Activation and then, in the 'Switch to Windows Pro section, select Go to the Store.

But there's an additional warning: (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "go to the Store" link that appears there.)

Ah, er, oh.

Although bold face type is used as if to replicate exactly what the user will find, the page is typical Microsoft in being lazily produced without respect or regard for the Microsoft customer.

Its content does not correspond to that which Microsoft says the user will find there on her/his actual PC. T

here is no "Switch to Windows Pro" section at all, only 'Upgrade your edition of Windows', nor any bold type, either.

Under the section heading 'Upgrade your edition of Windows' appears the following text:

'Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for features that help you connect to work and school networks, remotely access one PC from another, encrypt your data, and more. '

Two options are provided: (i) Change product key, with a link labelled 'Change' and (ii) 'Upgrade in the Microsoft app', with a link labelled: 'Open store.'

Obviously,

* I do not want to change my product key but, equally:

* I don't want to 'Upgrade in the Microsoft app / Open Store' if that course of action is actually the same as the warning ("if you also see an 'Upgrade your edition of Windows' section, be careful not to click the link 'Go to the Store').

I'm left with no alternative but to conclude that the link I'm being warned not to use "Go to the Store" is, in fact, "Open Store" as it appears on the page I've opened in System / Activation.

If that's the case, then I'm no further on than from where I started, despite the best efforts of sensible helpful folks here.

As to Microsoft, it's sobering to think that in the time it's taking me to figure out what a negligently drafted Microsoft Help page actually means, the business has just earned another couple of $million.

Bastet · Mar 17, 2022

If all you see is upgrade to Pro then I would believe you’re not running under S mode. The upgrade offer is for moving/upgrading from Home to Pro, you can either enter a key (either from a 10 Windows OS Pro key or a purchased Win 10/11 Pro key/license) or go to the App Store to purchase an upgrade to Pro.

PeterW · Mar 17, 2022

Addendum to earlier post:

I've now clicked on the 'open Microsoft Store' link at the bottom of the Help page, rather than in the PC's own internal documentation, and wonder of wonders, a notice has appeared on-screen:

Your device is not running in S mode.

So, um, that's that. Reassurance. But it was well worth the effort to find that out.

Having now checked and rechecked my home wifi netwpork setup -- I'm on fast fibre -- and repeatedly re-setting the router, I'm of the opinion that this present problem has nothing to do with connectivity.

However. . . something, somewhere, somehow, is interfering in the acquisiton of downloads from the 'net.

That makes me wonder if there's some kind of clash between Windows 11's own antivirus setup (which I presume is running without intervention from me) and Malwarebytes Pro, which I've had on all my PCs since before the company started charging on a monthly basis (I paid a mere £30-00 GBP for the 'premium' product in 2012, and when Malwarebytes switched to the monthly-payment plan it generously told me that it would honour my purchase 'for life' and no additional fees would ever be charged me. Such has proved to be the case.)

I've no idea if Malwarebytes is conflicting with any AV running in Windows (no conflict has occurred hitherto) but as Malwarebytes is running Real Time protection, then perhaps it's actively blocking any and all download attempts of mine. I'll go ask Malwarebytes.

Many thanks again to everyone.

Bastet · Mar 17, 2022

If MalwareBytes is set to register in the security centre then it is set as the default AV; if it isn’t then Defender is default.
Within Defender there’s controlled folder access which can cause more problems than it prevents. I would disable this to see whether downloads can be completed.

The Pool Man · Mar 17, 2022

I have now a list longer than my arm of 'download failed' notifications showing up in the download folder. No explanation is given for the failures -- that's one failure after another, using both Firefox and Microsoft Edge browsers. There's nothing wrong with this new PC's connectivity. And yet, and yet, the Belarc download has just failed me in the wake of Kingsoft in the wake of Greenshot in the wake of. . . no, I won't go on. Just take it that it's 'download failure' after 'download failure', regardless of the browser used: I've swirched between Firefox and Microsoft Edge several times to see if it's browser related, but the failures are occurring with both.

Because my brain cells are ganging up on me and going to Cancun, let me see if I have the gist.

1. You're saying you're having trouble completing downloads.
2. And perhaps Malwarebytes being installed is causing issues.

That's basically it, right? Two pieces of advice --

1. Uninstall Malwarebytes and test downloads or
2. Wipe and start with a fresh install of Win 11 and do not install Malwarebytes until you can verify downloads work fine

?

glasskuter · Mar 17, 2022

You say your internet is OK, but even if it is brand new,it could still be a hardware problem so that needs to be the first thing to rule out.
1. Are you connecting wired or wirelessly?
(go to control panel-device manager-expand the network adapter group. Right click on both ethernet and wireless devices and select uninstall device. Restart and the PC will reinstall them. If you were connected wirelessly before, attempt to connect wired if possible to see if problem still exists) Make sure both wired and wireless are NOT connected at same time

2. Does your PC download Windows updates? (settings-Windows update)

3. If nothing is downloading, how did you manage to get MWB installed?

4. Have you attempted to turn off Defender, MWB, and Windows firewall to see if you can download? (all at once)

5. Have you reset your router and IP poe? (remove power cable from router, remove power from POE,wait 30 seconds, connect power to POE, connect power to router)

6. Have you performed a clean boot? Perform a Clean Boot in Windows 11 to Troubleshoot Software Conflicts Tutorial

If you've tried all these, my suggestion would be do a reset of the PC and select 'remove everything'. Once the PC resets, it will boot back into OOBE and you can set everything up again . Settings-system-recovery-reset this PC

Sir_George · Mar 17, 2022

PeterW said:
Addendum to earlier post:

I've now clicked on the 'open Microsoft Store' link at the bottom of the Help page, rather than in the PC's own internal documentation, and wonder of wonders, a notice has appeared on-screen:

Your device is not running in S mode.

So, um, that's that. Reassurance. But it was well worth the effort to find that out.

Having now checked and rechecked my home wifi netwpork setup -- I'm on fast fibre -- and repeatedly re-setting the router, I'm of the opinion that this present problem has nothing to do with connectivity.

However. . . something, somewhere, somehow, is interfering in the acquisiton of downloads from the 'net.

That makes me wonder if there's some kind of clash between Windows 11's own antivirus setup (which I presume is running without intervention from me) and Malwarebytes Pro, which I've had on all my PCs since before the company started charging on a monthly basis (I paid a mere £30-00 GBP for the 'premium' product in 2012, and when Malwarebytes switched to the monthly-payment plan it generously told me that it would honour my purchase 'for life' and no additional fees would ever be charged me. Such has proved to be the case.)

I've no idea if Malwarebytes is conflicting with any AV running in Windows (no conflict has occurred hitherto) but as Malwarebytes is running Real Time protection, then perhaps it's actively blocking any and all download attempts of mine. I'll go ask Malwarebytes.

Many thanks again to everyone.

In your first post you state it's a Dell computer. Dell has a reasonable reputation for providing good tech support. It may be worth a call to them and it may turnout to be useless, but you shouldn't be any worst off then you are now.

bobkn · Mar 17, 2022

I'd be unpleasantly surprised if Malwarebytes had anything to do with it.

That said, while I have MWB installed, it's the free version, and I don't use it as my antimalware software. It doesn't load on startup. I bring it up at odd intervals to as a second check, after Defender.

I dimly recall seeing another thread where the poster had download troubles. Turned out to have nothing to do with the PC. The router settings prevented downloads.

glasskuter · Mar 17, 2022

Sir_George said:
Dell has a reasonable reputation for providing good tech support.

Been there done that. The very first thing they will tell you to do is reset the PC or clean install the OS. They don't want to deal with one that has any extra software installed.

The Pool Man · Mar 17, 2022

glasskuter said:
Been there done that. The very first thing they will tell you to do is reset the PC or clean install the OS. They don't want to deal with one that has any extra software installed.

I used to scoff at this advice. Not from Dell but in general. I was like, "But I need to know what specifically is wrong!!!" Turns out you don't. The advice is simple and sound AF. I just gave it up above.

PeterW · Mar 18, 2022

FINAL UPDATE:

I am at last able to achieve some downloads. . . I went to Malwarebytes tech support asking for help in identifying why I can't download anything, and tech support obligingly provided me with a link via which I could download a Malwarebytes mini tool-kit that would help me solve why I can't download anything.

Obviously, nonsense. I tried to follow the advice but the Malwarebytes mini tool-kit was, predictably, yet another "download failed". So I've completely uninstalled Malwarebytes. (I had thought MB could run alongside Windows' own AV, because the pair always ran together in the past if required. It's only belatedly that I've read online that Windows Defender shuts down if Malwarebytes is active.)

I'm left somewhat sourly to conclude that my download difficulties have been in part caused by my frustration at the way the Operating System has been over-complicated by ego-tripping script-kiddies desperate to demonstrate how clever they are at coding.

As ever and always, what was once simple and straightforward in one version of Windows is wilfully rendered complicated and opaque in the next. Thank God Moronsoft staffers aren't working in the auto industry, otherwise the steering wheel would move from the front to the side to the trunk and, maybe, back again with every new model, and before you started the engine you'd need to completely re-learn how to drive a vehicle, apply the brakes and open and close the doors. All the changes made to everything you previously knew would not be properly catalogued or accessible; you'd need to spend a small eternity tracking down the information you needed.

With Windows 11 it seems an unfounded belief has taken hold that no-one, anywhere in the world, owns their home computer and doesn't share it with anyone else. Instead, every home PC must be at the mercy of umpteen different users with all the attendant problems and security issues that brings.

The reality that there are plenty of folks like me, sitting at their own computer which neither their wife nor offspring nor cat nor dog or canary has the slightest intention of touching, in their study at their perfectly secure home, seems far beyond Moronsoft's comprehension. In consequence of such infantile paranoia, everything must be organised in the Windows 11 OS on the basis that "permission" is needed for this, that and the other, lest somehow in some way the unauthorised (whoever they might be) do something impermissible (whatever that might be).

The protection is so rigorous that one is not readily or easily allowed to exert any control over what the OS does in regard to the simplest of tasks (like, for instance, moving or re-naming a folder, or deciding where the folder should be located, and what should be placed inside it). By way of illustration, this Dell of mine has a small SSD (C Drive) and a large HDD (D Drive) that to anyone with any knowledge of computing (a precondition which clearly excludes Moronsoft development teams) makes for an ideal arrangement: programs install to the smaller high-speed C, installation software goes to the larger Drive D.

But I now discover that such commonsense has no part in Moronsoft's operations: it turns out that so moronic is Windows 11 that's been designed to ensure that downloaded installation files go to C, where they're not needed, rather than D, where comparatively speaking they've all the space in the world to roam. So, right: fill up the SSD with stuff that needn't go there, Moronsoft?

And if one attempts something simple like I did in Windows 7, where I created a 'Downloads' folder and popped it on my desktop, its location nominated in Firefox's settings, then dear oh dear, tst tst, you don't have "permission" -- because though you've registered as 'administrator', you haven't gone through otherwise unknown hoops to ensure that you're actually recognised by Windows 11 as an administrator.

In my case, now that I've given up hope of creating and locating a 'downloads' folder where I want and on which ever drive I prefer, there are no more 'downloads failed': Windows UAC is switched off, Malwarebytes has gone, I've stopped using Firefox, and now whenever I attempt to download something via Microsoft Edge I get a warning on-screen that I don't have "permission" to download to Downloads but would I like to save to User xykpt instead? 'Yes', I say, because there's only so much of Windows 11's obstructiveness that can be endured.

It turns out that the incomprehensible xykpt User Name is not of my choosing but MoronSoft's attempt at making use of the email address I originally registered with on this PC . . . but only the first 5 letters, as if Redmond hasn't yet managed to progress from the previous century when it wasn't possible to have a file name with more than 8 characters.

What MoronSoft doesn't know because it never asked is that the email address I provided on starting up this new PC for the first time, was one that, though genuine, does not feature my name nor anyone else's name: it's a place. The place itself reads OK when spelled out fully but when -- inexplicably to me -- Moronsoft then decides that the 'User' of this new PC is xykpt it's no wonder I stare in bewilderment at it.

Unfortunately, I ill-advisedly attempted to do the obvious and rename the User to my name as the actual owner and sole user of this computer but so many obstacles occurred to that task that I'm guessing I messed something up.

I'm therefore of the opinion that the downloads problem never had anything to do with Malwarebytes but everything to do with the bloated bureaucratic idiocy of Windows 11, compounded by my attempt to make the computer work for me rather than for some unknown though undoubtedly self-perceived Superior Being 6,000 miles away from where I live..

On which note, sincere thanks to everyone for the help and advice so kindly offered. I'm going to mark this topic closed now and then go do some searches in hope of finding out if it's at all possible to get this new Windows 11 PC of mine (and no-one else's) set up and running like its predecessor did for the previous 9 years -- perhaps get Start to look like Windows 7 and maybe, even bring back my much-missed Quick Launch toolbar.

One lives in hope.

Fabler2 · Mar 18, 2022

I didn't read all of your rant but if you want do download to the D drive then create a folder there and name it. In your browser select where the downloads go. Example here in Edge.
When you get to installing a program sometimes the installer allows you where to install. Create a folder on the D drive and install there. You'll still get the shortcut on your desktop if you select creating a desktop shortcut during install.

2022-03-18 12_27_05-Settings and 7 more pages - Personal 2 - Microsoft Edge.png

EDIT: That's just a simple way of doing it. There are plenty of members here that move their system personal folders (Downloads, Music etc.) to another drive. Maybe start another thread on this topic for guidance?

glasskuter · Mar 18, 2022

I am sorry you are having issues with 11. While I can agree there are a few changes in 11 that irked me(especially settings and context menus) my Windows 11 file structure works exactly like Windows 10. As @Fabler2 said, my personal folders have been moved to another drive as I did in 10. Relocating default user folders on Windows 10

With some tweaks learned on this forum to fix what irritated me, I find Windows 11 to be a solid OS. I can also say without a doubt my Malwarebytes PRO works fine alongside Windows Defender without any issues.

Yes, when using a MS account , your username does show up in C:\Users\xxxxx as the first 5 letters of your MS account name. If that bothers you, it can be remedied by making a new local user account with whatever name you want(make it with administrative priviledges) logging in to it and then deleting your MS account. This same scenario also existed in Windows 10.

MANY users had difficulty with the changes when they migrated from 7 to 10 (or 11) but this is to be expected as operating systems become more advanced. Technology is forever changing and a lot of people do not do well with change. If you liked Windows 10, any reasonably tech savvy person can help you downgrade your 11 to 10 or they can assist you in setting up 11 to your liking. The tutorial section of this forum can lead to solutions to almost any scenario you might want to change.

Winuser · Mar 19, 2022

PeterW said:
Not being of an age anymore when technological innovations inspire, I've never been one for leaping into the uhknown with the allegedly 'latest and best' -- and especially not where Microsoft is concerned.

I've been contentedly using an old gaming desktop computer (in a massive Zalman case) since it was hand-built (not by me) in April 2013. It has run brilliantly for most of its life, but last year some minor components suffered age-related failure and then, last month, the NVidia graphics card packed up.

Never having had the slightest intention of migrating from Windows 7 to anything else (if avoidable), I've had to buy a replacement. It arrived a couple of days ago, a new Dell Inspiron 3891, which at less than half the physical size of the old Zalmnan, it sits on my desktop with all connections and connectors readily available instead of me having to get onto arthritic knees and fumble around on the floor under my desk.

I always used to afchive program executables in their own separate folders on the Zalman, and in backing up assumed that they'd all transfer safely over to the external drives. However, for some reason, several of the programs I've always depended upon fail to show up in the backup on the external drive, and so I haven't been able to copy them over to the new Dell, still less actually install them.

Solution -- obviously -- just go ahead and download them.

Inexplicably though . . .

I have now a list longer than my arm of 'download failed' notifications showing up in the download folder. No explanation is given for the failures -- that's one failure after another, using both Firefox and Microsoft Edge browsers.

There's nothing wrong with this new PC's connectivity. And yet, and yet, the Belarc download has just failed me in the wake of Kingsoft in the wake of Greenshot in the wake of. . . no, I won't go on. Just take it that it's 'download failure' after 'download failure', regardless of the browser used: I've swirched between Firefox and Microsoft Edge several times to see if it's browser related, but the failures are occurring with both.

If anyone has any idea why aan absolutely brand spanking new desktop PC running Windows 11 repeatedly fails to complete Internet downloads, the info would be much appreciated.

Many thanks, and sorry for eny inconvenience caused by this newbie query.

PeterW said:

Not being of an age anymore when technological innovations inspire, I've never been one for leaping into the uhknown with the allegedly 'latest and best' -- and especially not where Microsoft is concerned.

I've been contentedly using an old gaming desktop computer (in a massive Zalman case) since it was hand-built (not by me) in April 2013. It has run brilliantly for most of its life, but last year some minor components suffered age-related failure and then, last month, the NVidia graphics card packed up.

Never having had the slightest intention of migrating from Windows 7 to anything else (if avoidable), I've had to buy a replacement. It arrived a couple of days ago, a new Dell Inspiron 3891, which at less than half the physical size of the old Zalmnan, it sits on my desktop with all connections and connectors readily available instead of me having to get onto arthritic knees and fumble around on the floor under my desk.

I always used to afchive program executables in their own separate folders on the Zalman, and in backing up assumed that they'd all transfer safely over to the external drives. However, for some reason, several of the programs I've always depended upon fail to show up in the backup on the external drive, and so I haven't been able to copy them over to the new Dell, still less actually install them.

Solution -- obviously -- just go ahead and download them.

Inexplicably though . . .

I have now a list longer than my arm of 'download failed' notifications showing up in the download folder. No explanation is given for the failures -- that's one failure after another, using both Firefox and Microsoft Edge browsers.

There's nothing wrong with this new PC's connectivity. And yet, and yet, the Belarc download has just failed me in the wake of Kingsoft in the wake of Greenshot in the wake of. . . no, I won't go on. Just take it that it's 'download failure' after 'download failure', regardless of the browser used: I've swirched between Firefox and Microsoft Edge several times to see if it's browser related, but the failures are occurring with both.

If anyone has any idea why aan absolutely brand spanking new desktop PC running Windows 11 repeatedly fails to complete Internet downloads, the info would be much appreciated.

Many thanks, and sorry for eny inconvenience caused by this newbie query.

Click to expand...

MS has a Windows 10 S version that can only install apps from the MS Store. I'm not sure if they released a Windows 11 S verion. If they did you can upgrade to the full version of Windows 11 in the MS Store.

Winuser · Mar 19, 2022

PeterW said:
But there's an additional warning: (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "go to the Store" link that appears there.)

I think that warning means if you are running Windows 11 Home the link will take you the Windows 11 Pro update page. To go from Home to Pro you have to pay for it.

Winuser · Mar 19, 2022

@PeterW, I haven't read this whole thread, so I don't know if this was mentioned or not. It is an excellent guide on how to move your Users Folders to another drive. Moving user library folders to different drive

Solved Newbie with brand new Win 11 desktop PC: 'download failed' notification time after time after time. Help!

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