Dell Download Manager

Dell Download Manager


I. Problem

You try to download a driver from your downloads page but get a "file not found" type of error message. To resolve this issue you have to delete a certain cookie from your internet browser.


II. Solutions

Internet Explorer
> Go into your browser settings and delete all Dell cookies (or clear all your browser cache).

> Now attempt to download the driver again. A popup box should appear on your screen with the options of  "Download via Dell Download Manager" or  "Download via Your Internet Browser". Select "Download via Your Internet Browser".


Firefox
> Click "Tools" (on the Firefox menu bar)

> Options

> Privacy

> "Remove Individual Cookies"

> Dell.com (click on + sign to expand)

> sdc (select it and click "remove cookie")

> Attempt to download the driver again. A popup box should appear on your screen with the options of  "Download via Dell Download Manager" or  "Download via Your Internet Browser". Select "Download via Your Internet Browser".


 
III. Explanation of the Problem

The first time you click "download" on your downloads page, a popup box appears on your screen which offers you two options: "Download via Dell Download Manager" or  "Download via Your Internet Browser" which is the normal way most people download files from the internet. There is also a little pre-checked box to "remember my selection".

This creates a problem if you

> Select the option to use the Dell Download Manger software

> do not uncheck the "remember my selection" box

> and do not have certain files on your computer

Before the driver starts downloading, Dell Download Manager first installs itself on your computer, but it is an application that needs certain files to be already installed. You will get a "file not found" type of error message if the Download Manager tries to install but cannot find the files. You cannot finish installing the Download Manager or download any drivers. (The error message does not explain that it is referring to the Download Manager application and not the driver.)

This creates a Catch-22 situation because Dell has "remember my selection" pre-checked. You cannot go back to choose the other option of downloading in the normal way with your internet browser, because "remember my selection" put a cookie on your hard drive that is preventing the popup with the options to appear to you. You cannot uncheck  "remember my selection" either because it is on the same popup box that will no longer appear.

To get the popup box with the options to appear again you have to delete the cookie as explained in "Solutions" above. Note that if you uncheck the "remember my selection" box, every time you go to download from your downloads page the popup box will re-appear with "remember my selection" re-checked! The simplest thing is just to leave it checked and then to choose "Download via Your Internet Browser". The result is that the Download Manager program will not try to install itself on your computer and you will never see the popup box again, at least not until you delete your Dell cookies.

PudgyOne made a Wiki article about this and wrote, "Though it's not made clear by Dell, you DO NOT need the manager".  His article is "How to by-pass the Dell Download Manager".

For more information about the Download Manager application, see Dell's official Dell Driver Download Manager FAQs.

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Please do not reply in this thread which is one of the FAQ's in the Laptop Audio Faq's & Facts.

If you have questions please start a new thread.

If you have additional info, corrections or expressions of outrage please start a new thread  or send jimco a P.M.