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[Fixed] Unable to update apps via PortableApps.com Platform 14.4.3

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John T. Haller
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[Fixed] Unable to update apps via PortableApps.com Platform 14.4.3

Some users are experiencing issues updating apps via the current stable platform release. The error given will be similar to:

"Unable to download the file. This could be due to a proxy or network issue or the hosting server not permitting downloads from your location file. File:..."

This issue will require some investigation to solve due to the fact that the updater/app store uses the built-in Windows internet components to handle downloads. As such, we likely have a few issues to work on fixing.

First off, Windows XP users will be unable to update files hosted on SourceForge due to some of the download mirrors only working with newer encryption methods. You can try again and hope you get a different mirror. The more complete solution is called POSReady. This is a registry key patch for Windows XP that will cause Windows Update to treat it as Windows Embedded, which is still supported. You fully update Windows XP SP3, including installing the latest version of IE and applying all updates. Then you apply the POSReady patch and reboot. Then you check Windows update again and apply additional patches released since Windows XP end of life. Note that this method is unsupported and may be illegal in your location.

For users on Vista and later or using Windows XP with POSReady applied, there are other things to check. The first issue we encountered previously was having Internet Options set to warn when http switched to https or vice versa. Platform 14.4.3 and 15 Beta 3 are already mitigating this issue. The second issue we encountered is PCs with secure connections disabled. If you check Internet Options in your Control Panel, click on the Advanced tab and scroll to the bottom, you should have TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, and TLS 1.2 all checked off (Note that Windows XP/Vista users only have TLS 1.0). If you do not, please check them off now. We'll be mitigating this in the next release to the PA.c Platform as we do with the https to http warning. While in here, it's a good idea to uncheck the Warn if changing between secure and not secure as well as it will prevent issues with apps using Windows internet components.

If you have done the above, rebooted, and things are still not working, now we'll need to narrow down what is and isn't working for you. Here are the things to try installing/updating:

1. Platform app store load (note that if this fails for you, no need to attempt the others... and you should check to ensure your platform's Connection is set right in Options. The default is automatic)
2. FirefoxPortable (SourceForge hosted with PA.c redirect)
3. 4stAttackPortable (SourceForge hosted without PA.c redirect)
4. AIMP (PA.c hosted freeware, old style redirect)
5. Balabolka 2.11.0.649 (PA.c hosted freeware, new style redirect)
6. Inkscape (Publisher hosted)

Make a note of what does and does not work. Now, for any that do not work, please try launching Internet Explorer, visiting the PA.c site, and downloading these apps. Please note that ONLY Internet Explorer matters for this test as it uses the Windows networking components. It does not matter if you can download in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc so please do not report back about those.

Now, please post a comment with what is and isn't working for you along with the following details about your setup:

1. Platform version and whether it was a fresh install or upgrade
2. Connection setting in platform options (default is Automatic)
3. Windows version and bit depth
4. Full install path to the platform's Start.exe file

Once we're at this point, I'll try to recreate your issue on a clean virtual machine install of your exact setup of Windows running from the same path. Hopefully I can reproduce it and work on a specific fix for your specific cause.

In addition to the above, I'm working on an alternate download method for the platform, likely using curl in the short term. It will allow us to bypass the Windows networking components and add SOCKS proxy support, but it won't let us show download progress within the Platform's interface. We may be able to show progress in a command line window for advanced users.

My apologies for the complexities of this post and my thanks for working through this issue so we can ensure we get downloads working everyone.

Vista User
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Unable to Update Details

Hello!

I'm having update problems, too. Before going into the details, I have to say THANK YOU! PortableApps is the BEST! Now, on to the facts.

This is for Windows Vista (I'll join you in laughing, but please keep it to a minimum so we can move on! I know it's outdated & unsupported, and was pretty lousy to begin with, but I have a goal for this old clunker, and will reach it next month - 10 years with one OS, even if is a bad one. That's over 222 MILLION seconds of power on time [7+ years] and a 470,000+ load/unload count.!)

As for the download errors, I believe all the requested info is here, but I did sneak in a couple of irrelevant notes on Chrome downloads.

### Setup Details ###

1. PortableApps.com_Platform_Setup_14.4.3.paf, fresh install
2. Connection Setting: Automatic (default)
3. Windows Vista, 32-bit
4. Full install path: C:\PortableApps Test\Start.exe

### Update/Download Attempts ###

[ ok ] 4st Attack Portable 2.0
[ ok ] AIMP Portable 4.50.2058
[ ok ] Balabolka Portable 2.11.0.649

[ FAIL ] FirefoxPortable 59.0.2
[ FAIL ] InkscapePortable 0.92.3 Rev 2

### Download Attempt Details ### (tried on 03/29/2018 7:40 PM)

https://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
[ FAIL ] IE9, error "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
[ ok ] Chrome, redirects to sourceforge.net, downloads normally.

https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/inkscape_portable
[ FAIL ] IE9, error "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage"
[ ok ] Chrome, direct download from portableapps.com, installed without problems.

### Other Attempts ###

PortableApps.com Updater 14.99.3.1 (2/19/2018 5:51 PM)
- Same result, no change, unable to update.
- Reinstalled original, PortableApps.com Updater 14.4.3.0 (2/1/2018 2:41 PM)

### Internet Options, Advanced ### (IE9, Vista, 32-bit)

Settings

[_] Accelerated graphics
[x] Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering*
[_] Accessibility
[ ] Always expand ALT text for images
[ ] Enable Caret Browsing for new windows and tabs
[ ] Move system caret with focus/selection changes
[ ] Play system sounds
[ ] Reset text size to medium for new windows and tabs
[ ] Reset zoom level for new windows and tabs
[_] Browsing
[x] Automatically recover from page layout errors with Compatibility View
[ ] Close unused folders in History and Favorites*
[x] Disable script debugging (Internet Explorer)
[x] Disable script debugging (Other)
[ ] Display a notification about every script error
[x] Enable automatic crash recovery*
[x] Enable FTP folder view (outside of Internet Explorer)
[ ] Enable Suggested Sites
[ ] Enable third-party browser extensions*
[x] Enable visual styles on buttons and controls in webpages
[ ] Enable websites to use the search pane*
[ ] Go to an intranet site for a single word entry in the Address bar
[x] Notify when downloads complete
[x] Reuse windows for launching shortcuts (when tabbed browsing is off)
[x] Show friendly HTTP error messages
[_] Underline links
[x] Always
[ ] Hover
[ ] Never
[x] Use inline AutoComplete in the Internet Explorer Address Bar and Open Dialog
[ ] Use inline AutoComplete in Windows Explorer and Run Dialog
[ ] Use most recent order when switching tabs with Ctrl+Tab
[x] Use Passive FTP (for firewall and DSL modem compatibility)
[x] Use smooth scrolling
[_] HTTP 1.1 settings
[x] Use HTTP 1.1
[x] Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections
[_] International*
[ ] Always show encoded addresses
[x] Send IDN server names
[ ] Send IDN server names for Intranet addresses
[x] Send UTF-8 URLs
[x] Show Notification bar for encoded addresses
[ ] Use UTF-8 for mailto links
[_] Multimedia
[x] Enable alternative codecs in HTML5 media elements*
[x] Enable automatic image resizing
[x] Play animations in webpages*
[x] Play sounds in webpages
[ ] Show image download placeholders
[x] Show pictures
[_] Security
[ ] Allow active content from CDs to run on My Computer*
[ ] Allow active content to run in files on My Computer*
[ ] Allow software to run or install even if the signature is invalid
[ ] Block unsecured images with other mixed content
[x] Check for publisher's certificate revocation
[x] Check for server certificate revocation*
[x] Check for signatures on downloaded programs
[ ] Do not save encrypted pages to disk
[ ] Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed
[x] Enable DOM Storage
[x] Enable Integrated Windows Authentication*
[x] Enable memory protection to help mitigate online attacks*
[x] Enable native XMLHTTP support
[x] Enable SmartScreen Filter
[ ] Use SSL 2.0
[ ] Use SSL 3.0
[x] Use TLS 1.0
[x] Warn about certificate address mismatch*
[ ] Warn if changing between secure and not secure mode
[x] Warn if POST submittal is redirected to a zone that does not permit posts

### Notes ###

- FirefoxPortable downloads and installs, but doesn't start - no error message. (No Vista, perhaps?)
- Previously able to update PortableApps on the local drive, external drives, and USB drives.
- Apps have been updated every few weeks with only the occassional temporary glitch.

That's all, folks! Hope this helps for those of us (a small minority of users, I suspect) having trouble with updates.

John T. Haller
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Issue Determined, Fix Coming, Manual Patch Details

I've discovered the reason for the specific issue you are encountering. Vista, like XP, is discontinued and only supports less secure https connection methods (TLS 1.0 and under), which are considered insecure by many. As such, many web servers have been updated to TLS 1.1 and higher and to reject other encryption cyphers. Inkscape's server and several SourceForge mirrors now fall into that group. That's why you can't download via the platform and why it fails in Internet Explorer on Windows Vista (and XP).

I'm working on a fix for those users to fall back to our servers for those downloads in the next few days.

Also, you can update Vista using an unofficial process to enable TLS 1.1 and 1.2 support. Some Windows 2008 Server patches will work on Windows Vista. One such patch is for KB4019276. The process is detailed in this article. First you visit this download page. On that page download Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB4019276) 11/10/2017 if you have Vista 32-bit or Update for Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems (KB4019276) 11/10/2017 if you have Vista 64-bit. In the popup window, click to download the MSU file linked. Once downloaded, run the file, apply the patch, and click to restart when prompted. After rebooting, download and apply this .reg file (right-click to download) to remove the two values mentioned in the above article. Then open up Internet Options, go to the Advanced tab, and enable TLS 1.1 and 1.2. This will allow you to use these cyphers in Internet Explorer, apps with embedded browsers, and apps that use Windows internet components like the PortableApps.com Platform. Note that this process could be a licensing violation in your region.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Vista User
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Manual Patch Installed

Thanks, John, for the incredibly quick reply and suggestions. I followed the tutorial above, installing the Server2008 update KB4019276-x86, and after backing up the registry, I added the new registry entries.
The good: Basically, it worked.
The bad: The laptop KB4019276 was installed on, with continuous uptime of exactly 30 days without incident before the install reboot, and 4 months without a crash, has now had the dreaded BSOD blue screen crashes 6 times in 20 hours, with this error:
(Note: Details are from Crash #1. Bug Check String & Bug Check Code are the same for all 6 crashes.)

Dump File: Mini040718-01.dmp
Crash Time: 4/7/2018 10:04:59 PM
Bug Check String: DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
Bug Check Code: 0x000000d1
Parameter 1: 0x00000004
Parameter 2: 0x00000002
Parameter 3: 0x00000001
Parameter 4: 0x83457882
Caused by driver: NETIO.SYS
Caused by address: NETIO.SYS+6882
File Description: Network I/O Subsystem
Product Name: Microsoft® Windows® Operating System
Company: Microsoft Corporation
File Version: 6.0.6002.18005 (lh_sp2rtm.090410-1830)
Processor: 32-bit
Crash Address: ntkrnlpa.exe+4de9d
Stack Address 1: NETIO.SYS+6882
Stack Address 2: NETIO.SYS+1675
Stack Address 3: NETIO.SYS+135b
Full Path: C:\Windows\Minidump\Mini040718-01.dmp
Processors: 2
Major Version: 15
Minor Version: 6002
Dump File Size: 143,728
Dump File Date: 4/7/2018 10:13:25 PM

I suspect the crashes are related to the system changes, but in fairness, I am knowingly running a failing hard drive (62K hrs) which will be replaced soon (hopefully with Windows 7), and the reboot may have triggered some problems, although the HDD stats/alerts have not changed.

Also, Windows Update History and uninstallers do not show the standalone install of KB4019276-x86. I'd like to figure out how to uninstall it before having to do a full restore. I have separate registry backups, but didn't save a System Restore point, which I've had sporadic success with in the past. Sometimes it works, just as often it does not.

Internet Options have not changed other than TLS 1.1 & 1.2 being added, as expected.

[ ] Use SSL 2.0
[ ] Use SSL 3.0
[x] Use TLS 1.0
[x] Use TLS 1.1
[x] Use TLS 1.2

With Vista running, PortableApps now runs update checks and updates/installs normally on the local drive, external drives, and USB sticks.

Next, I downloaded all eight browsers available via the PortableApps Platform. All of them install normally, but only two, K-Meleon & Maxthon Cloud, will run on Vista. (They're not among my preferred browsers, but at least it's an option.) Also, while Chrome is no longer supported in XP or Vista, I'm puzzled as to why FirefoxPortable won't run, unless it doesn't support the ESR (Extended Support Release) channel. Firefox 52.7.3 (32-bit) ESR does run in Vista, albeit slowly.

Browser Test Results:

[ Fail ] Chrome
Error Title: chrome.exe - Entry Point Not Found
Error Msg: The procedure entry point TryAcquireSRWLockExclusive could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll.

[ Fail ] Iron
Splash Screen shows, timer appears briefly, never opens. (Identical to Mozilla Firefox.)

[ ok ] K-Meleon
This browser works in Vista.

[ ok ] Maxthon Cloud
This browser works in Vista, too.

[ Fail ] Mozilla Firefox
Firefox/PortableApps Splash Screen shows, timer appears briefly, never opens.

[ n/a ] Opera
Opera displays an informational message that Windows 7 or later is required.

[ Fail ] Private Browsing by PortableApps
Splash Screen shows, timer appears briefly, never opens. (Identical to Mozilla Firefox.)

[ Fail ] QupZilla
Splash Screen shows, timer appears briefly, never opens. (Identical to Mozilla Firefox.)

And that's where it stands after a weekend of trial and error testing.

John T. Haller
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Firefox ESR

You have to manually select the Firefox ESR channel which is hidden by default. Open platform options, select advanced, and enable advanced apps to gain access. The main Firefox stable channel dropped XP/Vista with the release of Firefox 53. Firefox ESR will drop XP/Vista later this year. None of the browsers you had issues with support Vista any longer. Please note that this is outside the realm of this specific topic as we're only trying to determine why specific users can't update.

As to the crashes, I'm unsure what could be causing those and if it could be due to the patch. I know that the site I'd linked lists some of the patches that will apply to Vista and help make it more secure but that it is hit and miss which of the Server 2008 patches will even apply. It's completely unsupported, as is Vista at this point. It should, in theory, show in the list of applied patches. It may be possible to re-apply Vista Service Pack 2 to restore the original files rather than doing a full restore from an earlier backup, but I do not know. This is uncharted territory for me (and unsupported by everyone) and a bit beyond the purview of supporting our software. In my brief testing on a clean Windows Vista in a virtual machine it did work successfully and did not cause any crashes. It does properly show in the list of updates and I was able to successfully uninstall it without issue. Once uninstalled, the expected behavior of downloads from us working by downloads from sourceforge not returned, so it appears the uninstall was successful. You should also be able to uninstall the update from a command line run as administrator with: wusa /uninstall /KB:4019276

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

John T. Haller
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Fixed and Worked Around in 15 Beta 4

Today's release of the PortableApps.com Platform 15 Beta 4 includes a fix for Windows 7/8/10 users that will automatically enable TLS 1.1/1.2 support before downloading an app update and set it back the way it was when complete, fixing the issue with Windows 7 and later users being unable to download from SourceForge, Inkscape, and similar. Please let me know if this is working as expected.

I've also introduced the ability to provide an alternate download for Windows XP/Vista users whose systems do no longer support modern secure connections. I've enabled this as a test with the current Firefox Stable and Firefox ESR release which will cause your system to download from PortableApps.com's servers instead of SourceForge's. Only Firefox Stable and Firefox ESR have been enabled for this new feature, so other apps will still fail to download. Please let me know how if this is working as expected for you.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

smcclos
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Would this TLS issue also be

Would this TLS issue also be a problem with PortableApps 14.4.3 that is running on Windows server 2012?

John T. Haller
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tls disabled

It is a problem on any Windows os where you have tls 1.1 and 1.2 disabled in Internet options in the control panel. It will work on server 2012 as long as it is fully patched and tls is on. If you're asking about the fix in beta 4 you're replying to, it will work similarly on server 2012.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

smcclos
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As long as I know where this

As long as I know where this problem is coming from, can update the apps manually and knowing that features from beta 4 will eventually make it into the production code I am good waiting for the update.

John T. Haller
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Fix Above

If it isn't working for you at present, you can apply all updates to 2012 and then enable TLS 1.1/1.2 in your Internet Options - Advanced Tab at the bottom from Control Panel and it will work with 14.4.3. If that doesn't work, you have something else going on and 15 Beta 4 will not help you.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

John T. Haller
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Fixed and Worked-Around in Platform 15.0

For Windows 7/8/10 users, this issue is fixed in the Platform 15.0 release. The updater/app store will ensure that TLS 1.1 and 1.2 are enabled for each download connection made and return your settings to their current state when is it complete.

For Windows XP/Vista users, we're enabled an alternate download backup server that is automatically switched to for you by the updater/app store. About 50 of our affected apps on SourceForge are already backed up and will be downloaded successfully now including Firefox, Thunderbird, Chrome, and others. We'll be adding to this as we update apps to our new app directory format on the site and in the updater database and upload the files to our server. This will add bandwidth costs but we're hoping they will be manageable.

Additionally, Windows Vista users can manually enable TLS 1.1 and 1.2 support using an unofficial update process I have details on my website: Enable TLS 1.1/1.2 on Windows Vista. This allows you to properly download all the apps hosted on servers requiring only modern encryption. I'll be updating the platform to detect when users have this patch and avoid using the backup server for consistency with Windows 7/8/10 users.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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