There's another recent thread on this topic, but the OP wasn't behaving nicely or respectfully, so I didn't want to post there.
When trying to download updates, I sometimes get this error message:
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PortableApps.com Platform
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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.
For example, currently getting this message when trying to update A Dark Room.
I am using the latest version of the PortableApps.com Platform on Windows, and have no problems using SSL/TLS. I am not using a proxy.
Please note this is a sporadic problem. Perhaps for this specific application update, the hash is wrong? When I've reported this issue in the past, it has often been due to the hash not matching the file (thus, an erroneous hash, or the wrong download file being placed on the server).
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It's working without issue here. If there is a has mismatch, you'll get an error specifically about that.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Broken again right now.
I notice that the error message specifies http and not https. Could this observation help discover the cause of the issue?
I've never tried pasting one of the broken links from the PortableApps.com Platform into a web browser.
I just gave it a try. Here is that error. I hope it helps.
BTW, I tried using both http and https, and received the same error. You may want to check your server logs. I experience no problems accessing anything else on the internet.
If you pass it with the amp then it won't work. You need to remove every amp; to test.
And the file is downloading fine here from the platform and a browser.
Remember, for testing, you must use IE and only IE as it's the only browser that uses the Windows internet components.
Also, what OS are you running. I'd guess 7, Vista, or XP since it's operating in insecure/legacy mode.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Ah, I think we may be getting closer to the core of the issue.
I tested it on a Windows 7 SP1 box. I've pretty much left Windows for greener pastures, but still use Windows for a few things.
IE is uninstalled on that box, so no way to test using IE.
Why does use PortableApps.com Platform use Windows internet components instead of a good open source cURL or wget library?
BTW, the PortableApps.com Platform will successfully download updates sometimes, but not always, from that same box, which makes diagnosis a bit more challenging.
IE isn't made to be uninstalled from Windows and doing so leads to unpredictable behavior. I'd suggest installing IE11 on that box and then applying all Windows updates. That should fix most of your issues.
Neither cURL or wget support showing download progress within NSIS, which is what the app store/updater is currently written in. The plan was eventually to build a new app store in the platform proper, but I've been the only one working on the platform for years now.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
"IE isn't made to be uninstalled from Windows..."
You didn't actually believe Mr. Gates when he claimed that at his U.S. deposition, did you?
BTW, I used the official Windows configuration tool from Microsoft to remove IE from Windows (remember, things didn't go so smoothly in countries where Mr. Gates did not play private games of golf with the President).
With IE removed from Windows, everything works 100% except for the PortableApps.com Platform. It's literally the only exception (and worked fine until recently).
What's odd is that downloading via the PortableApps.com Platform works sometimes, but not other times (even as recent as last week). Why is this?
While you can sort of "remove IE", you can't really. Internet Explorer and Windows share multiple components to handle internet access. So, when IE is accessing the internet, it's using the same DLLs that Windows does for things like Windows Update and allowing apps to access the internet via the Windows APIs. Uninstalling IE can mess with this a bit. And many updates for the internet components are dependent on properly updating to IE11. So, if you uninstalled IE and didn't apply all Windows updates (including the ones that are part of IE11) it kinda borked your internet components.
The PortableApps.com Platform was recently updated to require HTTPS for downloads except on XP/Vista as they don't support SHA2 without some unofficial workarounds. Windows 7 will properly support SHA2 and Let's Encrypt but it must be fully up to date. Without all updates, Windows 7 doesn't support modern security (SHA2) or newer certificate authorities (Let's Encrypt).
The platform will fall back to insecure mode on outdated/insecure systems when it can detect it. It looks like it can't detect yours due to the IE uninstallation and not being fully updated. I'm working on some additional checks that may help at some point.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Just in case this helps:
In a web browser (but not IE, for the reason mentioned above), I tried:
And in both cases, received a page that states:
EDIT: It's your forum software adding the ampersands. They are not present in the URLs I pasted, nor are they present when I edit my post. It also encoded the single quotes in the words "don...t" and "you..re"... that's not my doing! ;)
It's because you're using the markdown filter which is super-wonky in Drupal. The version without the amp works in every browser I use. If you're using a browser that messes with referrers, you'll get an error.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!