www.freedownloadmanager.org

Hi,

I've been using FDM for years, and don't usually have any issues. I've been using 3.9.7, build 1638, since in was released, and everything was working fine until today. Now, on launch, it enters an unresponsive state. I've tried disabling my Antivirus/Firewall (Bullguard), without effect. I uninstalled it, and installed build 1641, but that encountered the same issue. The latest version of FDM 5 works without issue, but doesn't have most of the features I use, so I tried installing 1641 once more, but with the same issue.

I used ProcMon to see if I could determine the source of the issue, and noted that FDM is trying to load the following two registry entries continuously, which don't exist, so this appears to be why it's hanging.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\UseSWRender
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\UseSWRender

Any ideas why it's trying to load these registry entries, and what should they contain? I don't know whether a recent Windows update removed them.

Browser: Chrome 71.0.3578.98 (64 bit)
Extension: 3.0.27
OS: Windows 10 1803 (build 17134.523)
Latest OS updates:
+ KB4100347
+ KB4480966
+ KB4480979

Thanks,

Webster

Hello,

Sound like a problem with your Internet Explorer.

Please try to remove the following value from the Windows Registry:
Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FreeDownloadManager.ORG\Free Download Manager\Settings\View
Value: DldInfoCurTab

Btw, what features of FDM3 do you miss in FDM5?

websterZ wrote:FDM is trying to load the following two registry entries continuously, which don't exist, so this appears to be why it's hanging.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\UseSWRender
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\UseSWRender
Any ideas why it's trying to load these registry entries, and what should they contain?

There seems to be info about software rendering in Internet Explorer. It was probably set earlier by IE when the browser crashed on some websites. It might be caused by some bugs in video codecs or graphic card drivers, or just by outdated graphic card drivers. There might be also some problems with JavaScript engine used by IE.

In the past there were similar problems with FDM 3.x and video monitoring in IE. If you don't use FDM with IE, you should better turn off both monitoring and video monitoring options for IE in FDM.

websterZ wrote: I don't know whether a recent Windows update removed them.

It's because of the way how the new Windows 10 build is installed - it should be seamless, but in fact it's broken by design. For example, such update usually restores default graphic card drivers provided by Windows and you should manually reinstall drivers provided by GPU manufacturer (Nvidia/AMD/Intel etc.).

Alex wrote:Hello,

Please try to remove the following value from the Windows Registry:
Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\FreeDownloadManager.ORG\Free Download Manager\Settings\View
Value: DldInfoCurTab

Btw, what features of FDM3 do you miss in FDM5?

When I checked, the above registry entry, and most of the rest of the FreeDownloadManager.ORG registry tree didn't exist. I had backed up the registry before uninstalling FDM, so restored it, and that setting was added. I removed that setting once more, and verified that Chrome was the only browser being monitored (I haven't used IE in years, and I only use Edge when I encounter issues with my system network - for some reason Windows randomly decides to enable a proxy, which stops Chrome from accessing the Internet). I disabled every reference to IE, and video downloading I could find, but it still hangs on start up, and ProcMon stills shows those two registry entries, although not quite so often. I also see failures for the following, although no where near as often as the two above:

HKLM\Security\Internet Explorer\User Agent
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security\DisableSecuritySettingsCheck
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Security\DisableSecuritySettingsCheck
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Text Scaling
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ExperimentalFeatures
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\BrowserEmulation
HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage

Any ideas as to whether the following would be issues:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN\fdm.exe
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Application Compatibility\fdm.exe
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\{Key}\fdm.exe
- There are 19 keys with this format.

My video card predates Windows 10, so the current driver appears to be correct.

With regard to missing components in FDM5, the most common features I use in v3 are:
- v3 style batch download
- site download
- scheduling

I also had issues in 5.x with:
- the plugin not loading (not showing in the context menu), but it loads fine in 3.x.
- it not identifying URLs in the paste buffer.


Thanks,

Webster

Please do the following steps:
1. Launch FDM.
2. Launch Task Manager.
3. Find fdm.exe in its Details tab.
4. Right click on it and choose "Create dump file".
5. Upload created dump file somewhere and send the link to me via the private message on this forum.

websterZ wrote:I disabled every reference to IE, and video downloading I could find, but it still hangs on start up,

You can try to disable most of FDM interactions, that may somehow involve IE/Edge libs. Open FDM Options and see the following settings:

* General | Notifications - turn off all notifications, balloons and tips.
* General | Miscellaneous | Essential - turn off floating windows (drop box and download progress).
* Downloads | Essential - turn off "Show downloading progress window", and disable all "FDM Community" options. Don't open "Opinions" tab in the lower right FDM panel after that.
* Downloads | New download - click "Advanced" button, go to "Protocol" tab and fill "Identify on server as:" with User Agent string taken from your Chrome. Then go to "Proxy" tab and choose "Don't use any proxy".
* Downloads | Monitoring - turn off monitoring for IE, turn off also "Alt must be pressed" and "Add FDM to the browser context menu".
* Downloads | Video monitoring - turn off 'Show "Download it" button' and IE monitoring.

Now click OK to save changes, open "Media preview/convert" tab in the lower right FDM panel (before "Opinions" tab) and uncheck "Switch to this tab automatically" option.

websterZ wrote:Any ideas as to whether the following would be issues:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN\fdm.exe
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Application Compatibility\fdm.exe
HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\{Key}\fdm.exe
- There are 19 keys with this format.

FDM 3.x is a 32-bit program and 64-bit Windows should check compatibility options for all 32-bit apps. Win10 makes the check very strict - many apps which run in Win 8/8.1 with no problem, must use compatibility options in WIndows 10. FDM by default installs with IE monitoring turned on, so it's compatibility settings go also under IE registry keys.

If you want to reinstall FDM, you should also make sure that your Chrome is set as a default web browser in Windows, because the FDM installer may open FDM website after successful installing. And if you did uninstall FDM before reinstalling, you should probably change its settings once again.

websterZ wrote:My video card predates Windows 10, so the current driver appears to be correct.

Trust no one, even yourself. Windows 10 by default use 1920x1080 pix screen size now and downscale it for smaller displays. Some of your apps (mostly games) may crash, turn into a slideshow or go nutty other way with such settings. If you want to use native 1366x768 pix screen, you must (re)install drivers provided by OEM or GPU manufacturer.

Hello
Which is the latest version that fully support Windows XP?
I mean, supports Firefox 52.9.0esr which is the latest version that supports Windows XP.

Attacker wrote:Which is the latest version that fully support Windows XP?

The latest one. Some features may have limited functionality because of changes outside FDM.

Usher wrote:

Attacker wrote:Which is the latest version that fully support Windows XP?

The latest one. Some features may have limited functionality because of changes outside FDM.

Well, I find that it seems the Firefox extentioin of 3.9.7 build 1641 doesn't support FF 52.
So can you please provide an old version of the extention?

Attacker wrote:Well, I find that it seems the Firefox extentioin of 3.9.7 build 1641 doesn't support FF 52.

That's not true. Do read release info in the very first message in this topic, please. Notice underlined and red remarks:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17330#p41478
Then read my message here:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16047&p=46637#p46637

Attacker wrote:So can you please provide an old version of the extention?

Older versions of current WebExtension are available on AMO. Just go to the extension webpage, scroll down and you will see "See all versions" link. I don't want to provide hacked 3.0.33 version, you can easy make needed changes on your own.

If you have more specific wishes, read FDM FAQ, please: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11665&p=46535#p46535

Notice that whatever problems you have, you should follow the reporting rules and provide more details. Exact software version/build numbers are always required, complaints are never helpful.

Alex wrote:Please do the following steps:
1. Launch FDM.
2. Launch Task Manager.
3. Find fdm.exe in its Details tab.
4. Right click on it and choose "Create dump file".
5. Upload created dump file somewhere and send the link to me via the private message on this forum.

Hi Alex,

I sent you a link to the dump via PM.

@Usher

I think you may have misunderstood my definition of the scale of the issue. When FDM 3.9.7 launches, it hangs immediately. I can't access any settings, and I can only make adjustments via the registry. Hopefully Alex might have some insight from the dump.


Thanks,

Webster

websterZ wrote:@Usher
I think you may have misunderstood my definition of the scale of the issue. When FDM 3.9.7 launches, it hangs immediately.

So it looks like another problem, probably with too large or broken FDM service files *.sav. Such behaviour has been reported many times in the past, see search results:
search.php?keywords=service+files+*.sav&terms=all&author=Usher&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=-1&t=0&submit=Search

If this is the case, you should create a new Windows user account, login to it and just run FDM to test it with default settings.

websterZ wrote:I sent you a link to the dump via PM.

Hello,
The issue is caused by system's web browser component (Internet Explorer) we use to display Opinions tab.
Sorry, I had no time yet to investigate it deeper.

Please try to reinstall FDM with Community options disabled.

Alex wrote:The issue is caused by system's web browser component (Internet Explorer) we use to display Opinions tab.

…which is on my list here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=17330&p=46598&hilit=Opinions#p46598

Alex wrote:

websterZ wrote:I sent you a link to the dump via PM.

Hello,
The issue is caused by system's web browser component (Internet Explorer) we use to display Opinions tab.
Sorry, I had no time yet to investigate it deeper.

Please try to reinstall FDM with Community options disabled.

Hi Alex,

Thanks for checking. I reinstalled FDM 3.9.7 on my second account, the one I created for testing, but wasn't prompted for the community option, but FDM worked fine afterwards. I switched back to my primary (admin) account, and when I installed there, I was prompted, and deselected the option, and it's working there now also.

@Usher I clear out the saved download regularly, so it wasn't that, and the issue was occurring with a fresh install on a new Windows profile.

Thanks for your input, hopefully I won't have to bother you any more.


Webster