FlashGot has stopped working

[masterdogma]

I've had FlashGot for a log while and have been quite satisfied with it. Every time Firefox prompts me with an update, I do so.

However this past month or so (I'm not aware of when the problem started as I don't use it every day) it simply doesn't download what I ask it to. The icon still appears when there's media to download and the progress bar still appears and fills like normal when I use the icon to download a particular file, but low and behold, the file never appears on my desktop, nor anywhere on my computer as far as I am aware.

I would check my download manager to see if it actually downloaded, but Flashgot's downloads never displayed there anyway.

I'm using Firefox 2.0.0.20 and as far as I know, the latest update of FlashGot. I'm using no special download managers and I haven't updated Firefox around the time this started happening.

I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling FlashGot, but it didn't solve the problem. I was wondering if I have a faulty out-of-date version or something and that maybe there's a version that would work on my computer. Due to my restrictions, I cannot upgrade to Firefox 3.

Is there anything that can be done?

((I got NoScript today by the way, I love it!))

[Giorgio Maone]

Could you please show me you FlashGot Options|Advanced|Show log output?
Could you also show me a page where it doesn't work?
Thanks!

[masterdogma]

I think it just repeats this over and over (I removed the account name):

*** Log start at Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:09:52 GMT
Per-session init started
Setting executable permissions on /Users/REMOVED/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/5oq26prk.default/FlashGot
Running /Users/REMOVED/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/5oq26prk.default/FlashGot -- blocking
no aria in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/
Aria|OK
no nt in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Downloader 4 X (nt)|OK
no d4x in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Downloader 4 X|OK
no gwget in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
GNOME Gwget|OK
no kget in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
KDE KGet|OK
no wxdfast in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
wxDownload Fast|OK
no axel in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Axel|OK
/usr/bin/curl
cURL|OK
no wget in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Wget|OK
no uget-gtk in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Uget|OK
no aria2c in /usr/bin /bin /usr/sbin /sbin /Users/REMOVED
Aria 2|OK
PSD|OK

Warning: download manager TrueDownloader not found
Warning: download manager Thunder (Old) not found
Warning: download manager Thunder not found
Warning: download manager Star Downloader not found
Running /Users/REMOVED/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/5oq26prk.default/FlashGot -- blocking
Folx|KO
iGetter|KO
Leech|KO
Speed Download Lite|KO
Speed Download|KO

Warning: download manager Speed Download Lite not found
Warning: download manager Speed Download not found
Warning: download manager ReGet not found
Warning: download manager Orbit not found
Warning: download manager NetAnts not found
Warning: download manager Net Transport 2 not found
Warning: download manager Net Transport not found
Warning: download manager Mass Downloader not found
Warning: download manager LeechGet 2002 not found
Warning: download manager LeechGet not found
Warning: download manager Leech not found
Warning: download manager JDownloader not found
Warning: download manager Internet Download Manager not found
Warning: download manager Internet Download Accelerator not found
Warning: download manager InstantGet not found
Warning: download manager iGetter Win not found
Warning: download manager iGetter not found
Warning: download manager HiDownload not found
Warning: download manager GigaGet not found
Warning: download manager GetRight not found
Warning: download manager FreshDownload not found
Warning: download manager Free Download Manager not found
Warning: download manager Folx not found
Warning: download manager FlashGet 2.x not found
Warning: download manager FlashGet 2 not found
Warning: download manager FlashGet not found
Warning: download manager DTA (Turbo) not found
Warning: download manager DTA not found
Warning: download manager Download Master not found
Warning: download manager Download Accelerator Plus not found
Warning: download manager BitComet not found
Per-session init done in 4022ms
Starting cleanup
Cleanup done

And it seems that it won't download from anywhere. Here's just one example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKKgua7wQk

[Giorgio Maone]

1. Since in recent releases FlashGot tries to reuse the cache for already downloaded media (in order to spare bandwidth when possible), when a certain medium is only partially played FlashGot waits for the player to be discarded, because the cache is locked. Did you try to close the tab and check if FlashGot's download is already started?
2. The built-in Firefox 2 download manager just plain sucks. I'd suggest using an external download manager, but I'm not sure about which Mac-compatible one supports PPC. Maybe trying cURL?

[masterdogma]

1. I tried that, in fact, I generally do that, still no luck though.

2. Even if I were to download and install an external download manager, how can FlashGot's sudden cease of functionality be explained after all this time?

[Giorgio Maone]

2. Even if I were to download and install an external download manager, how can FlashGot's sudden cease of functionality be explained after all this time?

In facts, the only rational explanation I could find was the cache optimization, but that doesn't seem to be the culprit.
Do previous versions work?

[masterdogma]

I've subscribed, but the articles don't seem to link anywhere.

Do you have a direct link to 1.2.0.5, the version before the "Mac OS X Initialization fix"?

[therube]

Strange, as FF2 does do feeds so the URL above should be fine.

Anyhow, http://software.informaction.com/data/r ... .2.0.5.xpi.

[therube]

Since in recent releases FlashGot tries to reuse the cache for already downloaded media (in order to spare bandwidth when possible), when a certain medium is only partially played FlashGot waits for the player to be discarded, because the cache is locked.

That is with Browser Built In only?

[Giorgio Maone]

That is with Browser Built In only?

Yes, it is.

[masterdogma]

Excellent, thanks, it's working again. I just have to remember now not to update.

Edit:
It even shows downloads in the Download Manager now.

[therube]

If care to, try the latest release again & see if it is still broken for you?

[masterdogma]

I did so and it seems to still work. It also saves each download individually which didn't happen before (it would overwrite if left un-renamed).

I'm not sure why this is, perhaps some of the newer downloads overwrote something crucial. That would explain why it worked only after reinstalling an older version and then updating to a version that skipped those.

In any case, thanks a lot for the help, and I have downloaded the old Firefox add-on so I can install it manually if the problem ever occurs again.