cannot download Dell manuals

[Peter2]

Hello
I have had a friend send me the manual for my Dell xps 8300 desktop because I was unable to download it. I saved it. For me it just says page cannot be viewed. I tried 3 browsers.
I am having the same trouble with my Dell Inspiron, N5010, R15.
I get the same error message. I am more concerned about WHY I cannot download when others can.
Do you have any procedures I can try to see if the download works.
I have looked over the Win firewall for Win 8.1 but can't see any issue.
I have a Comcast router set to normal security.
SpywareBlaster disabled did not help. I have MBAM but I doubt that is an issue as real protection is done by Defender.
Could my download feature be corrupted?
I ran sfc + it is ok and Chkdsk says it does not need running. I have emptied caches etc.
I had driver issues recently and a forum tech told me to run Driver Booster. Everything except the inability to download this Inspiron manual has worked much better.
Any ides to get this to download like others can?
Thank you
Peter

 

[ARC1020]

Do you use Adobe Acrobat Reader to view PDF's? If so, I think the problem is more likely the way Adobe Reader and Internet Explorer work together (or don't on Internet Explorer 64-bit with Enhanced Protected Mode on, as the Adobe Reader plugin is 32-bit).

I've just done a search for XPS 8300 Manual and it comes up with the following page. Is this the page you were trying to download from?

Manuals and Documents for XPS 8300 | Dell US

If you go to that page, right-click on the 'XPS 8300 Service Manual' link, select 'Save target as...' and save it to Desktop, does it download OK then? It's an FTP link rather than an HTTP link, but assuming you don't have FTP blocked in your firewall rules, it should still download OK.

 

[Peter2]

Hi ARC1020
It is the page and when I rt. clicked on the link it downloaded and IE icon which when clicked on just returned to the link.
I do not understand FTP and if you could please stick with me I would greatly appreciate it. I need to be able to work this out but my resources are few. I did a driver reset recently as advised by a friend as I had issues and one was "engine".
I don't know if this has anything to do with it.
I recently also had to disable my smart filter in explorer 11 for another issue to work.
What can I try to do to work this out?
I looked at my Win firewall but was not sure what to look for. Should I change any file associations?
Thank you
Peter

 

[ARC1020]

When you right-click and choose 'Save target as...', it should download and save the PDF file. If it's just showing an IE icon which links to the page, it sounds like you've somehow created a shortcut to the page instead. Just to confirm, does it show the following


Right-click link and choose "save target as...":




Select where to save the PDF file (such as Desktop):




PDF File should be saved to where you saved it (such as Desktop):




PDF File should then open in your default PDF viewer:

 

[Peter2]

Mine does not do that. It says, "This page cannot be viewed: check you ftp. If I click on the explorer icon that was downloaded it just goes back to the manual link page.
I tied to fix file type as it said all files. I rt. clicked explorer after 'save as' and clicked Adobe Reader but it said there was a corrupted file.
This happens with both the desktop and laptop.
How do you check and fix the ftp?
I am sorry for all of your work.

 

[Peter2]

Hello ARC
I though it important to tell you what happened so you do not do extra work. Please read the Comcast gateway setting;
"Typical Security (Medium): Blocks P2P applications and pings to the Gateway, but allows all other traffic."
Because both pcs were affected I thought the gateway might be the culprit. I set it to low and the manuals worked.
I don't know what P2P is and if most have this -do they? I can adjust if I should.
I really am sorry to give this work to you but wish to thank you very much.
Peter

 

[ARC1020]

No problem, glad you sorted it. It sounds as though the Comcast medium setting was blocking you from connecting to one or both of the ports required for the FTP connection (FTP port 21 and a dynamic port in the 49152–65535 range on the Dell FTP Server)

 

[Peter2]

I am not proficient with this so may I ask one question?
This is the note given in the gateway from Comcast as I reported;" "Typical Security (Medium): Blocks P2P applications and pings to the Gateway, but allows all other traffic."
Question; Does a Win 8.1 person like me run P2P normally or should I make a change?
I ask because I made a driver update the other day and don't know if this would have altered something.
You would think I should be able to get the manual without lowering the setting but maybe Comcast is simply causing it with the setting.
However, if it is the way it should be that is fine.
Thank you again
Peter

 

[XweAponX]

That's odd, FTP (Port 21) is not considered a P2P port. P2P refers to programs like a torrent client. Always when downloading from Dell, keep the FTP port open, for single file downloads. But usually, they have a download manager that installs when you are trying to download more than one file at once- And THAT might be considered P2P.

 

[Peter2]

@ XweAponX
It seems that Comcast's side note is quite clear but could be their way of thinking and wrong, perhaps.
In your opinion should I make a change or consider what they explain as the way this set up should be?
I know next to nothing about routers etc. except to set the basic WPA 2 and the 2 passwords.
I don't want to make a wrong move but do want to be functioning as I should be.
What concerns me is that others are able to get the manuals without lowering their router settings. Is it hard to open the port you mention?
Peter

 

[XweAponX]

I don't know if your Comcast Account has a control panel somewhere that you can get to, to unlock port 21, usually it is always left open and I have never seen an ISP deliberately block it.

You should call Comcast tech support, tell them what you are doing, ask them. Usually you can open port 21 on your Windows Firewall, it's usually left open. Usually P2P ports are left open too, but P2P ports include the entire upper band of ports up to 65000 (or whatever the highest port number is). P2P ports and Port 21 are never blocked on a router, unless someone programmed a block into the Security section.

When you install the "akami" software for multiple downloads, you will usually get a Windows Firewall Warning, to allow it - If you did not see that, it is either already open, or you are using Norton which takes over Windows Firewall.

So I would set up the download, and take screenshots of when it fails, then call comcast.

 

[Peter2]

P2P

Hi again
I just received an email rom a friend who said P2P is notorious for allowing malware.
Also the Comcast router not the Win firewall allowed or disallowed it depending if I set it to weak or normal. He advised me to keep P2P blocked and use the medium setting which it does.
I am listening to you and have to delve into this. Your advice to call Comcast regarding this is sound.
Thanks
Peter

 

[Peter2]

P2P

Hello
Does the attachment shed any light?
Peter

 

[Peter2]

P2P

This custom shot may suggest a way around.

 

[XweAponX]

That's IT. But that has to be the worst Security setup I've ever seen, they really don't KNOW what ports P2P uses. It can use ALL ports even beyond what they think are being used, and what they think is wrong, I'll tell ya that.

In fact, Malware is not limited to using P2P ports, malware is an infection that YOU let in, when tricked by a fake email or fake Ad on Googol. Malware will use whatever connections YOU have already allowed. But in the case of most Malware, it simply uses port 80 or 8080, the Internet port.

I know about viruses, Comcast does not it would seem.

I highly suggest using a Custom Setting there, allowing Port 21 and allowing all of the alleged (they are NOT) P2P ports they list.

I also would suggest, shutting off all security, and install the Dell Download Manager which will nto be blocked, wqhen it goes in, a Windows Firewall popup will arise, asking if you want to allow those ports in your machine. After marking down the port numbers it will use and clicking allow on both check boxes, then yu can open the Comcast Panel and set up a custom setting, allowing only Port 21 and the P2P port that Akamai uses. The name of the Dell Download Manager comes up as Akamai, when it is downloading, it runs as a little tray icon.

 

[XweAponX]

Ghod! Not even Cox, which is almost as bad as Comcast at being dumb at what a threat actually IS, does not have that kind of paranoiac interface.

I use all of those ports for certain things ot one time or another. So my own solution is to leave the Router alone, and not block ANY ports. I block the port on my machines, according to the programs that need various ports. I set it all up in Windows Firewall, and Eset usually finds and blocks any suspicious Net activity.

 

[Peter2]

I was with MS who tried to fix the FTP issue. They are calling tomorrow afternoon and they do acknowledge that some, not all with 8.1 are having the same trouble. They even had the problem at their office with their pcs.
Thank you for paying attention to my issue and I will be sure to report back.
Peter

 

[leroygood3]

http://usermanualworld.com/wp-content/uploads/Dell XPS 8300 Manual Download.pdf

Do Save as or Save Link I dont have dell or an XPS so i wouldnt know just trying to help

 

[Peter2]

@ Leroy -I appreciate your help.
I have the manuals as they were sent to me from another person.

When you "save as" it places an explorer file on the desktop which says cannot be opened.

I am convinced it is he Comcast router as I can download by lowering the setting. Although, the tech could not download the manual with his 8.1. It will work out and thanx.