Opening multiple download windows in IE

[JustTed]

I'm trying to download some files from a single site, but for some reason IE will only open 1 download window for that site. So I've got to wait for the first one to finish, then click on another "Download Now" button. It's a major pain, especially because all (well, most) of the files are pretty big.

The download manager I have (NetAnts) can only take regular hyperlinks, not the ones from one of those buttons. I read somewhere there's a registry fix that allows me to set the number of download windows open, but I completely forgot where I read it. Darn.

So can someone let me know the registry fix, or suggest me a better download manager (one that can accept downloads from one of those pesky "Download Now" buttons)?

Thanks, guys.

 

[DannyBoy]

you will need to read the documentation for your download manager to find out how to download more than one file at the same time.

I would imagine it is something simple.

In Internet Explorer when just downloading normally, right click and select "Save Target As" to save the file manually.

 

[Doh!]

Hope this will help.

 

[clicknext]

You could simply use firebird.

Superior browser that lets you download multiple files.

 

[Kappo]

I do not think it is an IE issue. Some sites do that at the server level. There are times when I can download 25 files at a time (I think the default is 5 in IE, though, but you can change it easily) and others where 3 connections (like I download two files and can still surf the site, or I can download 3 files and not be able to get to any other places in the site).

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Kappo
I do not think it is an IE issue. Some sites do that at the server level. There are times when I can download 25 files at a time (I think the default is 5 in IE, though, but you can change it easily) and others where 3 connections (like I download two files and can still surf the site, or I can download 3 files and not be able to get to any other places in the site).

It is a limit put in at the server side level. The browers has an absolute limit of open downloads (controllable). The server must be limitiing 1 session per IP.

 

[stephbu]

Not quite - there is client-side constraint in IE and can be constraint server-side too. (Depends on webserver etc.)

For HTTP 1.0 clients there was accordance that no more than 4 connections would be opened per host. HTTP 1.1 specified that clients are constrained to 2 connections. IE and WinInet based clients respect this constraint and queue requests if connection requests per host exceed that limit.

JustTed is right that there is a registry hack to alter this though. Details in the article...

http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/536/

These settings alter WinInet API behaviour - and thus alter the behaviour of all WinInet-based clients. (Such as IE)

Opening more than 2 sockets is typically beneficial for pages with many dependent assets such as images. However opening more sockets doesn't necessarily improve performance especially with HTTP 1.1 connection pipelining. You can set these numbers too high, best thing to do is a little trial and error.

 

[Kappo]

Well, on a default install of XP I tested how many files I could download. I got to 11 before I got bored This was on my work server from home, and they were all different files. And I never thought I would see 5k/sec again

 

[JustTed]

Thanks for the answers. I'll try them as soon as I get home.

Cheers!