[NewFolder]

Wasn't sure which forum was best suited to this so I posted it here.

This is to anyone who uses Dreamspark. Recently, they seem to be releasing more and more stuff through this "Secure Download Manager" system (SDM). This involves downloading the SDM application, and then a .sdx file which tells it which file to download. It's similar to using Bittorrent, but works in a completely different way.

I used to download the files over the web browser, using DownThemAll, meaning I could resume downloads at any time. I had no problems whatsoever with using this method.

However, with the SDM system, I have had endless problems. Been downloading a total of 7GB over the last 48 hours. Two items were successful, but one (the largest one, just over 3GB) stuck at 100%, and after closing and reopening the SDM app, it said that the file was corrupted and I'd need to redownload it what makes it worse is that despite saying that you can do parallel downloads, while in reality, it will only let me download one file with one instance of SDM, and it will only allow one instance of SDM to run, therefore, I can only download one thing at a time.

At times, it will also appear to be downloading, but actually just do nothing, without displaying an explanation. This means I can leave my computer on for hours to allow things to download, come back to it and it'll be on 0% still, wasting a lot of electricity.

Does anyone else have experience of any of these problems using SDM? Even better, does anyone know if there's a way to download files from Dreamspark without using the SDM?

[Wookie42]

Haven't used DreamSpark in a while and not come across the download manager they've added. I will say that those download manager programs are often a pile of s*** though, especially when they *make* you use them. I think I ran into one on Dell's site a while ago when I was trying to get some drivers and it was absolute hell! Only advice I have for you is to not throw too much into it at once, at least that way there's less room for corruption. Anyway, I don't think you can get around it - you usually can't - but if you're having loads of problems you might get some direct links if you email support or whoever. I know this post hasn't been much help, but kinda wanted to vent my frustration on download managers in general!

[mfaxford]

Not used SDM much but had to use it a while ago for some MSDNAA downloads. Whilst it seems like you can only do one .sdx file at a time with MSDNAA you could add several things to the basket in one go and when you did the checkout process you got an sdx file with all the downloads in it (which could be downloaded in parallel)

[NewFolder]

(Original post by mfaxford)
Not used SDM much but had to use it a while ago for some MSDNAA downloads. Whilst it seems like you can only do one .sdx file at a time with MSDNAA you could add several things to the basket in one go and when you did the checkout process you got an sdx file with all the downloads in it (which could be downloaded in parallel)

That's probably what they mean then. AFAIK, it's not possible to do that in dreamspark

[1nvjoqjm]

Sorry for going slightly off topic but can someone explain how to sign into Dreamspark Premium? I completed the sign up process for Dreamspark but when I go to my Uni's Premium Webstore it asks me for another username and password.

Do I need to get the username and password from my Uni?

[NewFolder]

(Original post by 1nvjoqjm)
Sorry for going slightly off topic but can someone explain how to sign into Dreamspark Premium? I completed the sign up process for Dreamspark but when I go to my Uni's Premium Webstore it asks me for another username and password.

Do I need to get the username and password from my Uni?

Probably. Is it your university's web address in the address bar? Do you have your university login details yet?

[1nvjoqjm]

(Original post by NewFolder)
Probably. Is it your university's web address in the address bar?

Not in the address bar, but the name is in the chrome tab.

http://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/Prod...=8&JSEnabled=1

(Original post by NewFolder)
Do you have your university login details yet?

Not yet. I've tried contacting the Uni to find out but haven't heard anything back yet. The website makes no mention of where you are supposed to get the login details from, I only found out that you might need to get them from your Uni from a guide on an american uni's site.

http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/HCS/...SDNAA_site.pdf

[Final Fantasy]

(Original post by 1nvjoqjm)
Not in the address bar, but the name is in the chrome tab.

http://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/Prod...=8&JSEnabled=1




Not yet. I've tried contacting the Uni to find out but haven't heard anything back yet. The website makes no mention of where you are supposed to get the login details from, I only found out that you might need to get them from your Uni from a guide on an american uni's site.

http://groups.haas.berkeley.edu/HCS/...SDNAA_site.pdf

You need your university login details (username and password) for MSDNAA/Dreamspark downloads.

[1nvjoqjm]

(Original post by Final Fantasy)
You need your university login details (username and password) for MSDNAA/Dreamspark downloads.

Thanks.

I've used other student software before and all I had to do was use my "ac.uk" email address.