Purchased DA ... downloading ... and downloading ...

I seem to get rather slow downloads with DSL6000 as well, but only during US daytime. So basically, if you're EU based like me, try downloading in the morning, not in the evening.

DA without SDCentral: There is an option to get a CD with DA on it, but that costs more compared to the download-only version.

I know. I tried it yesterday different times - no difference. DA is slow, but ONLY DA (any other patches & minor addons for DL were just fine - 600 - 700 kb/s). DA is the only one taking forever.

@ Stardoc: I really want to see an european server for D/L. US is NOT the sweetspot of the world, it's even lesser populated than EU - please give us an european server. That should not be a problem, because - and I am pretty sure - most of your customers ARE from europe.

Thanks.

Any other way to get DA without using SDC legaly? I allready paid for the game (no CD-version) so I want to use it. But there is no way to get it with SDC at such slow speed - also, its everytime damaged. IF we're forced to D/L per SDC, why not using Bittorrent as "engine" to prevent damaged D/Ls?

Have you changed the settings in SDC to download through another server? Is SDC configured to "resume partially downloaded files' ? (it in an option in the Internet Settings) 

Unfortunately, there are only two servers available, both US. Most of the time there's little or no difference between the two.

I removed the flag for "resume partially downloaded files", but that's not the problem. Problem is: its so slow, my connection will damage those files (if they're not allready damaged by its long way from US to Dresden ) TCP/IP-Protocol is able to repair some bits, but not to repair / request damaged packages. Bittorrent is doing so, because damaged parts will be just reloaded by default, but thats because it's using its own protocol.

If there's a way to download DA and then keep the installation files, I could just re-download the whole thing, burn it on a CD and mail it to you. You still need your serial to activate it AFAIK, but you already got that.

Well, there is an option in SDC to "download and archive" instead of installing a game.

Naa ... you don't have to send me the files per CD ... that's too expensive for you and not really necessary. It's enough to split-ZIP & upload it to rapidshare or something - if it's not illegal, you know (don't know exactly Stardocs policy ...)

Or I give it a try (8th time) to get it per SDC. But I really want to see some european servers in future, or another file-distribution-system like Bittorrent to increase speed, reduce chance of damaged files and reduce traffic to central servers (seeders).

//---------/Edited/---------//

Last Log:

-- [Application] ----------------------------------------------------
Name: Stardock Central
Path: C:\Programme\Stardock\SDCentral
Version: 2.45.464, build: 150

-- [System Information] ---------------------------------------------
Platform: Microsoft Windows Windows XP, 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
Display: NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GTX
Driver Version: 6.14.10.9371
System Dir: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Time / Date: 09:25:53 -- Thursday, July 05, 2007

-- [Installing] -----------------------------------------------------
Server: http://sdc1.stardock.com
Server Dir: public
Network Id: drengin
Name: Dark Avatar (Expansion Pack) for Galactic Civilizations II
App Id: gc2
Installed: False
Version: 1.61.090
Type: production
Reg Key: GalCiv2
Install Dir: J:\Stardoc\GalCiv2\GalCiv2
Exe: DarkAvatar\DALaunch.exe
Last Updated: 06/19/2007

-- [Account] --------------------------------------------------------
First Name: Michael
Last Name: Giertz
Email: [email protected]

-- [Installation] ---------------------------------------------------
Download: C:\Programme\Stardock\SDCentral\data\public\gc2\production\gc2_DarkAvatar.xml 1
Load: C:\Programme\Stardock\SDCentral\data\public\gc2\production\gc2_DarkAvatar.xml 1
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Attempt: 1 | -30 Connection timed out
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Validation Failed
Download: 42a1bd203208918282927ba41d83365e | 79c629c9383479a0128a946932625829 | 265466638
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Attempt: 1 | -19 Connection was closed by the server
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Attempt: 2 | -14 The Url is invalid
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Attempt: 3 | -14 The Url is invalid
Server: Using other server http://sdc2.stardock.com
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Attempt: 1 | -19 Connection was closed by the server
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Validation Failed
Download: 42a1bd203208918282927ba41d83365e | da57777796f43a8c3737c2703c5e9269 | 265466638
Download: C:\DOKUME~1\Michael\LOKALE~1\Temp\sdcentral\gc2_DarkAvatar.sdc 0 | Validation Failed
Download: 42a1bd203208918282927ba41d83365e | fa7fc944cb5159ad81899fbf153ddcde | 265466638
Result: Installation failed (32)

=============================

You see, that Hash-Validation should be the first one, but I got the second one (different), because the file is randomly damaged. It might be the same size, but it's internal damaged. Thats because of nature of simply download, there is no real "error-correction" to repair damaged packets. Because of the slowness and instability (between 30 - 150 kb/s) the file becomes damaged while downloading it. There is no real workarround except adding some kind of "error-correction" as used in most P2P-software.

It's probably best you didn't do that.

I thought as much.

Hope you'll get the download eventually. Maybe they give a discount on the additional CD if you prove that your download doesn't work.

Okay, lets say it this way: I paid for the game and I want to play it. And I paid only for the Non-CD-Version to safe another 10 bucks + 2 weeks of time waiting to get it shipped from US to Europe. If you really want that someone is using your SDC-Feature in future it should be in your interest to have it useable for us europs.

Yes, i know it sounds harsh ... sorry for that.

But its that: I tested it multiple times with DA, at different times in 3 days. No way, file is allways slow @ download and corrupted. I tested it with any other GalCiv2-File (even Dreadlords) and it was quick. Same server and even at times when everyone in USA is online: no problems, speed at 700 kb/s, no corrupted files. So I really think thats not my problem - bad mirror?