Hi guys, hoping someone on the team can advise.....

For the past week or so, I have been experiencing a problem with a Microsoft download.....

Have downloaded all the PDF's & videos for Windows 7 OPK (OEM Pre-Installation Kit) which were no problem & left the actual OPK until last....

Started downloading this overnight as it's a 2gb file & would take sometime to complete. On checking next day, found that the download didn't complete because the connection to the server was reset, so thought that the 1st attempt was during a busy time, so tried again at a more suitable time.

1st Attempt failed at 17%
2nd attempt failed at 60%
3rd attempt failed at 40%
4th attempt failed at 43% which was earlier this evening.

Between the 3rd & 4th attempts, I posted on the following Microsoft forums: - Microsoft Answers, Windows 7 Catergory & System Builders/ Windows 7 Server Installation.

Only got a reply on Microsoft Answers which IMV was a stupid one........

"you don't need the opk as you can install Win 7 direct from the OEM Installation disk"...posted a courteous reply even though I was fuming.....

For anyone that has purchased a retail PC will know that all the apps & O/S is pre-installed. This is done by an OPK & by using said kit it can cut my installation times by 83.33% as I can have 6 rigs installating at the same time (limited by kvm connections).

So far, there has been no other replies to my posts.

So the question is (& I'm no network expert): - Is the connection to the server being reset by a session timeout or something similar? If so, how can I work round it?

There is a quick way round the problem & that is to purchase a 3 pack of Win 7 OEM (If it's the same as Vista/XP, an OPK disk comes with the pack). Unfortunately, that's going to cost & I won't start ordering them until I sell the remaining Vista disks/systems in stock. In the meantime, I want to use the OPK to test & it is available for download........

Issue resolved, no thanks to Microsoft. Their link on th OPK page to BITS download works but the program lacked 2 important components. Even after reinstalling BITS (good copy), it still failed but the same failure as many others - transient error.

Next, tried MS' own File Transfer Manager & that failed. tried a suggestion from another poster & it worked, IDM (Internet Download Manager).

Not happy with Microsoft's attitude lately.......

Found all posts moved to different forums. nice of them to let one know.

Very surprised with IDM, what would have taken 15 hrs with BITS or FTM, took 1hr 48m. Nice.