still with BITS

By Perlesvaus Posted July 2, 2008 16:39:08

Hi,

still a problem related to the "infinite Impulse update connecting".

I have for sure a problem with the BITS because if I run the Diagnose network connection I have this:

**Resolving dl1.impulsedriven.com**
38.98.152.152

**Resolving stardock.cachefly.net**
205.234.175.175

**Retrieving from dl1.impulsedriven.com**
Success!

**Proxy information**
Using default proxy settings

**Checking Service: BITS**
Service is running

**Checking Service: EventSystem**
Service is running

**Checking Service: RpcSs**
Service is running

**Checking Service: DcomLaunch**
Service is running

**Attempting BITS download**

ERROR: BITS job did not return within 15 seconds

However, if I run the "NET START BITS" it tells me that "the requested service has already been started".
Any idea? I'm using windows XP, by the way.

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From thread: http://forums.stardock.com/315550/page/3

@T-Man, I had the neverending 'connecting...' issue myself, but I don't use any proxies.
The reason in my case was that Impulse created the download job, but failed to start it (i.e it was in suspended state) for some reason.

I used BITSADMIN /LIST to get the jobguid, then used BITSADMIN /RESUME {jobguid} to start it. (Bitsadmin isn't installed by default in xp, but is apparently in the SP2 support tools package on the CD).

You might want to do a periodic check for Impulse's suspended jobs every 60 secs (that the user hasn't explicitly paused), and try to resume when encountered.
If failing to resume twice (by the periodic check) it should display some errormessage informing about not being able to start the download, then maybe removing the job that failed to resume, pending recreation.

It's possible there may be some old jobs in BITS that are causing issues. If you want to dive into BITS Admin and poke around you can.

Download BITS admin: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=49AE8576-9BB9-4126-9761-BA8011FABF38&displaylang=en

BITS Admin documentation: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa362813(VS.85).aspx

Otherwise we are working on a Non-BITS download solution for Impulse and hope to have that available in a week or two.

I actually tried the solution described here http://forums.stardock.com/317163
and I managed to overcome the "infinite connecting".

Now I have another problem (the games remain stuck at "download starting" without downloading at all) but I'll think about it tomorrow

The idea of a non-bits solution for Impulse sounds promising.

For now thanks to you and Seabass who answered me in the other thread

Update... oops, the "BITS job did not return" is still present (which means that my infinite connecting update had another cause), and the games are still stuck at "download starting".

@Perlevaus, just to be clear, did you try the solution T-Man suggested above in addition to the one you mentioned above?

I've not encountered this issue while downloading games etc (just while retrieving a Impulse update), but it isn't too unlikely it might be a similar problem.

Btw, what OS do you use?

I did not try bitsadmin because I don't have it yet installed, I have to download the SP2 tools package and up to now I couldn't do it (computer is busy for other things).

I just wrote the update of my situation because I wanted to clarify that the message of "BITS job did not return..." was not related to the infinite update issue.

I am using windows XP.

Situation has not changed... I installed the bitsadmin and I found several jobs related to impulse suspended, but when I try to resume them, it tell me that "unable to resume job. There are no files attached to this job".

Should I just give up and wait for the bits-free update?

I know i am saying it again but use Dial a Fix utilities done by Microsoft MVP's, it repairs a lot of things in Windows XP and for instance BITS

@Perlesvaus, this sounds rather strange, although I don't doubt you got the message.

You don't have any errormessages in the Impulse error log relating to the latest attempt to download?

I'm not too sure of what to tell you at this point. You could try what neophil78 suggests, it could work.

This problem seems to be related to the same as the neverending 'Impulse update connecting..' but with a twist.

Somehow Impulse (or bits) seems to fail to insert/append the downloads to be performed, and Impulse fails to start it for that reason.

Mmm, I'm not sure I want to mess too much around the BITS...

Actually, the event steps are such: I open impulse (no update anymore); I click on one of my "available" games; after the building of the file list, it goes immediately on "download not yet started", and if I click on "resume" it tells me "download starting" but without doing anything.

The Impulse error log doesn't say anything strange...
-- [05.07.2008 20:13:10] ----------------------------------------------------
Context: Impulse: WebRequest
Message: Using Default Settings/Credentials

is the typical message.

@Perlesvaus, just a quick question: Are you running Impulse in a user account with "admin privileges"?

I can recreate your issue on my end that way (it is my preferred way to run installations). However, if I log out of my user account and log directly into my admin account, Impulse works fine, and my updates work fine.

If I had to guess, it has to do with how BITS is used. Even with a restricted user account, you can "Run as..." for Impulse and put in your admin password. However, BITS does not have admin privileges, and thus does not operate the way Impulse wants...

Hm, actually yes. I mean, what I'm doing is using my account as user, then "Run as..." Impulse using my Admin account. In fact, if I try to run Impulse just as user without admin privileges I can't because it cannot create temporary directories.

So do you think I should try directly from the admin account, logging out from user? (I thought it was the same as using "run as...") I'll try and let you know, in the meanwhile, thanks!

Perlesvaus: Yes, give it a try. Log out of your user account and directly into your admin account. It's a bit of a pain because the "Run as..." option was supposed to eliminate this tediousness.

As a side note, if you are installing games with Impulse, there should be no problem with their functionality when you go back into your user account. However, in some instances, you might need to run those games as an admin using "Run as..."

Contrary to the games, some Stardock software downloaded with Impulse will only work while logged in as an administrator. For example, MyColors operates improperly in user accounts, even when using "Run as...". On my system, it only changes my icons while failing to adjust my window borders and taskbar. However, if I run MyColors from an administrator account, it works perfectly. Thus, for those people who run Windows XP with the recommended limited user accounts (for security reasons, or otherwise), you won't be able to use all Stardock software.

DungMunkey, it was indeed that, yes! I managed to install the games and working!

I didn't think about it because I don't connect often with admin and I thought that the "Run as" was completely equivalent to it.

Thank you very very much, great solving!

There is an update in the FAQ troubleshooting guides. Here are the notes from there.

BITS
-For people interested in the BITS system used by Impulse a new download code is in testing to get around BITS downloading if needed. Once the update is in place BITS will still be the default downloader. A option will be available under the Stardock Logo > Preferences > Connection and mechanism to change the option should you be having any trouble with BITS. Until this update is in place please be certain that BITS is running on your computer should you be having downloading troubles.

EDIT: This feature has now been implemented in the latest update.

You can read more here (http://forums.stardock.com/317821)

Thanks for the update, but I don't see the option and my version is 3.00.229. Perhaps this is active in the beta version only?

DungMunkey,

The latest version that you have would show this. It would be under the Orb (the stardock logo in the top left hand corner of Impulse) -> Preferences -> Connection. Then look at the very bottom for a checkbox next to the wording "Use new downloading mechanism (Recommended if you are experiencing "Connecting..." problems). Make sure that this checkbox is checked.

If you do not see this there, please uninstall Impulse and re-install from http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup_full.exe

Let us know if this helps.

DungMunkey,

Our appologies, the build we put out unfortunately only has this option for beta users. We are working to get a new build out asap. I will post back here when it is out, or Impulse will automatically update itself when it is ready.

So as you may have notice the latest version of Impulse now has the new download method in it. Please let us know how it works out for you.

Thanks again for the update, but Impulse can't seem to grab it. I've been trying periodically over the past few hours. Each time I start up Impulse (while in my administrator account), it says there is an update, but when I go to grab it, I get a message in the lower left corner saying "Downloading Impulse update - Connecting..." and it just stays there. I've tried disabling my firewall, but that didn't work. I've uninstalled Impulse and tried re-installing fresh, but the same result. In fact, I've essentially put myself back a version to 3.00.225 by re-installing.

DungMunkey,

Try re-install from http://www.impulsedriven.com/impulse_setup_full.exe.

IamDean, Thanks for the suggestion. At least I'm back at version 3.00.229. However, Impulse still gets stuck at "Downloading Impuse update - Connecting..." I've tried switching between USA server 1 and USA server 2 (my only two options), but no luck on either of them.

However, Impulse still gets stuck at "Downloading Impuse update - Connecting..."

Leave it on this state for a few minutes, in fact i've the same, but it will update after a (big) while

I let it run about 10 minutes the first few attempts, and I just tried again, letting it run nearly an hour. Impulse still remains stuck.

DungMunkey,

It appears that the link at www.impulsedriven.com is causing people to get version 3.00.225. This has been a hit or miss problem and we are trying to track it down.

We have another url that you can try to install from that has at least version 3.00.230. http://sd.stardock.com/impulse_setup_full.exe If you would like to try to re-install Impulse from that, it will have the option to change the download mechanism in the Preferences.

Let us know if this works for you.

IamDean,

Thanks much! That link brought me up to speed (3.00.230). It also fixed my connection problems, like you said it would. Additionally, I can now perform downloads from a limited-user account while using "Run as..." and providing an administrator password, provided I use the new downloading mechanism described earlier.

For your records, here are my relevant specs:
Windows XP, SP3
McAfee Firewall - full trafficking permission given to Impulse.exe and ImpulseMini.exe