Preload Download Progress Keeps Regressing
I have been trying to download DAI since it became available yesterday. During that time my download progress keeps regressing. It doesn't happen at the same point every time, but it'll continually...
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I finally finished the download on the 2nd of December after trying to download it since the 17th of November (when it unlocked here in South Africa). During that time I contacted EA help twice and followed Jeffrey, Vikas and then Jan's instructions. Although nothing they suggested completely stopped the problem of regressive downloads.
The only thing that worked for me was jury-rigging one of their solutions. While DAI was downloading I frequently made a copy of the 'Dragon Age Inquisition' game folder found in Program Files (x86)\Origin Games and saved it on my HDD. Then when Origin inevitably deleted a chunk of the download & regressed, I would quit Origin and subsequently delete the game folder in 'Origin Games'. Following that I would copy & paste the backup folder into Origin Games. Origin would then be tricked into continuing the download from close to where the progress bar had been.
The only reason this solution even worked for me was because my brother upgraded my house's 3rd-World internet from 1mb to 4mb (Our internet had been 'throttled' so I don't know if that has something to do with the download problem?). I imagine that if I had still been on my original connection then I would still be struggling with the problem. The fact that I had to keep constant watch over the download service of a multi-billion dollar company like a doctor looking after a sick child is absolutely appaling. The one task I expect a download service to be able to do is download in the correct direction. If it cannot do that one task then it can't be called a download service can it?!
It's also disgusting how EA's response to this problem can best be summarised as a 'lack of empathy'. We shouldn't have to move heaven and earth to get the download service they force us to use working...If I pay money to a company then I shouldn't have to keep vigil over their software to ensure that the content I payed for gets delivered to me! Likewise, If I order a pizza - it is not my responsibility to ensure that the delivery guy doesn't eat it!
As it stands the laughable quality of the Origin service ensures that I will not be providing patronage to any new IPs belonging to EA. I should not have to work this hard to receive what I payed for. Steam has great deals and it just introduced a music player, meanwhile Origin still struggles to download in the correct direction. So you can take a wild guess where I'm doing my Christmas shopping this year...
@O1LSL1CK wrote:The only thing that worked for me was jury-rigging one of their solutions. While DAI was downloading I frequently made a copy of the 'Dragon Age Inquisition' game folder found in Program Files (x86)\Origin Games and saved it on my HDD. Then when Origin inevitably deleted a chunk of the download & regressed, I would quit Origin and subsequently delete the game folder in 'Origin Games'. Following that I would copy & paste the backup folder into Origin Games. Origin would then be tricked into continuing the download from close to where the progress bar had been.
Your workaround sounds like a fair option (Kudos to you) to try if I had the time to babysit the download process which unfortunately I do not and should not be expected to have (directed at EA).
@EA: It is a fair and reasonable assumption by the customer that the Origin client is fit for purpose and should be able to download Origin store material in a reliable fashion regardless of the network bandwidth situation (and server connectivity interruptions) at the customer's end. The evidence to date suggests that the software is not sufficiently reliable (it would seem to be deleting and/or corrupting valid downloaded material) and thus can be deemed not fit for the purpose imposed by you (EA).
I am a professional software engineer with sufficient experience under my belt to have some empathy for the situation you (EA) are in with respect to potential issues with identification and resolution of the underlying issue(s) but given the severity of this on-going issue (as a Customer) I would be expecting more from your team in regards to progress reports (or other official communication of substance) on this issue. In fact, I would have expected the issue(s) to have been resolved by now either in part or in whole since it is a critical issue affecting delivery of the products to your customers.
This issue has been affecting me now for at least 21 days (and you have been made aware of this problem for at least the majority of that time if not longer) and has prevented me from using 2 of the products you have sold me for at least 14 days (issue first noted by me with the DA:I preload). I will give you 1 week (7 calendar days) to resolve this issue (or present an acceptable workaround - e.g. couriering disks at your expense) before I am compelled to take action I would rather not (@deadline: Sa-13-Dec-2014 @ 12:00 GMT)
The latest Origin Beta (released in the past hour or so) has introduced a "Safe Download" setting under "Advanced Settings" and others affected by the underling issues may want to try it out (assuming they have not been prompted to do so yet by EA staff). It does however reduce download speeds to <200KB/s so downloads may take longer (my usual nominal download speed is at least 5 times that).
ETC for DA:I - c. 25 hours from a starting percentage of 40% (so ETC of about 42hrs from 0%).
I will be unable to report back on whether the "Safe Download" setting works for me for a couple of days and it may or may not be a universal fix/work-around for those encountering this general issue. For the benefit of others affected by this issue if anyone that tries this and finds it a success/failure for them it would probably be of value.
I will try to make time to check these forums during my unavailability.
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