Downloading .dmg files

Hello, just became a happy owner of a second hand Macbook Pro OS 10.6.4. I don't seem to be able to download anything that's a .dmg file - Skype and Mozilla Thunderbird. Any ideas how to troubleshoot this? Thanks for your help

Do you get any error messages? Is it only limited to Skype and Thunderbird?

No, no error message, just a black empty window. Must admit I've been trying to sort this out all afternoon so haven't attempted more downloads...

Just to clear up a possible misunderstanding on my part, what application (ie. not the two programs you've mentioned) are you using?

Safari

Have you tried resetting Safari? To do this, go to Safari > Reset Safari...

Thanks, tried it but it's made no difference. Am wondering if it is my slowish broadband, though (annoyingly) Skype downloads to my PC no problem...Any more ideas out there gratefully received.

What does a Speedtest.net ping and load speed check show with your Mac? If your PC is getting good speed, then so should the Mac. Are you by any chance using a proxy server?

Time perhaps to try a Mozilla browser, ie. FFox or Camino. Opera maybe?

Thanks for suggestions. I'm not using a proxy server. Tried downloading Firefox, though it was the same problem as the other .dmg files...

penegoes66 said:

Thanks for suggestions. I'm not using a proxy server. Tried downloading Firefox, though it was the same problem as the other .dmg files...

Click to expand...

Have you a Mac friend who could donate you, via flash drive, the .dmg of the apps you want to install? if you were in this country for example I'd send you a CD. It's not a solution, I know, but a temporary workaround.

I think the fault lies in the Network Settings of SysPrefs, but without a screenshot of those, it's difficult to isolate what the exact problem might be. Even then, one needs to know what the settings for your ISP are.

Thanks, yes am working on the going-round-the-problem solution and have skype etc coming my way. And will hand over to the local Mac Doctor for a perfectly reasonable fee I'm sure. Many thanks for all your help out there, much appreciated.

Question... do you get to the prompt where it asks you for a file path to save the .dmg file to? Are other file types still downloading and just not .dmgs, or can you for example not download .zip files either? And lastly, have you tried repairing disk permissions? I can see how a permissions error might cause that by not giving you sufficient write privileges.

Also, if you need, I could make you a .zip file and host it on my server with all the apps you're trying to run. Since when you install it from the dmg it is simply a drag and drop into the applications folder alias, i can just give you the apps. It's all freeware, why not.