Microsoft has confirmed a problem that hundreds of users have reported with downloading Windows 7, according to its support forum.
The company is currently investigating the reports, but has not yet come up with a solution.
“For those that have purchased Windows 7 from Digital River and receive the error ‘We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded’ when going through the ‘Unloading the Box’ [step]…Microsoft and Digital River are aware of the issue and it’s being investigated,” a Microsoft support engineer said in a message posted yesterday .
“We will post back to this thread when we have additional updates,” added the engineer, an 11-year veteran of the company identified only as “Michael.”
Minneapolis, Minn.-based Digital River powers the downloading of Microsoft’s $29.99 Windows 7 upgrade offer for students. Digital River handled the electronic purchasing and downloading for Windows Vista and Office 2007 in early 2007.
“What a freakin’ mess,” exclaimed another user, “Goaliegeek” on the same thread.
When users launched the .exe file — which was supposed to unpack the .box files — they received the error Microsoft’s Michael mentioned.
The Download Squad Web site has also published a set of instructions on converting the downloaded files to a disk image.
But users continued to post complaints. “Any updates at all on this? This is a horrible ‘new start’ for Windows,” said “gozeemer” on the long thread.
“This is also ******* me off,” griped “James388” on the thread. “Seems like my download is corrupted also, it won’t let me download it again. WTF?!?”
Digital River did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
