Member Avatar for bellthorpe

Hi, I just got a new iMac G5 with OS X Tiger, and I am unable to download MP3 sound files. When I try, QuickTime Player automatically opens and begins to play them, but I am unable to download them. These are information files, not music files. On my old iMac with OS 9, I could simply click on the URL (e.g. domain.com/filename.mp3) and it would download onto my hard drive and play on iTunes. I'd appreciate any suggestions; there must be something I'm missing.

Regards,

Don

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Good that found a context‑menu fix — here are a few additional, durable ways to save MP3s (and why browsers sometimes play instead of saving).

Browsers hand MP3s to QuickTime or a plugin when the server delivers them as streamable media. That behavior is governed by HTTP headers (Content-Type and Content-Disposition). If you control the host, forcing a download from the server is the most reliable fix for visitors; otherwise use a client workaround.

Client-side options to try:

  • Save a copy from the player: if QuickTime opens the file, use File > Save As or Export to write a local copy. (If export options are disabled you may need QuickTime Pro or to use a different method.)

  • Use the browser’s resource/Activity view or a different browser (Firefox/Chrome) which exposes a “Save Link As” style command for links.

  • Download from Terminal (works even when the browser streams):

    curl -O "http://example.com/filename.mp3"

Server-side (force download): send a Content-Disposition header so browsers offer the file instead of streaming. Example in PHP:

header('Content-Type: audio/mpeg');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="filename.mp3"');
readfile('/path/to/filename.mp3');
exit;

Troubleshooting tips: if a saved copy opens automatically, check Safari’s preference for opening “safe” files. If you need the file in iTunes, save it first then import or drag it into iTunes. If the problem affects many users, inspect the server response headers (using browser developer tools or curl -I) and adjust Content-Disposition on the host side for a permanent solution.

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Member Avatar for Danarchy

Hi, I just got a new iMac G5 with OS X Tiger, and I am unable to download MP3 sound files. When I try, QuickTime Player automatically opens and begins to play them, but I am unable to download them. These are information files, not music files. On my old iMac with OS 9, I could simply click on the URL (e.g. domain.com/filename.mp3) and it would download onto my hard drive and play on iTunes. I'd appreciate any suggestions; there must be something I'm missing.

Regards,

Don

Sorry Don,
I don't know iMacs or Tiger (except I'm waiting until they quit with all the fixes before I buy it. That may be when the next OS arrives.)
Maybe somebody has an idea here or another forum.
Good luck!
Dan

Member Avatar for bellthorpe

Sorry Don,
I don't know iMacs or Tiger (except I'm waiting until they quit with all the fixes before I buy it. That may be when the next OS arrives.)
Maybe somebody has an idea here or another forum.
Good luck!
Dan

Thanks for responding, Dan. I just found the answer to my problem in another forum: ctrl-click on the file, and then select "Download Linked File." Boy, the time I spent trying to figure that one out. :o

I know what you mean by "all the fixes"; that's why I decided to buy one of the iMacs with the Power PC chip before they get discontinued. There was no way I wanted to be a beta tester for the new Intel iMacs. Now that I have my G5, I wish I'd bought one sooner; I love it.

All the best, Don

Member Avatar for Danarchy

Thanks for responding, Dan. I just found the answer to my problem in another forum: ctrl-click on the file, and then select "Download Linked File." Boy, the time I spent trying to figure that one out. :o

I know what you mean by "all the fixes"; that's why I decided to buy one of the iMacs with the Power PC chip before they get discontinued. There was no way I wanted to be a beta tester for the new Intel iMacs. Now that I have my G5, I wish I'd bought one sooner; I love it.

All the best, Don

No problem. I saw a few that had no replies. Doesn't seem very friendly, Even if you don't know the answer.
Well, I'm glad you found the remedy and that was a great idea on the Power PC iMac. Someday I'll have something like that. But the eMacs keep doing what I need.

What forum was that? Nobody here, except me, replied to my issue of a "dead" spot on my older eMac's CRT screen. The thing is out of it's extended warranty by 3 months and I thought it fixed itself, but the dead spot goblin is back. Can't do anything in about a 2" square area of the screen.
So I'd like to know the forum you used. I'll try a few others myself.

Take care and enjoy the new machine!
Dan

Member Avatar for bellthorpe

No problem. I saw a few that had no replies. Doesn't seem very friendly, Even if you don't know the answer.
Well, I'm glad you found the remedy and that was a great idea on the Power PC iMac. Someday I'll have something like that. But the eMacs keep doing what I need.

What forum was that? Nobody here, except me, replied to my issue of a "dead" spot on my older eMac's CRT screen. The thing is out of it's extended warranty by 3 months and I thought it fixed itself, but the dead spot goblin is back. Can't do anything in about a 2" square area of the screen.
So I'd like to know the forum you used. I'll try a few others myself.

Take care and enjoy the new machine!
Dan

Dan, I received help on the Site Build It! Forum; it's a private subscribers-only forum for those who use the SBI! system to build websites for affiliate marketing. I'll check, and if I discover anything, I'll reply in your thread "Dead corner on eMac screen."

All the best,
Don

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