I first became aware of the merits of this software in downloading a Youtube that other methods could not. However, now I have tried it again, and it seems to recognize ONLY torrents ! I could not paste or drag a URL into the 'drop-target' area. Can anyone help me over this blockage ?

Sebastian42 wrote:I first became aware of the merits of this software in downloading a Youtube that other methods could not. However, now I have tried it again, and it seems to recognize ONLY torrents ! I could not paste or drag a URL into the 'drop-target' area. Can anyone help me over this blockage ?

What version are you talking about? Youtube FYI does change their scripts to prevent such downloads and til others know which version your using it will be hard to know what is going on and a sample link so they can test out your problem to know what is going on. FYI if be so, there are other programs that do work by themselves to download Youtube videos - I use them and no issues using them so now sure what you mean by "that other methods could not". I can tell you two methods I use does work. So one shouldn't make broad misleading claims here unless it can be shown otherwise.

Sebastian42 wrote:I first became aware of the merits of this software in downloading a Youtube that other methods could not. However, now I have tried it again, and it seems to recognize ONLY torrents ! I could not paste or drag a URL into the 'drop-target' area. Can anyone help me over this blockage ?

Hello!

Please provide sample URLs where you encountered the issue.

Regards,
Clive

To Poster,

It does help if you do respond back to request for help....

I must have not ticked the box for 'Notify me when a reply is posted' because only now that I am back in the forum do I find that a reply was sent. I have corrected that now. Apologies. The issue was 3 months ago, so I can not supply the requested information. I have several new questions, and will post them separately. On THIS topic, I can but report that I've had mixed results and will have to pay attention to the precise details of my efforts.

To StormJumper
The earliest version I installed was 5.1.17.4597 but that was 14 Sep 2016 - well before my question.
The two methods that failed when FDM succeeded with YouTube, were IDM and VDH.
I found an adequate 'drop-target' workaround.
I can't 'interpolate' what FYI might stand for.

As reported before, I became aware of FDM's merits when it could download a YouTube that IDM and VDH could not. But since then, most of the downloads have been in hmtl format instead of one of the numerous video formats. I KNOW it can do better, but HOW to trigger that escapes me. I'd love to be told. The version I use is v5.1.33.6791

Sebastian42 wrote:As reported before, I became aware of FDM's merits when it could download a YouTube that IDM and VDH could not. But since then, most of the downloads have been in hmtl format instead of one of the numerous video formats. I KNOW it can do better, but HOW to trigger that escapes me. I'd love to be told. The version I use is v5.1.33.6791

Dear User!

Please give us a link to the video you try to download.
Feel free to update FDM to the latest version.

Regards,
Clive

It seems to be an old problem with FDM youtube sniffer providing improper request parameters in download links and resulting in zero byte size, see older topics:
search.php?keywords=improper+parameters+youtube&terms=all&author=Usher&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=-1&t=0&submit=Search
search.php?keywords=zero+byte+size&terms=all&author=Usher&sc=1&sf=all&sr=posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=-1&t=0&submit=Search
You can use SaveFrom.net site to get proper download links that FDM can download with no problem.

I managed to download the video whose URL is above,but using 'the old reliable method' - so maybe there is an intermittent 'fault'. In any case, thank you for the new resources.
Even though I had ticked 'Notify me when a reply is posted' I did NOT receive an email alerting me to your reply.

What is 'the old reliable method' and how can I use it?

Usher wrote:It seems to be an old problem with FDM youtube sniffer providing improper request parameters in download links and resulting in zero byte size, see older topics:
You can use SaveFrom.net site to get proper download links that FDM can download with no problem.

Audio option is not shown size 0, but doesn't download either.
How can I use SaveForm.net to get a proper download link? Sorry, I tried but don't find it. If I click "download", it just plays the video in new browser tab in real time!? URL in this browser tab is really strange!?

Best regards
Guest.

Ah, now I see. With SaveForm.net it is not possible to download the HD version of the video. The other formats seem to be fine. I tried the last MP4 format, because I hoped it is only audio (like the "same" dialog in FDM). But when I select this, it only plays the video in a new browser tab.

Best regards
Guest

If FDM shows zero byte size for any download, then probably all download links are invalid.
SaveFrom.net shows links only for video downloads (and prefers the best quality with audio muxed), they want you to use their own downloader/converter for audio…