Secure Download Cabinet is a Microsoft type of file used to distribute software packages for its MSDNAA program.

The product executable that is downloaded from ELMS decrypts and extracts the product.

Criticisms

The use of an SDC file by ELMS has caused many difficulties for users. The ELMS downloader drops a very large SDC file on the hard drive, on average about 3 gigabytes. This file is then "unpacked" by the unpacking stage of the download. In some cases, the download is unresponsive at the "checking CRC" stage and the download freezes at 1%. This occurs most often when downloading the ISO image of operating systems. Programs such as UnpackSDC from http://imagi.pl/ have been developed to attempt to extract the ISO image from the SDC file. UnpackSDC 1.1 only supports old sdc files, (files older than Windows 7), newer ones like "Windows 7 Professional" are not supported. Students have overcome this problem by re-downloading the ELMS executable from the Academic Alliance. The cause of the unpacking error seems to be a corrupt executable.

External links

• MSDNAA FAQ on Carleton University