Unfortunately, a stable internet connection can drop out right when you need it the most, in the middle of an important download. No matter if it's because of a bad router, a problem with your service provider or spotty 4G service, you're left with an incomplete file that's useless until the process is done. Once you've done all the hard work of getting everything up and running again, you're probably not looking to start that very large download over again from square one.

Thankfully, you can restart your download right from where your service abandoned you, and it's very simple if you're using Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari and do-able but more complex in Chrome.

MORE: How to Mute Noisy Firefox Tabs

How to Resume an Interrupted Download in Firefox

1. Click the Downloads icon.

2. Click the curving arrow.

Your download will resume from where it stopped. Download the office season 9.

How to Resume an Interrupted Download in Internet Explorer

1. Click the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner.

2. Select View downloads from the menu.

3. Click Resume.

Your download will resume from where it stopped.

How to Resume an Interrupted Download in Safari

1. Click the Downloads icon in the upper right-hand corner.

2. Click the curving arrow.

Your download will resume from where it stopped.

How to Resume an Interrupted Download in Chrome

This is more complicated, and requires the free software Wget. We describe the process in full here.

Henry T. Casey is a staff writer at Tom’s Guide. Follow him on Twitter @henrytcasey. Follow us @tomsguide, on Facebook and on Google+.

Did your computer fail to open a RESUME file? We explain what RESUME files are and recommend software that we know can open or convert your RESUME files.

What is a RESUME file?

The .resume file format is used by Netscape SmartDownload to save digital media with partially downloaded content. These RESUME files are classified as temporary files that may also be generated by other download management tools and applets aside from the Netscape SmartDownload application.

A RESUME file may contain data associated with the media file that's currently being downloaded by Netscape SmartDownload. These .resume files are normally stored in the same directory where the user chose to download the associated media files.

Opening these .resume files by using the application that created it may instruct the program to continue the download process for the associated media. These RESUME files may also contain code that's relevant to the Web directory location of the corresponding media file among other pieces of information, which can allow Netscape SmartDownload to properly download the file, or to continue with the download process without issues (in case the download process abruptly stops for any reason).

Software that will open, convert or fix RESUME files

Try a universal file viewer

In addition to the products listed above, I would suggest that you try a universal file viewer like Free File Viewer. It can open over 200 different types of files - and very likely yours too! Download Free File Viewer.