Magento: connect manager errors / Aitoc extension

Question

I have a local magento installation to test out new extensions and configurations. Now I try to open the Connect Manager locally, but get a blank screen, and the following errors:

PHP Warning:  Unexpected character in input:  '\x16' (ASCII=22) state=0 in /var/www-vhosts/magento.local/htdocs/app/code/local/Aitoc/Aitsys/Model/Module/License/Light/Performer/Reader.php(36) : eval()'d code(18) : eval()'d code(1395) : eval()'d code on line 1
PHP Parse error:  syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /var/www-vhosts/magento.local/htdocs/app/code/local/Aitoc/Aitsys/Model/Module/License/Light/Performer/Reader.php(36) : eval()'d code(18) : eval()'d code(1395) : eval()'d code on line 1
PHP Fatal error:  Call to undefined method PEAR_Error::set() in /var/www-vhosts/magento.local/htdocs/downloader/Maged/Pear.php on line 111

I see that this has to do with an Aitoc extension or license. What's the best way to fix this error, or disable the extension locally?

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SOLUTION (thanks to Mcnab)

With freegento.com/ddl-magento-extension.php you can download the files using the magentoconnect extension key and you can avoid using Magento Connect altogether. This doesn't fix the problem I describe here, but for me it works and is good enough.

Answer 1

You can use freegento.com/ddl-magento-extension.php and paste in the magentoconnect extension key to download a tarball of all the files for your module.

This means you can at least see what has been added to the install and where. And of course it means you can also look at the code that you are adding prior to it being added to your Magento installation - ie identifying conflicts and downright dodgy code.