URL: http://ppm4.activestate.com/MSWin32-x86/5.8/825/package.xml

That's the same URL as displays for me. That means the .tgz that you're trying to unpack is the same .tgz as I successfully unpacked.

I think that rules out the theory that there's something wrong with the .tgz file.

Can you tell us how you're trying to install these modules - ie what command are you running ? Have you tried installing by running ppm install File-Copy-Recursive from the command line ?

Cheers,
Rob