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Problem downloading exe files

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by holbein4

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I recently bought a Pentium III pc off of a friend. I later learned that the pc cannot download exe files. I am connected to the Net via a router. But as the previous owner had no router but had the same problem, I don't believe it is the router.
I have no problems surfing, viewing and sending e-mails or using messenger.

I have disabled the firewall, lowered the privacy settings, re-installed IE 6, uploaded the service pack for IE 6, and have checked the settings in Internet options to make certain that the "download files" feature is enabled, and have even checked to make certain that no unnecessary plugins are resident in IE. All to no avail.

Help! I am at my wits end. Do you think loading XP SP1 would help?

9 replies

by sgt_shultz

this sounds like either OE6 problem blocking exe files or firewall still blocking even tho you turned it off. reenable firewall and see if you can change configuration to allow exe files. if you are talking about Outlook Express 6 (or other version)not letting you have exe files, that is easy fix. Tools/Options/security uncheck box that says don't allow access to files that might have viruses...
what os?
what firewall?
what email package and version giving the problem?

by johngreer

Can you point us to an example of a website that you cannot download off of? Also, what error message are you getting?

by holbein4

I am not having any problems with OE. I have only used IE to access the web. Are you saying that even if I don't access the web via OE, it can inhibit my ability to download in IE?

Oh, the firewall has been re-enabled.

Some of the web sitesI can't download from:

Microsoft
Macromedia (for Shockwave)
Kaza
Adobe
Computer Associates

by nikki96

I'm not sure what you mean by "can't" - what error message do you get? What do you expect to happen that isn't? I assume you tried clicking the link and also right-click -> save as.
Other than that, if you have XP, you really need SP1. It fixes a bunch of problems with XP, especially a lot of security problems. Also, make sure you're using the latest IE6, too, as the first version of that was buggy (well, buggier than usual).

It (almost) never hurts to install the latest SP.

by cb42

It could also be that this computer has some personal firewall software installed. Take a look in the systems tray and see if there are any icons there that you don't know what they are and check them out. If you cannot download .exe files it is almost always a firewall setting of some kind.

by holbein4

As one person rightly pointed out, I did not make clear what "unable to download" means. When I click on "save" or "open" a file the expected happens. However, when one looks at how many bites are being downloaded, the number always remains at "0", or the download window pops-up and appears as if it is frozen. It's as if it is waiting or looking for something that is never finds or never happens.

by ratznium

Sounds to me like the sort of thing AntiVirus software would cause.

Particularly Norton AV - which intercepts downloads to scan them (if set that way). Without a little more specific detail I doubt anyone here will be able to answer effectively without wild guesses.

*Unlikely: if disk space is low, or IE cannot find the default save-to folder, one may expect this problem... Possibly. (wild guess)

Personally, I'd reinstall the whole OS *my* way if I bought a computer as a whole from someone.

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