all downloads cause error message - not a valid win32 application

G

Guest

I have tried downloading 3 programs and i get 'not a valid win32 application.
Does anyone know what to do? Thank you, Karen
 
R

Ramesh [MVP]

Hi Karen,

This is most probably due to a corrupt download. Are you using a third-party download manager? If so, try disabling them and re-download the file(s) using Internet Explorer. Another approch would be to try downloading from backup servers or Mirror sites.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


I have tried downloading 3 programs and i get 'not a valid win32 application.
Does anyone know what to do? Thank you, Karen
 
G

Guest

Hi Ramesh, Thank you for suggestions - I appreciate your input! - I did try
the suggestions you mentioned but i still get the same error message. Today
I tried to download 3 different programs and i still get the same message - I
have downloaded programs before this and have never had a problem. I don't
believe that 6 different programs could all be corrupted. I also disabled
antivirus, popup blocker, and firewall during installation to see if maybe
that could be it - but there was not any difference. What do you think?
Thank you, Karen
 
R

Ramesh [MVP]

Hi Karen,

I assume you don't use download managers (?). If you're using any, try disabling them and use Internet Explorer's default download handler. Additionally, see if clearing the TIF and History helps:

Delete the History folder and index.dat:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


Hi Ramesh, Thank you for suggestions - I appreciate your input! - I did try
the suggestions you mentioned but i still get the same error message. Today
I tried to download 3 different programs and i still get the same message - I
have downloaded programs before this and have never had a problem. I don't
believe that 6 different programs could all be corrupted. I also disabled
antivirus, popup blocker, and firewall during installation to see if maybe
that could be it - but there was not any difference. What do you think?
Thank you, Karen
 
G

Guest

Hi Ramesh,

Thank you again for your help - I appreciate your time. I did try your
suggestions [used internet explorer default- still get same error message]
and went to suggested help site [http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache]I
had done all of these things previously but you never know, so i tried them
again. I also downloaded and tried the cc cleaner. The cc cleaner downloaded
fine - so i tried downloading winzip 9 - and still received not a valid win32
app. I am confused as to which TIF it is talking about - When I search for
TIF folders i have 5 different TIF'S. Our family uses only one username in
windows xp. Do i need to make a new username? I guess i am not understanding
the following:

Completely Deleting the Temporary Internet Files and index.dat

[XP\2K] (WinME\98 users see below)

Log on as Administrator and delete the desired <username> folder(s) and
reboot.
(or log on as another user that has Administrator privileges)
Hint: You can also press "Ctrl-Alt-Del" twice at the Welcome screen to bring
up the Administrator account or download: "AddAdministrator.reg" to add the
Administrator to the Welcome screen.
To use: right-click and select: "Save Target As", locate the reg file and
right-click and select: Merge Ok the prompt and reboot. [more info]
 
R

Ramesh [MVP]

Hi,

This is the one which you want to delete:
--
Example:
"C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files"

Note: where "username" is the account or profile that you suspect is corrupt. Remember to delete the folder, not just the contents. A new "Content.IE5" and a set of random named sub-folders (4) and index.dat will be created on restart. You can not delete these folders from your own account.
--

BTW, is this problem seen system-wide, or profile specific?

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


Hi Ramesh,

Thank you again for your help - I appreciate your time. I did try your
suggestions [used internet explorer default- still get same error message]
and went to suggested help site [http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache]I
had done all of these things previously but you never know, so i tried them
again. I also downloaded and tried the cc cleaner. The cc cleaner downloaded
fine - so i tried downloading winzip 9 - and still received not a valid win32
app. I am confused as to which TIF it is talking about - When I search for
TIF folders i have 5 different TIF'S. Our family uses only one username in
windows xp. Do i need to make a new username? I guess i am not understanding
the following:

Completely Deleting the Temporary Internet Files and index.dat

[XP\2K] (WinME\98 users see below)

Log on as Administrator and delete the desired <username> folder(s) and
reboot.
(or log on as another user that has Administrator privileges)
Hint: You can also press "Ctrl-Alt-Del" twice at the Welcome screen to bring
up the Administrator account or download: "AddAdministrator.reg" to add the
Administrator to the Welcome screen.
To use: right-click and select: "Save Target As", locate the reg file and
right-click and select: Merge Ok the prompt and reboot. [more info]
 
G

Guest

I am getting these problems, but don't understand what your are suggesting -
sorry but don't really understand computers - what is a third party download
manager? and how do you download files using internet explorer.

Can you give me the idiots guide to how I can get this sorted including all
the other suggestions you gave Karen later on.

I do know it is something to do with the Administrator and other users but
don't know what and don't know where to look.

Thanks

Tamzin
 
M

Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP\)

If you don't know, you likely aren't using a download manager as these
utilities aren't a part of XP and would need to be installed separately. In
other words, you would have made a conscious decision to use one.

Generally, all you need to do is to right click the file and select save and
make note of the location to which you're saving it. Sometimes, all you
have to do is hit the download button at the website, hence, how it is done
varies by site. Since you are in fact downloading, that is not the issue.
The problem as Ramesh suggests is that the files might be corrupt and that's
a problem with the source, not a problem on your system.

It's possible you may have a security setting is causing the problem but
usually, XP's default settings won't interfere. Have you always had this
issue or is this new, do you know if you have SP2 installed. Open Control
Panel, open System, if you see Service Pack 2 listed on the General tab,
then SP2 is installed. By default, it turns on the XP firewall. If you
have another firewall installed, it's not good to have two and that could be
the issue. If you aren't sure, whatever you do, do not shut down the XP
firewall as your system would then be open to attack when you are online.
If you are on DSL or cable, that would be all the time.

It's hard to say precisely because we know nothing of your setup and we
don't know what type of files you are trying to download and from what
source.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
 

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