Download Panel has Disappeared

[rkraneis]

Working on a client's help desk I received this problem.

A highly skilled user has reported that the download panel no longer
appears when downloading or trying to download a file.

I've searched Google, Yahoo, MSN and can't find any method for re-
activating the download panel.

I don't know whether it's an Internet Explorer, Windows Registry, or
some other feature or control.

Does anyone have an answer? Thanks.

Richard from Chicago, IL USA

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Working on a client's help desk I received this problem.

A highly skilled user has reported that the download panel no longer
appears when downloading or trying to download a file.

I've searched Google, Yahoo, MSN and can't find any method for re-
activating the download panel.

I don't know whether it's an Internet Explorer, Windows Registry, or
some other feature or control.

Does anyone have an answer? Thanks.

Richard from Chicago, IL USA

What does happen?
Nothing?
The file downloads?
The file displays?
IE crashes?
Something else?

 

[Guest]

What does happen?
Nothing?
The file downloads?
The file displays?
IE crashes?
Something else?

I am also having some strange problems when trying to downloa using IE6.

When clicking on a link to download a file, instead of the download box
appearing asking if I want to open or save the file, nothing seems to happen
BUT there is intense Internet activity and, in due course, the download box
does appear (after the appropriate time for the size of the file I am trying
to download). If I select "save" , it saves it very quickly - few seconds
regardless of the size of the file.
It seems as if the download comes through to the PC and is cached somewhere
(can't find where) and THEN the download box appears. Normally the download
doesn't start until I click "save" and then it starts the download.
It doesn't do this for all sites. Some sites react as normal.
I contacted one of the sites I had the problem with and they told me that
there was a problem between the US and Europe and the way the servers
communicate with each other. I don't know if that's accurate but there is
certainly something odd happened recently. The way the put it was "EU not
accepting the DRM policies" - but I on't know what that means.
One of these sites I have used quite frequently for several years with no
problems. Now it shows this odd behaviour. This happens on both my PCs (one
with WinMe and the other with XP) and whichever of my two ISPs I try so I
doubt it's a PC problem, as such.
Needless to say, I have not altered anything on both PCs that would cause
this.
Downloading with Firefox is normal (download box) but a download manager
like Flashget can't seem to link to the file (sometimes) or, if it can, can't
detect the filesize (therefore negating the "resume" facility as, if it is
interrupted, it starts from the beginning again).
I hope you can make some sense of this and help those of us having this
problem.
Thanks,
Colin

 

[rkraneis]

What does happen?
Nothing?
The file downloads?
The file displays?
IE crashes?
Something else?

Frank,

According to the user, absolutely nothing happens. The file certainly
doesn't download. Nothing displays on the screen. IE does not crash
but neither does it display the download window as usual. Does that
help describe the situation? Thanks.

Richard from Chicago

 

[Guest]

When you say "nothing downloads", is there still Internet traffic?
This particular problem I have (caused, I think, by either Firefox browser
or the associated Flashgot add-on for the Flashget download manager (which
both work, by the way, but seem to have knocked out the download box on
IE6)), it does actually download in the background and the download box only
appears when the download is completed. With a large file, that could be a
while and make one assume that the file isn't downloading. (Get them to try a
very small file and wait a few minutes to see if the box finally appears. At
least that would rule out one possibility 0r check the status of the
connection to see if there is anything inward).
I have this problem on 2 PCs (one WinMe and one XP Home - both also running
Firefox and Flashgot) but not on another machine (WinMe) without Firefox et
al. There's not much else that the two affected machines share - and
certainly nothing Internet related and no changes to the Firewall (which
could be blocking things)..
I would look for something installed between the last successful download
and the first occasion this problem happened. Especially anything to do with
Internet or downloads - including updates to previously installed programs.
Of course, if Firefox etc are not present then this may not apply but it
seems strange that we should have similar disappearing download box problems.
Although an experienced user (and usually able to fix most problems that
crop up from time to time), this one is most frustrating and, as you say,
nothing much on Google (apart from the problems downloading exe files in IE6
SP which has a resolution on the Microsoft site - I take it this isn't your
problem?).
I also take it you have suggested the add/remove repair choice in case a
file has been damaged (didn't help me)
Please let us know if you find a full solution .
Hillneerg