IE 6 Won't Download Files

[Rick Bills]

Hello,

I am using IE 6 SP1 on Windows XP Pro and when I click on
a link to download or open a file it does not bring up the
download box or open an appropriate program. All it does
is open the file into the IE web page and just shows a
bunch of text. It does this on exe and pdf files that I am
aware of. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Rick.

 

[Alan Edwards]

For non-exe files:

You set this for each file type, e.g. for .zip
Explorer-View-Folder Options-File Types
Find the .zip association (may be WinZip File)
Edit, (or click Advanced on ME or XP) and check the "Confirm open
after download" box

The path to Folder Options may vary according to your operating
system. It may be:
Explorer-View-Folder Options
Explorer-Tools-Folder Options
Start-Settings-Folder Options
Start-Settings-Control Panel-Folder options.

For exe files:

If it is only .exe files, then read on and see if this is relevant:
You may have an invalid plugin.
Netscape-Style Plug-ins Do Not Work After Upgrading Internet Explorer
[Q303401]
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303401

Remove the plugin with Regedit.exe
Start-Run-Regedit.exe
Navigate down to this key and remove it, after exporting it as a
normal safety precaution.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Plugins\Extension\.exe

If that key exists, then you will see what plugin has been installed.
The key does not normally exist.

....Alan