Cannot Specify Download Directory for File

ID: Q177976

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

When you download a file from the Internet, you may not be prompted for a location to save the file that you are downloading. Instead, the file may be opened.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you clear the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box when you download a file. If you do this, files of this type are automatically placed in the Temporary Internet Files folder and opened by the program associated with the file type.


RESOLUTION

If you want to be prompted for a download location for the file type, follow these steps:

  1. Double-click My Computer.


  2. On the View menu, click Folder Options.


  3. On the File Types tab, click the appropriate file type in the Registered File Types box.


  4. Click Edit.


  5. Click the Confirm Open After Download check box to select it.


  6. Click OK, and then click OK again.



MORE INFORMATION

When you first click a link to download a file, the File Download dialog box appears. You have the following options:

  • Open this file from its current location


  • Save this file to disk


  • Always ask before opening this type of file


If you clear the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box, you indicate that this type of file should always be opened with the associated program. The file is then downloaded to your Temporary Internet Files folder and opened.

If the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box is unavailable, there is no program associated with the file type. For example, if you download a file with a .zip extension, the check box is unavailable unless you have installed a program that can open .zip files.

For information about downloading .exe files using Internet Explorer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q140991 Internet Explorer Opens Files Instead of Downloading Them
For information about a tool to automate this for all Microsoft Office file types, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q238918 Availability of Microsoft Office Document Open Confirmation Tool

Additional query words: jpg gif bmp jpeg pcx png grayed greyed out 4.00 save to disk tif tiff

Keywords : kbenv kbui msiew95
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: August 18, 1999
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