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In 4.0.1, General Tab in Options, Downloads, Save files to: Browse bar and button do not work - cannot download.

  • 6 replies
  • 10 have this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by sdjohann

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Nothing in downloads history. Cannot select a different download folder - browse non-functional. In Resetting the Download Folder, changed one browser.download search permission from user defined to default - no change. Resetting Download Actions for All file Types - nothing.

Clicking a download button always gives a dialogue box titled Opening WindowsDefender.msi for instance; saying "You have chosen to open - WindowsDefender.msi - which is a : Windows Installer Package - from: http://download.microsoft.com - Would you like to save this file?" with a "Save File" and "Cancel" button; the "Save File" button graying-out when switching tabs, or goes away and does nothing if "Save File" is clicked.

Nothing in downloads history. Cannot select a different download folder - browse non-functional. In Resetting the Download Folder, changed one ''browser.download'' search permission from user defined to default - no change. Resetting Download Actions for All file Types - nothing. Clicking a download button always gives a dialogue box titled Opening WindowsDefender.msi for instance; saying "You have chosen to open - WindowsDefender.msi - which is a : Windows Installer Package - from: http://download.microsoft.com - Would you like to save this file?" with a "Save File" and "Cancel" button; the "Save File" button graying-out when switching tabs, or goes away and does nothing if "Save File" is clicked.

All Replies (6)

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Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

In Firefox 4 you can use one of these to start in Safe mode:

  • Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Hold down the Shift key while double clicking the Firefox desktop shortcut (Windows)
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Restarting 4.0.1 in safe mode doesn't work. Removing 3.6.? and 4.0.1 and reloading the current non-beta version of 4.0.1 doesn't work. Disabling Flash Killer 1.3 doesn't work. Disabling Google Toolbar for Firefox 7.1.20101113Wb1 doesn't work. Disabling Java Console 6.0.23 doesn't work. Disabling Java Quickstarter 1.0 doesn't work. Tried several more of the Firefox Help suggestions, they don't work either. But Internet Explorer downloads normally.

Wassa matta wit u?!?!

Modified by sdjohann

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I think I had this problem with 3.x too, I tried Safe mode, resetting about:config stuff and various other tips but nothing works! I suspect the anti-virus software, don't know what to think... I run AVG

Funny I can't get File / Save Page As to open the file dialog, but File / Open File brings up the dialog without problems!?

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You can try to delete mimeTypes.rdf in the Profile Folder


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See:

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile (be careful not to copy corrupted files)

See:

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Hey! That worked! I created a new profile and it had no problems, after some work it turns out the downloads.sqllite preference file was the culprit so I copied all files but that and now I can Save Page As and download files etc! The file doesn't look all that bad in Textpad, I can email it if anyone is interested?

Cheers!

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Thank you cor-el: Your last solution worked. Unfortunately, it was also alot of work! That's the price we sometimes have to pay for such powerful technology, but with help like yours us novices can get through these trying and time-consuming situations.

Cheers, sdjohann

P.S.: I first tried copying the Profile files I thought were needed as directed by Help, but things weren't working, so I copied everything into the new Profile and it appears to be working fine after re-downloading the lost extensions. In 3.6.17, General Tab in Options, Downloads, Save files to: The browse bar and button now work, as does Save File As. I also had to revert to 3.6 from 4.0 because of another problem: 4.0 isn't compatible with ZoneAlarm Extreme Security - but hopefully it will soon be.