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Firefox cannot download .msi files as binaries to Downloads folder

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  • 98 views
  • Last reply by Bordonbert

Bordonbert
Bordonbert
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Hi. I'm trying to download an installer .msi file from a valid link. If I do this in Chrome it simply pops it into the Downloads folder as it should. In Firefox, it downloads and then displays as a text page of garbage. It seems the file is wrongly defined as text/plain on the server rather than as a binary.

However, I've looked into my Firefox settings to see if I can define the handling behaviour of that file type. I can't! Amazingly to me, the .msi file type can not be added to the list manually. There is no "Add File Type" functionality in there. It seems as though I have to handle the file in Firefox for it to see that that type exists and then it will let me add it to the Downloads/Applications area of settings.

I can right click on the link and choose Save File As which gets round it, but then I still cannot see the .msi file type to add it to the Applications list. Can anyone tell me what I am missing here?

Hi. I'm trying to download an installer .msi file from a valid link. If I do this in Chrome it simply pops it into the Downloads folder as it should. In Firefox, it downloads and then displays as a text page of garbage. It seems the file is wrongly defined as text/plain on the server rather than as a binary. However, I've looked into my Firefox settings to see if I can define the handling behaviour of that file type. I can't! Amazingly to me, the .msi file type can not be added to the list manually. There is no "Add File Type" functionality in there. It seems as though I have to handle the file in Firefox for it to see that that type exists and then it will let me add it to the Downloads/Applications area of settings. I can right click on the link and choose Save File As which gets round it, but then I still cannot see the .msi file type to add it to the Applications list. Can anyone tell me what I am missing here?

Chosen solution

It won't work that way. You can only use this extension to workaround it.

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All Replies (5)

TyDraniu
TyDraniu
  • Top 10 Contributor
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A server issue. Server sends this file with wrong mime type. It is "text/plain" and it should be sth like "application/octet-stream".

Chr*me doesn't pay attention on the mime type, it downloads whatever it is.

Bordonbert
Bordonbert Question owner
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Thanks for confirming that TyDraniu. That is what I imagined was causing it. But it still doesn't explain why I can't get Firefox to handle the .msi type as it does others in its Settings\General\Files and Applications\Applications handling list.

Surely I should be able to manually add any file type and define the handling for that extension. Sure, once it is in the "Content Type" list and is recognised I can then define the "Handling" alongside. However Firefox remains blissfully unaware of the .msi file type until it has already handled it. That behaviour seems odd to me.

I'm going to have to find a "well defined as binary" .msi file, download that, and then see if it appears in the recognised list to be able to then edit the handling procedure.

TyDraniu
TyDraniu
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

It won't work that way. You can only use this extension to workaround it.

Bordonbert
Bordonbert Question owner
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Thanks for the heads up and the link. I'll add that and see if it sorts it out for me. Your replies and advice are much appreciated.

Bordonbert
Bordonbert Question owner
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Just an update.

I now have the Content-Type Fixer add on installed. I attempted to download the same .msi file again but Firefox still failed. However, that gave me the opportunity to go into the add on Add/Edit Content Type area where the download showed up in the log. It clearly showed the file was defined as text/htmI. I could then redefine the download type as "application/octet-stream". Another attempt at downloading and whaddya know? It now sits in my Downloads folder.

Thanks Tydraniu.