This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

firefox won't let me run and executable from the website-it wants to save it

  • 3 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by chilidog

chilidog
chilidog
more options

Looks like I lost all this information when I clicked to install the troubleshooter???

again-- problem is I deleted old Internet Explorer and tried to install I.E. 8. With Firefox, I can't click download and choose run. When I click download I can only save.

The saved download doesn't produce a file that works (it just tries to install I.E. , cleans off old files and restarts the PC OVER AND OVER.)

I would like the choice to RUN a file instead of saving but I can't find out how to get this option back.

I disabled all plugins, add ons, looked for possible limiting causes in Firefox to disable. STILL--I have NO CHOICE.

Maybe this plea for help won't fix my problem and I will have to REPAIR windows--hate to risk it--I would have to back everything up, etc.

Hopefully a simple answer to this question will solve my problem.

Thank you to all who consider my question. I appreciate your time.

Libby

Looks like I lost all this information when I clicked to install the troubleshooter??? again-- problem is I deleted old Internet Explorer and tried to install I.E. 8. With Firefox, I can't click download and choose run. When I click download I can only save. The saved download doesn't produce a file that works (it just tries to install I.E. , cleans off old files and restarts the PC OVER AND OVER.) I would like the choice to RUN a file instead of saving but I can't find out how to get this option back. I disabled all plugins, add ons, looked for possible limiting causes in Firefox to disable. STILL--I have NO CHOICE. Maybe this plea for help won't fix my problem and I will have to REPAIR windows--hate to risk it--I would have to back everything up, etc. Hopefully a simple answer to this question will solve my problem. Thank you to all who consider my question. I appreciate your time. Libby

All Replies (3)

Nellus
Nellus
more options

Hello,

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information.
Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Also we can tru to create a new profile Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Thank you.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Firefox won't run a file directly when downloading, but you need to download the file and save it to your computer. This is done for security reasons to allow anti-virus to scan the file properly.

Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work properly.

See:

Boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps to save the IE installer.

chilidog
chilidog Question owner
more options

Hi--

Thanks for the response. I was sure I used to have the choice to run or save when I started using Firefox and somehow I lost it with one of my adjustments. Forgot how or what I did!

Before going back to Microsoft to try that I.E. program file again, I tried one more time to run it. That was the 5th time I tried to install I.E. from the saved file --and it worked!

However, after that I tried to download an executable file from malwarebytes--- with and without my Kaspersky internet security program on--- the file RAN automatically anyway instead of insisting on SAVING!

Maybe this was a microsoft issue?

I am relieved that all is settled. Always try things 3 or more times is the rule with computers, right?

But thanks for the tips--I may need them someday. Likewise the Safe mode w/ network support tip.

ALSO--The page you referred me to was one I hadn't found with my own searching--it was much much better than the others. I bookmarked it.

Thanks again...