Strange.... 4

[gawdknows]

All,
I have started to notice a bizzare feature nowadays when I try to download 'any' file on my windows 98(did not happen before).
When I click on the link that should start to download 'a' file, I get presented with the customary windows 'File download' message box:-

"would you like to open the file or save it to your computer"

'open' 'save' 'Cancel' 'more info'

[so far so good], now starts the strangeness..

NO MATTER, how many times I click on either 'open' or 'save'
nothing happens...the message box stares at me and I stare at the message box.
My only option is 'cancel' [this works and I come back to the original page link where I started from..:-( ]

and the other option is 'more info' [this then opens up the Microsoft Internet explorer help window with 'contents''index' etc etc. which I don't want in the 1st place' ]

so to summarise , I can't 'save' any downloadable files on my hard disk and the 'open' button doesn't do anything either.

I thought, maybe it had to do something with my Internet settings,so I went and I changed those settings to "default"[from the 'advanced' Tab...but no joy.

can someone help to crack this..?

TIA

 

[genenj420]

Hi Tia

I would run a virus scan on the PC first to see if it finds anything strange. Also make sure 98 is up to date.

gene

 

[gawdknows]

Okay, shall do one and see...
Thx !

 

[carrr]

Try this:

Open Internet Explorer. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
On the General tab, under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files.
In the Delete Files dialog box that appears, click OK.
Under History, click Clear History.
In the dialog box that appears, click OK.
Quit Internet Explorer.
Log on to the computer by using the account of a user who does not experience the problem, and then open a command prompt.
Change the directory to the following path:
drive:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5

where username is the name of the user account that has the problem.
Type del index.dat, and then press ENTER.
Close the command prompt, and then restart the computer.
The Index.dat file is recreated the next time that you log on to the computer.

 

[carrr]

If this doesn't work...post back, and please specify what version of IE you're using

 

[gawdknows]

Sounds very Convincing...
I shall try it tonight (@ home) and shall surely let you and all know..

Thx!

 

[carrr]

By the by...the second half of the instructions I posted apply to Win2K/NT users only. You won't have to do this (login) as a 9x user.
Good luck...

 

[gawdknows]

I tried the above and these were the results.
BTW my I.E version is 5.50.4522.1800IC[update version SP1]
That's the Info I get from Help-->About Internet explorer

Now I could see that you want me to delete the index.dat file. But when I type in the command at the DOS prompt,i.e
C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files

I get "Bad command or file name" on the DOS box.

Thus there's no way I can reach the offending 'index.dat' file via DOS. I can see the 'Content.IE5' directory visually on my windows explorer ,but not being able to reach it via DOS.

and doing the following on DOS,I get:
*****************
C:\>cd windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
Too many parameters - Internet

C:\>
*****************
so this is where I'm stuck. Also when I do a 'find' on 'index.dat' on my Win98 , I see I have 3 of these :

1 c:\windows\cookies
2 c:\windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
'and'
3 cd windows\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData


Finally here's a screen dump of all my tries within DOS:

*********


Microsoft(R) Windows 98
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1998.

C:\WINDOWS>C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files
Bad command or file name

C:\WINDOWS>Temporary Internet Files
Bad command or file name

C:\WINDOWS>cd ..

C:\>cd windows

C:\WINDOWS>cd ..

C:\>cd windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
Too many parameters - Internet

C:\>


*********

If I am missing any information,let me know[and hope there's a way out]

Thx!

 

[carrr]

Sorry for tripping you up there....

Try this. Shut down and restart in DOS.

Now, type in the following, hitting enter after each entry:

cd\windows

smartdrv


deltree cookies

deltree history

deltree tempor~1

exit

That'll clean out all three...
Post back and let me know if this worked for you...

 

[gawdknows]

Okay, Thanks

shall do it this evening(it's the home PC that's gone wrong)
I shall update here

Thx!

 

[gawdknows]

Hi

so I did do 'deltree' for cookies,history and tempor~1, the operation went smoothly[thx to the clear representation]then I restarted PC win98 and tried to download the file, but it still fails.The 'save' and 'open' button are the duds.

I mean if one goes to the site:-

http://www.patrick-van-gemert.nl/

and scroll down to click on "Bestanden" --> and then click on "codec"...I'm sure the whole world can download this Video codec on win 98..., but not me.I have even downloaded this on a ME ,but why this 'dud' on my 98..?

Hope you can do the the above on win98....let me know


Thx!

 

[gawdknows]

and just an appendum

the 'deltree' went very smoothly, I saw that the old index.dat files were gone for good and the new timestamp for the index.dat file was there , once I came in again.

so the above still holds good

Thx!
I paste the above mail again;
******
Hi

so I did do 'deltree' for cookies,history and tempor~1, the operation went smoothly[thx to the clear representation]then I restarted PC win98 and tried to download the file, but it still fails.The 'save' and 'open' button are the duds.

I mean if one goes to the site:-

http://www.patrick-van-gemert.nl/

and scroll down to click on "Bestanden" --> and then click on "codec"...I'm sure the whole world can download this Video codec on win 98..., but not me.I have even downloaded this on a ME ,but why this 'dud' on my 98..?

Hope you can do the the above on win98....let me know


Thx!

******

 

[carrr]

I can download the file with no problems.

Have you tried to repair IE?
I'm going to guess that you're using version 6...

Go to Start > Run > type in msinfo32 > select Tools > Internet Explorer repair tool

 

[gawdknows]

okay, so I did repair IE.
while the repair was taking place, I saw the box had the title:
"repair for IE 5.5"
so I would say that's the IE I got, Version 5.5.
Again all went well with the repairs, and the computer restarted itself, but the same story by the 'codec' download. The dud remains the dud.No joy.

If you have given up , it really does not matter , because I have certainly given up here

But during this mail thread conversation, I have to admit that you showed me a couple of things which I just did not know. some commands were really an eye opener,so Thanks for the help....and if you still have some tricks up the sleeve, then I would like to know...otherwise I shall accept this 'strange' stuff as a 'product feature' and live with it.

Thx!

 

[carrr]

That's very unusual. Do you have this same problem when you download any other .exe files? Or is it just this file?
(Try going to, say, download.com and pulling down any old .exe file, if you want to test.)
You might try to simply upgrade to IE 6.0 as an alternative and see if you find relief that way.

 

[gawdknows]

All right, I shall test other exe's too.

I also ran a virus checker (Ad-aware 6), came up with some bugs ,but cleaning them from the system, doesn't help.

I think I can upgrade IE5.5 to 6 from the Microsoft site..?

Thx

 

[gawdknows]

and an appendum:

I think

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/critical/ie6sp1/default.asp

should suffice for getting IE 6, shouldn't it..?

Thx

 

[carrr]

Yes, absolutely.

 

[gawdknows]

Yes, you are right.
I can't download any exe files anymore. The dud buttons again.
and I'm in a chicken and egg situation, I can't download the IE6 from the Microsoft site, because it's an exe too ;-)

I shall find ways to get IE 6 (maybe via a cd rom)..but for the time being it remains a mystery.

I thank you once again.

 

[carrr]

Ok...I'm totally ashamed to admit that I didn't have you look here first, but...go to Tools, Internet Options, Security, Custom Level, and make sure that file downloads are enabled.