How to Change the Download Location for ActiveX Files

ID: Q175319

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows NT 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the default folder in which ActiveX files are installed when you download an ActiveX control.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

ActiveX .ocx and .inf files are installed in the Windows\Downloaded Program Files folder by default. To change this location, follow these steps:

1. Use Registry Editor to change the "ActiveXCache" value to the location

   you want in the following registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
      \Internet Settings

2. Use Registry Editor to change the "0" value to the location you want in

   the following registry key:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
      \Internet Settings\ActiveXCache

   NOTE: The values you enter in steps 1 and 2 must match.

The new value can be a folder on a local hard disk, a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) name, or a mapped network drive. Note that storing ActiveX files on a network server may reduce Internet Explorer performance because the ActiveX files must be run over the network.

Additional query words: 4.00 5.00

Keywords          : kbenv msiew95 msient msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01,5.0,98
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999