Internet Explorer Opens Files Instead of Downloading Them

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). These are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to download an executable (.exe) file in Microsoft Internet Explorer, the file may be opened instead of downloaded.

CAUSE

When you first choose to download a file in Internet Explorer, you receive a Confirm File Open dialog box. The "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box in this dialog box is selected.

If you clear the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box, the registry entry for this setting is changed and you do not see the Confirm File Open dialog box in subsequent download sessions. Instead, Internet Explorer automatically opens files instead of downloading them.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:

• Right-click the link for the file you want to download, and then click Save Target As.
• Enable the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option. To do so, use Registry Editor to modify the third octet for the EditFlags value in the Hkey_Classes_Root\exefile key from 01 to 00.

  For example, change the EditFlags value from

        d8 07 01 00
  

  to

        d8 07 00 00
  

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

MORE INFORMATION

The first time you click a link to download an .exe file in Internet Explorer, you receive a Confirm File Open dialog box. The "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box in this dialog box is selected. If you are sure it is safe to open the file, click Open. To save the file to disk, click Save As.

If you clear the "Always ask before opening this type of file" check box, you are no longer prompted whether or not to open a file. Instead, the file is opened automatically.

If you disable the prompt for ActiveMovie files (this includes any file type that uses ActiveMovie such as .wav, .mov, and .avi files), the registry key that needs to be modified is:

   Hkey_Classes_Root\AMOVIE.ActiveMovie.Control.1

If you are running Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.01, the registry key that needs to be modified is:

   Hkey_Classes_Root\AMOVIE.ActiveMovieControl.2