Download dialog box in IE8.

[Bill Cravener]

I have a fellow that accidentally clicked the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option on the download dialog box in IE8 and of course when he clicks to download something it just downloads the file. I've never dealt with this setting before. I've done a lot of digging on the net and there seems to be no way to get the download dialog back except by changing a key value in the registry. Thing is he doesn't have the "AttachmentExecute" key in his registry.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute

I've tried resetting his browser settings but that didn't work. I upgraded him to IE9 but that didn't work. I have no other clue as to what to do for the guy. Why would MS have the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option without an easy way of resetting it?

Now don't tell me he should be using a different browser because I tried that idea already, he wants Internet Explorer. By the way, it's a Vista Home Premium machine.

Has anyone ever dealt with this problem before?

[donkey]

Its handled in folder options in XP.

From Control Panel select Folder Options

Click on the File Types tab

Select the file type from the list that appears.

Click the Advanced button

Check the Confirm Open After Download checkbox and save.

Vista should have the AttachmentExecute registry key, not sure how to do it if that key isn't present. MS says that the following command (from the run dialog) deletes all the associations:

Code Select Expand

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute\{0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" /va /f

[jj2007]

Yes, dealt with. Outlook (the professional version) asks me every time I click on an attachment if I really, really want to open such dangerous things as Word docs. There is a box which I have unchecked numerous times, no effect. Perhaps it's a rights issue. If Microsoft programmers had an IQ above 90, they would have added a box saying "sorry, pal, you don't have the rights to uncheck that box", but nope, it continues to nag me.

[dedndave]

that is a "security improvement", Jochen   :P

[jj2007]

that is a "security improvement", Jochen   :P

Sure it is. Like XP Service Pack 3. Some days ago I decided to trust Microsoft saying "the best way to install SP3 is to enable automatic updating". Bullshit!! It updated the whole night, interrupted by occasional "automatic" boxes asking "what about installing IE8, pal?", but the morning later my puter still claimed to be SP2. So I kept clicking and clickin' and clickin' (how do they define "automatic" in Richmond???), until a day later, WOW, I saw another box telling me that I have to accept their EULA if I wanted to install SP3. Finally! So I installed that, but afterwards it kept updating, hundreds of security updates, endless proof that Mr. Gates has lost control over his pile of, ehm, code.

Why all that nightmare? Because I wanted to make some tiny tests in C++, and VC Express wants SP3 for some reason. Now I have lost 2 GB of my precious harddisk space to C++, only to discover that inside these 2 Giga of, ehm, code, there is not even a simple trunc(). According to code guru KevinHall (Google is your friend), you have to construct it yourself as

Code Select Expand

inline double trunc(double x)
{
return (x>0) ? floor(x) : ceil(x);
}

Wow, it's Microsoft :cheekygreen:

[dedndave]

they tell you that because they are embarrased about the 300+ Mb file size - lol
they don't want everyone to d/l that sucker at once

SP3 is a bit more secure, but things are not as "crisp" as they used to be with SP2
thing is - you kind of have to have it to be up to date
if a person had a couple lifetimes to tear into it, he could probably eliminate some crap and have a nice SP

[Bill Cravener]

Vista should have the AttachmentExecute registry key, not sure how to do it if that key isn't present. MS says that the following command (from the run dialog) deletes all the associations:

Code Select Expand

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute\{0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}" /va /f

Edgar, yes I've tried that but no go. I checked my Vista machine and three other Vista machines at Knievel Cycles and none of them have that key. Its pretty stupid that there isn't a simple setting in IE to reset that option. Also did a lot more checking on the net and it seems to be a common problem with no fix.