Choosing Download Extentions

When i try to download programs Windows XP Home automatically assigns a .pdf extension to the file. eg. "Google Earth.exe.pdf "

I have looked through the Windows help and tried a number of ways to get around this, but I have not found any way to change the default type for downloads.

This is a recent problem that has cropped up after I downloaded a .pdf file from a web site.

Any suggestions or comments?

Al

I may have found the answer. It might be Netscape that is doing this to me, not Windows XP. Gotta go try it.

 

Hi wd5iqr,
These links are rather old but probably still apply. I see our own moderator and Netscape expert "Ramona" addressed this problem in one of these. She probably knows the solution like the back of her hand. May I suggest you pay a visit to the the Netscape Forum if the links below do not help. Your on the right track though. It does appear to be a known problem with Netscape. I know nothing about Netscape. I can only pass the links to you and hope you can figure it out. If not the answer surely lies in the "Netscape" Archives somewhere.

http://sillydog.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=705

http://groups.google.com/group/nets...df"+association&rnum=6&hl=en#84b323ced76fed3d

http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cach...M_ID=15+"*.exe.pdf"+netscape&hl=en&lr=lang_en

===================
Other possibilities:
Use an EXE File Association Fix such as the one found on Dougs site (named accordingly):
http://www.dougknox.com/index.html

On-line scan for possible infection/hijack: (links to such can be found here)
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074

Use xp "System Restore" and pick a point the predates the original download glitch that resulted in the association blooper. Not my favorite choice, you must be aware of what you have installed/uninstalled or updated between now and the restore point you pick. If you have installed/uninstalled or updated anything this may be the most destructive solution. Added steps must be taken into consideration. If you do choose this option and are unaware of what those considerations should be, ask and I or another will answer.

 

I remember having this problem with a machine some time ago; where netscape added an extra extension to downloaded files.
Something makes me think it was the antivirus program I was using at the time.


You may want to look in edit/ preferences/ advanced /system
check the settings for file transfer

Also edit/ preferences/ navigator/ helper applications.
application/x-msdownload
Check the edit option and make sure that nothing is listed as "open with" select save to disk

 

It is possible thatNetscape may have done something weird, especially with earlier versions. If the file has been downloaded, renaming to googleearth.exe should do. Or try this download site . If the problem reoccur, then you must look at the application (Big)helper. The Big is a joke, in case someone thought I was serious.