Cannot download executable files

I am unable to download any .exe file from the internet. I have a cable modem on my Gigabyte AMD MoBo. I have about 50 gigs of free disk space and 1 gig of memory so no back ups here. I am running Win XP SP2 and IE 6 SP2. I am running Norton Internet Security (disabled for testing). I have no router in the chain. I have shut down all software that might affect a download. I cannot download on dialup either.

I can download to my note book on the same cable modem. I can download .zip files or any text, etc that does not have a .exe extnsion. I have googled the problem about a gazillion ways and cannot get any results that offer the same problem. I cannot restore to an earlier time, ( apparently my restore points are corrupted).

I have shut down all the Win XP services that I can and still run Windows. All three event viewers miss the problem. I also searched Microsoft web page and found nothing there. I have run Three different virus programs and all came back clear. These are updated daily. I run Ad-Aware and Counter Spy every day and this changes nothing. I also defrag daily. My temp and download folders are clear.

The sequence is: click on download and the progress bars start right away but after one it slows down and after five it stalls until the IE 6 no longer responds.

The first questions I have: Is there a possible hidden virus or Spyware file that could cause this? Does Windows have a hidden file that could cause this?

Any ideas would be welcome. And what happened to the spell checker?

 

I used to have a similar problem but it was not just with .exe files but with any download that took over a certain time to complete. What was happening had something to do with the connection being dropped. I never really found the exact cause but believed it had something to do with IE’s ‘HTTP_CONNECTION’ header, which can be set to either ‘Keep Alive’ or ‘Close’. If set to Close the connection gets dropped after a certain time.

I’m only telling you this in case it is the same as what you are experiencing. Have the zip files you have been able to download been small and so have been able to complete before the connection stalls? Have you tried downloading a very small .exe? Do you know if the problem is only with HTTP or does it also happen with FTP downloads?

If it is only a .exe problem then you can rule out your ISP because as you say it works fine using the same modem on your laptop, (assuming you are also using the same ISP). I can’t see it being some security restriction in IE, otherwise the download would simply not begin. Only other thought is that some security app like your anti-virus may be causing it, but I’ve never come across this.

I worked around the problem by simply using a download manager, so that IE was not part of the loop. Have you tried using a download manager? At least it might tell you if it is an IE problem. If you need help choosing a download manager post back, as many of the free ones are full of ad or spyware.

 

When the EXE doesn't download, what message are you seeing?

 

NOLA3716--Please do answer WhitPhil's question about any error message.
But if you are not getting one, several ideas here
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/106171.html
In the "old" days the one about Plugins\Extension (in everett's post) was a common fix. The Registry fix is simple (certainly simple to see if it might apply to you), but be sure to back up the key (Registry File|Export) before making changes/deletions.

 

Timing

Although timing does not seem to be a problem I will try anything. This is after all a broadband, always on connection. Where do I go to get a reliable download manager?

There is no error message of any kind. The only thing I get is if I leave IE up long enough it freezes. I have had a lingering, occasional problem with ip renewal. This has been a problem since Katrina. (I live in New Orleans) I have attributed this to my ISP since they are not tottaly back to normal. The download thing did not show up until about two weeks ago.

Does anyone know of a fix for the Restore feature if you have a corrupted file. This one has happened to me before and I just shut it off for a few and when I turn it back on everything seems to start over from scratch. Of course you do not have a restore point anymore either.

 

NOLA3716--

We are having a disconnect here. You have not answered WhitPhil's question and provide no indication whether you have tried the solutions in the link in my post.
I suspect a download manager is not going to help since your problem is specific to .exe files. But maybe McTavish will tell you what download manager was the fix.
As far as fixing corrupt files (though I suspect that also is not the problem) you can Start|Run|type sfc /scannow|OK. Have your WinXP CD ready since you will probably be asked to insert it into your CD-ROM drive. It takes some time and you will probably have to click Retry quite often. It cannot hurt, and while I do not think it is the solution to your problem, so why not?.
And shutting off System Restore is not going to help either unless you have some malware on your PC. In that case
http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=37074

 

There’s some good advice from Jim in his posts that is certainly worth trying. Any download manager would do. Personally I must have tried a dozen or more before I found a no nonsense one that I liked that just done the job as intended. http://www.xi-soft.com/default.htm it has a 90 day trial and then you are asked to pay for it if you continue using it. Perhaps it’s not as novice friendly as some of the others around, but it’s still not hard to grasp the basics. It has many advanced features that you don’t even need to get in to.

These are all completely free for personal use and may be more to your liking.
www.freshdevices.com
www.leechget.net
www.stardownloader.com

As Jim said a download manager may not help and even if it does it’s still not curing your original problem. However it’s not a bad thing having a download manager and once you get the hang of it you’ll wonder how you managed without one. Just the option of resuming broken downloads from where you left off is a good enough reason to use one.

Can’t help with the System Restore thing I’m afraid, never used it myself.

 

Did to!

I did answer the question about error messages in the first sentence of the second paragraph of my last reply. The link you provided required that I download from Symantec and that requires the download of an .exe file. I already know that I do not have the sasser worm because I have run the antivirus programs. I had already checked the Reg location and do not have an exe file to delete.

When I have already explained that I have done something in my first post and I get the same question again I usually disregard it. For example, the question about an error message was covered in the first post when I explained the sequence of events. (at least it made sense to me)

To more clearly explain what is running at the time of my problem, I have run msconfig on diagnostic start up. That is about as bare as you can run windows. I have also tried Safe Mode with Networking and still cannot download an .exe file. If you know of a better way please explain.

I have also run sfc/ scannow and as always it repaired some files but no improvement. I have also run the Repair Console from the installation disk. The only reason to shut down the restore function is to clear the problem of not being able to restore. I think I read or was told that is the way to clear any problems in the restore system.

Thank you McTavish I will try this tomorrow. Everyone please scratch a little deeper so I do not need to do a clean install.

 

boot in safe mode w/ networking and try.

and since u have a laptop, try a local network if u've the ability to see if it does the same on 'local net' ... i'd bet u've some security measure in place that's preventing. most will allow local net w/o issue. eg does the problem w/ .exe continue doing local xfers ala \\server\share\filename.exe

u can also try ftp to any .exe and see if it's browser related by avoiding the browser altogether. any ftp client should work. even the CMD level one. ftp.linksys.com is an easy one to test w/.

 

Thanks

Thank you McTavish, I will try them all.

skeet6961, you hit the nail on the head but something has changed. Someone had me try the FTP earlier and it did not work. This morning I went to the site you listed and was able to download an .exe. As stated I had already tried the Safe Mode and it does not work. Neither does the msconfig thingy.

After reading all that I have tried, what would be your next step?

 

I don't have an answer for your problem at the moment but as a work around until you run this down try renaming the exe file you're downloading to something else. Example; if you're trying to download a file named thisfile.exe change the name of it to thisfile.zip in the "save as" window. If it works, you can rename it back to exe once downloaded.

 

I don't know if this is relevant or not but I thought I should mention it. It appears that the registry key in the link that Jim posted may not be quite right. I found this in the Google groups. The guy that posted the response to the question is an MSMVP and posts on a regular basis to the MS newsgroups and does know what's going on so I have no reason to doubt he is correct on this. Note the path to the registry key in question. On the page Jim posted:

Code:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\Plugins\Extension

This is the one from the Google groups:

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet 
Explorer\Plugins\Extension\.exe 

From the looks of the second one you should be looking for a key named .exe. The first one implies that you should be looking for value named exe in a key named extension. If this is what you were looking for in the registry you should take another look and see if you have an .exe key instead.

 

I agree.

The fix appears to be to delete the .EXE entry under the key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins\Extension

 

I might be wrong but still have to disagree. If you look at Alans post in the link I posted, you'll see this.

From the way the path to the key is typed and from what he says after that would imply that you're looking for a key named .exe.

This would seem to me to mean that if the .exe key exists, you'll see the plugins that are installed if you click on the .exe key to open it. Could be wrong but that's my take on it. IMHO, it's still worth while to take a look and see if a .exe key exists.

Edit:
WhitPhil, I read your post again and maybe I'm misunderstanding you. It would appear that you agree with me but I'm still not sure because of the path to the key that you posted. It doesn't contain the .exe key so it would appear to me that you think there should be a .exe value in the Extension key. Thus, the reason for my disagreement in this post.

 

My take from a couple of posts is that NOLA3716 should find a .exe entry (not sure if its a key or a field. I "think" a field, but, could be a key with a field defined beneath it).

And, the resolution is to select and delete the .exe (field/key).

 

Zander--I think we all agree. Delete the PlugIn in the right hand panel in the .exe key, if found.
The link I provided earlier provides the correct place in the Registry to look in.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\InternetExplorer\Plugins\Extension--which when Extension is Expanded will either show .exe or not. Then by "highlighting" the .exe key, the right panel will show the Plug In and its "Location ". So the suggestion is not that the .exe key be deleted, but rather the Plug In that populates that key.
However, I have a suspicion that the same end result (fixing the problem) would occur if the .exe key, itself, were deleted. In fact, it might just go away on its own when the Plug In is deleted.
Since I do not have the .exe key in my Registy, I cannot be sure of the above, but it is my interpretation of what the link suggested to do.

 

NOLA3716--Sorry I missed your reply about error messages.
Have you looked for that Extensions key in your registry.
Concerning Zander's suggestion about renaming .exe downloads to .zip, I believe you can alternatively rename to .com and actually run the program directly from the .com file.

 

re: safe mode - i didn't see 'w/ networking' ... but i didn't read the entire thread either. mea culpa there. i was lazy.

my next step = create a new account and test. then, if good, files & setting xfer u'r stuff over or just copy the data directly. i'd opt direct copy as the 'settings' part may get u back in the same boat

 

I understand your previous post Jim but we aren't after an Extensions key here. It's a .exe key. The .exe key is a sub key in the Extensions key just as the the Extensions key is a sub key of the Plugin key, etc. I'm not trying to beat a dead horse dead here but it's kind of confusing and I want to make sure it's clear here.

 

Zander--OK, OK!