Internet Explorer: Restore File Download Dialog

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Craig Lotter

If you’re still using Windows XP (hey, not everyone can afford to just upgrade willy nilly), today’s little tutorial is specifically for you.

If in the past you’ve accidentally unchecked that little box reading “Always ask before opening this type of file” when trying to save a file in Internet Explorer and now want to change the behaviour that you previously set, these are the steps you need to follow in order to reclaim your File Download dialog box:

1. Let’s first make sure that this is exactly what you’re looking for, just to know that we are still on the same page:

2. It is? Great. Then your first step in reclaiming this is to open any folder in Windows and then navigate to the Tools menu on the folder menubar and select Folder Options… on it.

3. Next, select the File Types tab and browse down to the file type for which you wish to recover the File Download dialog. Click on the Advanced button once you have selected the affected file type.
4. On the resulting modal dialog, check the Confirm open after download option. (Note. Even if it is currently checked, uncheck it and then check it again. This forces the registry change for just in case).
You should now have your bright and shiny File Download dialog back in place, easily tested by trying to download a new file off the Net with that particular file extension you just restored.

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About Craig Lotter

Craig Lotter is an established web developer and application programmer, with strong creative urges (which keep bursting out at the most inopportune moments) and a seemingly insatiable need to love all things animated. Living in the beautiful coastal town of Gordon's Bay in South Africa, he games, develops, takes in animated fare, trains under the Funakoshi karate style and for the most part, simply enjoys life with his amazing wife and daughter. Oh, and he draws ever now and then too.
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  • Afrozeavailable

    hi,
    i want to show progress bar after click on download button upto file download dialogue popsup using javscript. any immediate help would be apprecitiable.