computerguy06

Hey guys, I am new here and I hopefully have a simple question. Whenever I try to download a program from the internet, nothing happens. After I click on download, press "Run" on the Internet Security File Download window and click "Run" on the Install Software window, the window disappears and nothing happens, as if I never pushed anything at all. Any help would be great, thanks.

danj

Hey there.
When you click download, the box that comes up should have the bullet option to either "Run", or "Save as". If you are clicking OK when "Run" is checked, this is probably your problem. Try doing this, but with "Save as" checked, and save to your desktop. You may actually just be downloading to some random folder.
What browser are you using? I recommend firefox. It's faster and more secure than internet explorer. It's free if you would like to try it. Let me know if this works.

computerguy06

Hello,

If I click on "Save As" and save it to my desktop, the window disappears and nothing happens at all. I am working with Windows Media Center 2005, if that helps. My trouble is if I do try to download the FireFox, the download process will go the same as everything else.

danj

OK, I've got a few things for you to try: After you try each thing, try to download this:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Also, if you have trouble finding any of this on your computer, just go to Start/search/ and type whatever you're looking for and click search.

First try this:
While in internet explorer, go to:
Tools - Internet Options - advanced - then scoll to and put a check next to "notify when downloads complete"

Also, under
Tools - Internet Options - security - local intranet - set the security level to medium-low

Also, under
Tools - Internet Options - general - temporary internet files - click delete cookies and delete files, and under history click clear history
(now try the download)

If that doesn't work, try this:

Click Start/Control panel/windows firewall/general/ then, if it is checked, uncheck Don't allow exceptions. Then go to the exceptions tab, and if their are programs or website companies listed here that you think you may download for or from, then put check marks next to them. If things are listed and unchecked, the firewall is blocking some aspects of them.
(now try the download)

If that doesn't work, try this:

Click Start/Run
Type Regedit and hit OK
Follow this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins

Now in the Left pane you should see a subkey named "Extension" that's listed "within" and underneath the "Plugins" key in the Left side of the screen. Right click on "Extension" and select Delete. Now close Regedit. Note that editing your registry is a very dangerous process, and I wouldn't recommend doing it without advice. (this counts as advice )
(now try the download)
If that also doesn't work, let me know. What do you have for antivirus and antimalware (spyware and adaware) software?

computerguy06

Hello,

None of those things worked. I tried the entire list and it still does the same thing. My current anit-virus situation is that I do not have one. I had a trial to Trend Micro PC-Cillin, but it expired the other day. I went on the Internet to download some sort of antivirus program for now. Sort of ironic. Anyway, I went to the Panda Software website and did their system scan and it said that I did not have a virus or anything harmful.

danj

That is no doubt your problem. Scince you can't download anything, you'll have to rely on online scanneers for the moment. use this for spyware
http://www.webroot.com/land/freescan...1&wt.mc_id=810

and try this

http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php

and this

http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/

this for viruses

http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp

then try pandasoft again.

after these, if they even work, go to Start/Run/ and type
sfc /scannow
and hit OK. the space after sfc needs to be there. This will scan for file errors. it will take a while. Then go to mycomputer/ and right click on the C drive, hit properties, and go to defragment. analyze and defrag your computer. This will also take a while. Then, in the same properties box, click the check for errors button. It mat tell you you can't do this until you restart, so do it. This will also take a while after you restart.
Then, after all of this, try to download the same thing I gave you a link for before. if that doesn't work, try to search for the download on your computer one more time, to see if it's just being stuck somewhere wierd, then let me know. I think these things may not work, but they are good for your computer anyway. If they don't indeed work, I have more ideas.

computerguy06

None of those worked, either. There were some things that needed to be taken off (worms, adware, etc.), but it still won't proceed to run on my computer. I have noticed that after I save the object to my desktop, the "run"/"don't run" option doesn't even appear, if that means anything.

danj

ok, one last thing before drastic measures.
Follow this path:

C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\javapi\v1.0
and then delete everything that is in the four folders inside of v1.0

There's a good chance your operating system doesn't have this path though.

Also go to:

C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Local Settings\Temp
and delete everything it will let you in this folder. Everything if possible

Also delete everything in

C:\Documents and Settings\"user name"\Local Settings\Temporary internet files
there shouldn't be any problems deleting everyting in there. Just hit ctrl A and then hit delete to get it all at once.

If these don't work, It's time for the drastic measures.

Number 1:
If you want to try to solve this problem without visiting the store, you can try this method. (if you decide to do this, reply to me and I will send you a step by step to do this effectively)

Save everything you want to keep that is on your computer on CD's and make sure they work in another computer that has good antivirus and antispyware software - CD's you burn may contain viruses etc. Then, delete everything that is on your computer, but make sure you have the software disks you need to reinstall programs. Then you will need to reformat your Hard drive, which is a touchy process, but if done correctly, is fullproof. Then you can reinstall everything and you will be 100% virus free. But then security updates will be crucial, which are all free and easy to access. You can then either purchase virus software, or use online utilities (microsoft offers one of the best antispyware programs for free, and pandasoft and other sites do a good job of monitering viruses, but without purchased virus software, you won't have realtime protection. (you can always skip from free trial to free trial though .

Number 2
You need good antivirus and antispyware software. Since you can't download anything, go to an electronics store and ask about software. Ask if you can run the software you purchase without connecting to the internet - you should be able to (salemen sometimes try to make you think otherwise) They will no doubt tell you to bring your hard drive in for them to look at, but I would hesitate because you may be able to solve this problem yourself without emptying your wallet. (good ol' forums )
Then install and run the programs, and the problem should begin to clear up (at least enough so that you could download hotfixes for any major worms or trojans you make have). After that you're home free.


let me know what you decide to do

computerguy06

Formatting is probably the answer because it still doesn't work. The only dilemma I have is when I bought the computer, they never gave me a recovery disc for the Windows Media Center 2005 that I am running. Other than that, I am ready to do anything to get this working again.

danj

What type of computer do you have? With most manufacturers, they should have your purchase on record, so you can contact them and tell them you need a copy of the operating system installation disk because you are reformatting your hard drive. They shouldn't give you trouble about it. They may just charge you for the postage. Is your warrenty still valid? - this may or may not matter. Some companies are nicer than others about this stuff.
We should definitely make sure you've got an operating system disk before reformatting.