Downloaded files not appearing in My Documents

  • Thread starter Thread starter Glass4USA
  • Start date Start date
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Glass4USA

Guest
I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6



Here is the situation:



When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it. I

have to do one of two things to get it to appear:

1. Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop

very bare.

OR

2. Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste it to

where it should be.



I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file

does not appear.



This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.



I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:



- Upgraded to IE7

- Upgraded to SP3



Neither worked.



Additional information: This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus

infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.

This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the

problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.



Please help.
 
> ...This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus

> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.



Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%

trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of

Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT

fix this!



HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307



After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so

take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting

the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and

before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been

freshly formatted:



4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx



Other helpful references include:



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched

(after a clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c



HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a

clean install)

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b



Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029

manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029



NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer

when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is

reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the

appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service

Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application

(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).



Norton Removal Tool

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe



McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool

http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe



Also see:



Risks & Benefits of P2P file sharing

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx



Steps To Help Prevent Spyware

http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx



Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms

http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx



Avoid Rogue Security Software!

http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx



If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting

this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and

independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002





Glass4USA wrote:

> I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6

>

> Here is the situation:

>

> When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it.

> I

> have to do one of two things to get it to appear:

> 1. Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop

> very bare.

> OR

> 2. Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste it to

> where it should be.

>

> I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file

> does not appear.

>

> This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.

>

> I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:

>

> - Upgraded to IE7

> - Upgraded to SP3

>

> Neither worked.

>

> Additional information: This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad

> virus

> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.

> This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the

> problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.

>

> Please help.
 
On Mar 30, 7:51 pm, Glass4USA

wrote:

> I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6

>

> Here is the situation:

>

> When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it. I

> have to do one of two things to get it to appear:

> 1.  Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop

> very bare.

> OR

> 2.  Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste itto

> where it should be.

>

> I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file

> does not appear.

>

> This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.

>

> I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:

>

> - Upgraded to IE7

> - Upgraded to SP3

>

> Neither worked.

>

> Additional information:  This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus

> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.  

> This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the

> problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.

>

> Please help.



SR is not a time machine and is not the way to remove a malware

infection - as you now know!



I would start with some reputable scans and only then work on any

remaining issues. It does not make sense to try to fix an infected

system.



Perform some scans for malicious software, then fix any remaining

issues:



Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware

detection programs:



Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/

SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/



They can be uninstalled later if desired.



When your scans are done, fix Firefox first.



In FF, click Tools, Options, Main. That is the screen where you tell

FF how do handle downloads. You can download to your desktop, a

certain folder or always have it ask. Those are the options. It

cannot decide for you on the fly where to download things and do it

one place one time and another place some other time based on your

feelings but it should always behave as configured - when you set it

up once, it better behave or it is broken and it needs to be fixed.



If FF does not seem to be handling your downloads correctly, change

the download settings and try again to make sure FF is even looking at

your settings, then when you are sure it is paying attention, change

the settings back the way you want. There is no reason it should not

behave as configured if it is installed and operating correctly. If

it still doesn't work, describe what you see that you do not think you

should see or what you do not see that you think you should and we

will fix it.



Your FF download settings have nothing to do with the way IE works and

vice versa.



If you still have trouble after scanning, do this:



To eliminate questions and guessing, please provide additional

information about your system.



Click Start, Run and in the box enter:



msinfo32



Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select

All, Copy and then paste the information back here.



There will be some personal information (like System Name and User

Name), and whatever appears to be private information to you, just

delete it from the pasted information.
 
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