Firefox downloaded files missing

Resident · 12 Jan 2013 at 21:50

OK, this is for a friend of mine. She has a laptop with Vista and uses Firefox for her browser.

Now she's been downloading some files from work and when she downloads them all seems to go fine, until she tries to open the files. In the Downloads dialog box the files appear greyed out as though the files have been deleted, despite the download only just completing. When she manually checks her download folder it's empty.

Can anyone suggest a possible cause and/or fix?

I believe it's Vista Home Premium she has.

bertles86 · 12 Jan 2013 at 22:38

Sounds a like an over agressive Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware app is auto quarantining downloads. Try switching off security like Panda/McAfee/Norton etc. and trying again.

Alternatively try downloading in a different browser to elminate Firefox as the issue, or change it's settings to default downloads to Desktop.

KIA · 13 Jan 2013 at 09:28

As above. Update Java & apply the Windows Updates immediately (yes, I'm looking at the tray icons

)!

Orcvader · 13 Jan 2013 at 13:36

Could also run Firefox without addons and see if that helps too: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-starting-firefox-safe-mode

Her laptop also seems to be crying out for an update as well

... that's one cluttered notification area!

Resident · 13 Jan 2013 at 17:53

bertles86 said:
Sounds a like an over agressive Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware app is auto quarantining downloads. Try switching off security like Panda/McAfee/Norton etc. and trying again.

Alternatively try downloading in a different browser to elminate Firefox as the issue, or change it's settings to default downloads to Desktop.

I'll get her to try this

KIA said:
As above. Update Java & apply the Windows Updates immediately (yes, I'm looking at the tray icons )!

Orcvader said:
Could also run Firefox without addons and see if that helps too: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/forum-response-starting-firefox-safe-mode

Her laptop also seems to be crying out for an update as well ... that's one cluttered notification area!

She claims she's let it do all the updates. I can't confirm this as she's living in Wales and I'm 'up norf'

KIA · 13 Jan 2013 at 19:38

Java won't update itself. Be a hero and update everything for her via Teamviewer.

bertles86 · 13 Jan 2013 at 20:40

KIA said:
Java won't update itself. Be a hero and update everything for her via Teamviewer.

Love TeamViewer. It's remote access for numpties! Can't fault it!

spoffle · 13 Jan 2013 at 20:45

It's very possible that she's been using the "open with" option rather than "save as" which would mean it'd be downloaded to her browser's temp folder.

Resident · 13 Jan 2013 at 22:45

spoffle said:
It's very possible that she's been using the "open with" option rather than "save as" which would mean it'd be downloaded to her browser's temp folder.

That was the first thing I checked with her, she's adamant that she selected save.

bledd · 13 Jan 2013 at 23:32

Use teamviewer to fix it

Its really easy to use, on your machine, get the full version. On her machine, get her to download and run the 'join a remote session' link. Do this in IE

Then she tells you the ID and password and you connect