TSGL: Internet Explorer download failures

[Mike Cassidy]

Don suggested I try some other sites to see where the problem is occurring.

Some of the links I have tried are:
	http://www.oehelp.com/OEBackup/Default.aspx (3 ZIP files of OEQB)
	http://members.pcug.org.au/~mikec/srcg/ (various PDF files)
	http://cooma.local-e.nsw.gov.au/council/1015/1029.html (Council business
papers in PDF)
	http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/ (the two whole week ZIP files)

I can download the CSV bank statements from my Internet banking site and I
can download the MP3 daily files from the PAYG site.

This seems to be a security issue with ZIP and PDF files.

Since I posted the issue I installed and tried using Firefox v2. I haven't
used Firefox before my trial for this; to download a file, I just selected
the "Save Link As.. " option on the context menu? All I get is message in
the browser window "This object has been blocked." if I just left click on
the link (the target url appears in the address box) or if I right click and
select "Save link as .." I get a 1kb file which, when changed to a text
file, simply says, "This object has been blocked." (the 1kb file has the
name of the PDF/ZIP file I try to download).

This definitely seems to be a security problem on my PC with PDF and ZIP
files and perhaps other types as well that I haven't come across yet. My
suspicions are with a Windows Update (I install all updates) but then I
would expect to be one of a crowd facing this problem. I have made a copy of
the recent Windows Updates with the KB articles they refer to and will work
through them to see if any seem to address this issue.

All help gratefully received.

MikeC

-----Original Message-----
From: list-bounces at tsgserver.com [mailto:list-bounces at tsgserver.com]On
Behalf Of Don Penlington
Sent: Monday, 12 March 2007 10:35 PM
To: Tech Support Guy Mailing List
Subject: Re: TSGL: Internet Explorer download failures


At 11:38 AM 3/12/2007 +1100, you wrote:
>For the past two weeks, I have been unable to download PDF and ZIP files>>


First, it would be helpful to know whether this problem is confined to just
one or two sites, or whether it is universal to all websites. If the latter,
then the problem almost certainly lies within your computer.

I suggest going to any of the regular software download sites and try
downloading one or two zip files.

This will confirm whether the problem is with your browser, or with the
particular website.

Do you allow automatic XP updates?  If so, there may have been a recent
security fix which is now preventing this function on your browser.  The
simple answer is to uninstall any such update relating to the time when the
problem started.  For example, a while back, Ms issued a security patch
which prevented any website using certain ActiveX controls from displaying
in IE.  Although many website designers were able to redesign their sites to
overcome this problem, many were unaware of it and wondered why, suddenly,
some clients were being locked out.

If it is confined to one site, have you emailed them to see if it is
happening to others? If so, they will no doubt have an answer for you.

It's even possible that a recent update of your security suite may be
blocking a potential security threat, particularly if it is proactive---ie
if it investigates the content of any internet file BEFORE commencing
downloading. This might apply if only one site is giving this problem, but
not if ALL zip files are being rejected.

I suggest you report back when you have done a little more detective work.

Don Penlington


 From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html


_______________________________________________
Tech Support Guy Mailing List
http://www.tsgserver.com/list/