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Firefox starts treating URLs with .exe in them as downloads instead of pages.

arothmanmusic
arothmanmusic
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I use an online database system which was written and compiled using CGI for VB. All of the URLs have .exe in them (e.g. http://www.website.com/record.exe?a=SMITH). I can work in Firefox for hours without a problem, but then seemingly at random Firefox will start prompting me with the 'save' dialogue, as if I was trying to download the .exe instead of just loading the URL. The only way to get back to normal is to quit the browser and re-open it. After that it's fine... for a while anyway.

I use an online database system which was written and compiled using CGI for VB. All of the URLs have .exe in them (e.g. http://www.website.com/record.exe?a=SMITH). I can work in Firefox for hours without a problem, but then seemingly at random Firefox will start prompting me with the 'save' dialogue, as if I was trying to download the .exe instead of just loading the URL. The only way to get back to normal is to quit the browser and re-open it. After that it's fine... for a while anyway.

Chosen solution

Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"

Start Firefox in Use Troubleshoot Mode in Firefox to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

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All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
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Chosen Solution

Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"

Start Firefox in Use Troubleshoot Mode in Firefox to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

arothmanmusic
arothmanmusic Question owner
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Clearing the 'Offline Storage' seems to have stopped the problem from happening (the site in question uses no cookies, so it must be that cache). I appreciate the help!