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Upon completing the download of a zip file to my computer, Firefox activates Microsoft Excel to extract from the zip file (which obviously doesn't work) - and I cannot "debug" the problem because the download folder was created by Firefox

  • 6 replies
  • 12 have this problem
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  • Last reply by BobWhiteXX

When I download ANY files on my computer (Windows XP), Firefox opens its' own folder(has Firefox icon on it); and displays the filename and a progress bar as the file downloads - upon completion with files NOT zipped, as in not .zip or .7z, Firefox merely stops(unless there's a "self-activation" process within the file, such as an installation wizard) - all this executes properly.

However, when it's a zip file, MS Excel is activated - Excel says "unrecognizable format" - I have the open of "canceling) - this has been occuring for at least weeks - it just occured to me that this began when I upgraded to firefox 8.0 (but not positive) - yesterday I upgraded to Firefox 9.0

When I download ANY files on my computer (Windows XP), Firefox opens its' own folder(has Firefox icon on it); and displays the filename and a progress bar as the file downloads - upon completion with files NOT zipped, as in not .zip or .7z, Firefox merely stops(unless there's a "self-activation" process within the file, such as an installation wizard) - all this executes properly. However, when it's a zip file, MS Excel is activated - Excel says "unrecognizable format" - I have the open of "canceling) - this has been occuring for at least weeks - it just occured to me that this began when I upgraded to firefox 8.0 (but not positive) - yesterday I upgraded to Firefox 9.0

Chosen solution

View > Toolbars -> un-check Menu Bar

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All Replies (6)

1. That is the Downloads window you're seeing while the file is being downloaded, not a folder where the downloaded files are getting stored.

2. See this - http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing+file+types
Change the "Action" for Zip file types to Adobe PDF Reader.

ed-meister - thank you for the "downloads" help - I now have winzip associated with archive/zip file downloads

that was the good news - the bad news is now I have lost my Firefox orange button and f11/f10/alt - restore and just about anything else I can think of does not get my Firefox button back - however I got a "Microsoft" type menu bar with File Format etc on it - clicked tools and found the apps=associations

now I would like my orange button back - I now have a firefox icon on the top left of my screen and a descirption of the tap I have open -

Chosen Solution

View > Toolbars -> un-check Menu Bar

thanks again -

Done - thanks again