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Windows blocks Firefox download as unsafe file, going mad, any help?

  • 10 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 10 views
  • Last reply by Jonstorp

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I have tried deactivating security, nothing seems to work. I really want to use Firefox, but Windows won't let me download the new version.

Thanks, Ray.

I have tried deactivating security, nothing seems to work. I really want to use Firefox, but Windows won't let me download the new version. Thanks, Ray.

All Replies (10)

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Disable UAC in Windows 7 temporarily.

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Thanks for the answer Xircal,

Unfortunately that did not work, I still get a security message saying that windows will not allow me to dowload the Firefox installation file.

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I think what you need to do here is to add an exception to the Windows 7 firewall.

Follow instructions in this article to add a rule for Firefox: Add rule to Windows 7 firewall

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Hi Again Xircal,

that only seems to work when you have Firefox already in the system. I am trying to download it for the first time.

Regs, J

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Could you please give me the exact error message you're seeing when you try to download Firefox?

Also, is this your home computer, or one at work?

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Hi Xircal,

It says ”The actual security settings will not allow this file to be downloaded”

Thats all it says.

Regs J

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That could be caused by malware.

Download the free of Malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free and run a full system scan to eliminate that as the culprit.

You might have to use Internet Explorer if that's also blocked in Firefox. In that particular case, choose "Save" when you see the prompt and save it to your desktop.

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Hi Xircal,

you won't believe this, it won't let me dowload that either:-( I just get the same message.

Regs, Ray

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Try downloading it with Internet Explorer.

If that doesn't work either, download it at work or maybe to a friend's computer and then copy it to a USB drive. You can transfer it from there to your own PC.

If you find that it won't run (some malware will try to prevent that happening), rename it to a random name. For example, rename it to jonstorp.exe. To rename a file, right click it and choose "Rename" from the menu.

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Hi Xircal,

An update. I finally did a system restore which did the trick (I have now turned off auto update install).

So now I have Firefox, thanks for all your help!

Regs, Ray.