Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

opening file dialog opens and closes new tab

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Hi,

When I click a file to open or download, the 'opening <whatever>' dialog pops up and asks what to do. But it also opens a new tab, and closes it again. It does this also when a file is set to download automatically. Since I have no alternative to my old 256MB RAM machine (LUbuntu) I need Firefox to run as smooth as possible. This opening and closing a tab is extra work and it costs me between 5 and 30 seconds extra when I want to download something.

I tried running Firefox in safe mode, no change.

I cannot test this on other machines, sorry.

Here's the complete chain of events: open Firefox go to a page with a file to download (for example, an mp4) click that link a new tab opens I wait... the tab closes again I wait a bit more... the download file dialog opens I choose save file and tick do this automatically from now on I click OK the file downloads

I click on another mp4 - I know it will download automatically, no dialog a new tab opens I wait... the tab closes again I wait another bit more... the file downloads

Anyone know how to disable this tab business?

Hi, When I click a file to open or download, the 'opening <whatever>' dialog pops up and asks what to do. But it also opens a new tab, and closes it again. It does this also when a file is set to download automatically. Since I have no alternative to my old 256MB RAM machine (LUbuntu) I need Firefox to run as smooth as possible. This opening and closing a tab is extra work and it costs me between 5 and 30 seconds extra when I want to download something. I tried running Firefox in safe mode, no change. I cannot test this on other machines, sorry. Here's the complete chain of events: open Firefox go to a page with a file to download (for example, an mp4) click that link a new tab opens I wait... the tab closes again I wait a bit more... the download file dialog opens I choose save file and tick do this automatically from now on I click OK the file downloads I click on another mp4 - I know it will download automatically, no dialog a new tab opens I wait... the tab closes again I wait another bit more... the file downloads Anyone know how to disable this tab business?

All Replies (5)

more options

Try to right-click the link and use "Save Link As" in the right-click context menu instead of left-clicking the link.

more options

Hi cor-el,

Thanks! That works brilliantly, I feel silly I didn't come up with that.

But it's a workaround, lots of clickidyclick. I'd like to be able to click the link for a direct download - one click, blue arrow, all done.

So for now I'll use the save link as workaround but I'd still like to know about this new tab business. Is that normal? Why does it happen? Can I disble it?

cheers from Bass Rock

ps cor-el, now I keep wondering and googling: Jaffa? Remebered that correctly?

more options

Pity no-one has an answer. The workaround 'save link as' is even slower than the direct download.

more options

Look at it this way. Firefox is a Hummer H1 and eats up my whole garage. On top of that, I can't drive it properly because it won't go any faster than 20 km/h. If I try to change cd's, the Hummer comes to a complete stop and I have to wait until the cd is loaded before I can drive again. If I try a workaround, say use my music on a usb drive, it takes even longer before I can drive again.

I am abandoning Firefox and will try to get a browser that behaves more like a Fiat Seicento with a decent cd player.

Also abandoning this question, like everybody else. So long Firefox and you can keep the fish.

more options

On Windows you could use Alt left click if browser.altClickSave is true, but Alt doesn't work as a modifier on Linux (only Shift and Ctrl work), so the only way to achieve this on Linux is what I posted above. Maybe there is an extension that works on Linux.