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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 Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode 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
  • Top 10 Contributor
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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 Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode 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!