Hello august242, see Changing download actions, and check if you have your downloads to Always ask (step 4.1).

thank you

ideato ...

Thank you for your reply.

With regard to my OPTIONS --> GENERAL TAB --> DOWNLOADS selection / settings, by default, I have the Downloads option set to:

"Save files to: DOWNLOADS" folder on my C: drive.

It is enabled.

However, I am continuing to experience the issue that I described above ... spotty download ability.

One thing that I noticed, is that sometimes .ZIP files will download (complete with the Download prompt window), but .EXE files fail to do so (whereby the Download prompt window never appears).

Again, if you or anyone else out there could guide me to a resolution on this, I'd be ever so grateful.

Thank you for your time.

august242

-)

Set it to Always ask and check it again, if you have it to "Save files to: DOWNLOADS" folder on my C: drive, then there is no reason to ask you/prompts you where to download. :-):-):-)

thanks again

I went ahead and followed your advice, however, the problem downloading files from various websites still exists.

No change with regard to the failure of the download prompt appearing whenever a download link is selected.

There is no indication as to the download ever even begun / executed.

Is there anyone else out there who may have some input on this who could assist me with regard to this issue?

I'm both very frustrated and despondent.

Thank you for your time.

august242

Deleting the mimeTypes.rdf will reset all download actions to the default settings.

Open a new tab or window. type about:support in the address box and press enter. Or Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the tool bar. Then Help > Troubleshooting Information.

Under the page logo on the left side you will see Application Basics. Under this find Profile Folder. To it’s right press the button Show Folder. This will open your file browser to the current Firefox profile. Now Close Firefox.

Locate the file. Then rename or delete it. Restart Firefox.

Hello FredMcD ...

First off, I want to thank you for your kind reply.  ;-)

I followed your directions exactly, however, the download prompt issue still remains.  :-(

However, I did notice that when I started Firefox in "Safe Mode", that I was able to download .exe files (or at least receive the download prompt indicating / requesting as to where I'd prefer to save the file to).

Switching back to "Normal Mode", the issue resumed once again.

I went so far as to turn off the "Hardware Acceleration" (that I had enabled within my settings), but that apparently did not solve the issue either. _____

Here is the link that I consulted with regard to attempting to troubleshoot this problem:

"Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems"

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-extensions-themes-to-fix-problems#w_turn-off-hardware-acceleration _____

Again, I do thank you for your kind input. Please stay with me here on this issue until I am able to get it resolved as it is very frustrating.

I am trying to avoid the final option of "Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems" (as seen at the link below) since I do not want to lose a lot of my custom theme settings and other settings / etc. that I have tied into my current version of Firefox.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/reset-firefox-easily-fix-most-problems

Thank you (and I look forward to hearing back from you).

Take care,

august242

Reset Firefox {web link} is a LAST RESORT ! !

While it could fix the problem, you lose a lot as well. That is why I backup my profile each day.

As to your problem, if it goes away in Safe mode, then it is likely an add-on.

Open your add-ons manager. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox. If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.

Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.

Hello FredMcD ...

I thank you for your most recent advice.

I went ahead and began disabling the various Firefox Add-Ons (in sequence) and restarting Firefox afresh to determine whether or not I'd be able to download a standard file that I was not able to download previously and I think that I found the Add-On culprit that was causing me so much grief with regard to not being able to view the download prompt window for said file(s).

It is:

Google Toolbar for Firefox" - version 7.1.20110512W

And it was apparently last updated on Monday, July 23rd, 2012. (O_o)

_____

I've went ahead and disabled it and noticed that I now can download files whilst receiving the download prompt window which asks me as to where I'd like to store said file or files.  ;-)

So please pass this info along in case anyone else out there has been encountering similar issues.

Again, I do thank you wholeheartedly for your time and advice.

Take care and be well, FredMcD ...

august242

That's great to hear.

I am glad to hear that your problem has been resolved. If you haven't already, please select the answer that solves the problem. This will help other users with similar problems find the solution more easily.

Thank you for contacting Mozilla Support.

Thanks a lot FredMcD for all of your help.

I went ahead an marked this issue as "solved".  ;-)

However, I found it very curious that the "Google Toolbar for Firefox" add-on would cause issues with downloading files. I wonder how it was able to affect my ability to download / not to download / unable to view the download prompt window?

Would it be a code compatability issue or possibly something that was no longer compatable with the new Australis interface?

_____

By the way, you mentioned in a previous comment that you backed up your Firefox profile regularly. How is this done and is there an easy way of going about doing so?

I saw the following article here within the Mozilla / Firefox support forum, but it is slightly confusing:

"Back up and restore information in Firefox profiles"

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/back-and-restore-information-firefox-profiles

_____

Anyway, once again, I do thank you for your time.

Take care,

august242