Are you forcing Firefox to open links in a new tab? http://www.ghacks.net/2009/07/03/force-firefox-to-open-links-in-same-... via http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-qu.../741375-visual-basic-applications-followhyperlink-function-opening-multiple-tabs-firefox.html

Did any settings change?

No, I am not forcing Firefox to do anything. Actually I do not want it to open either new tab or new window, or even start Firefox. All download was going in the background before this strange behavior started few days ago on my laptop (w7). My other (desktop) PC(XT) behaves normally: downloads files in the background without any browsers open, manipulates downloaded file, saves it and goes to download next one according to prearranged schedule. The laptop also lost ability for wireless connection to the internet a day or two after. Coincident? Or some screw-up in internet linking s/w? Restoration of the laptop system from earlier safety point doesn't help.

If you haven't already, try making Internet Explorer your default browser to see whether that helps.

And no, setting was not changed in any way. Running the VBA program that downloads and process downloaded files is a routine procedure that is done almost every day. The code changes only occasionally, and only within the processing part. The downloading part has not been changed for years. When the last time (2 or 3 years ago) yahoo rearranged its file storage structure only the access string was adjusted to recognize the new structure.

Tried that already. Also tried Chrome. With similar results.

That's why I am suspicious of broken wireless. Although I do not understand how broken wireless could cause this behavior. I assume that wired and wireless do not share any s/w. Or they do? I do not want to do anything drastic and time consuming (like reinstall the entire system).

Just in case I compared browser.link setting on both machines and they are the same. However one machine (desktop XT) works and laptop (W7) does not. Wireless on the laptop is switched off, so both machines are on wired connection.

Is there anything different in the connection settings between the two PCs? I imagine that Excel uses your IE connection/proxy settings.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-internet-explorer-proxy-server-settings

There is no diff. in setting.

Still grappling with the same problem. Any other suggestions?

Could you try Microsoft's forum for Excel support? Maybe there is an Excel setting which is changing the behavior, or at least they may be more familiar with potential glitches with the FollowHyperlink method.