Downloaded files not appearing in My Documents

[Glass4USA]

I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6

Here is the situation:

When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it. I
have to do one of two things to get it to appear:
1. Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop
very bare.
OR
2. Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste it to
where it should be.

I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file
does not appear.

This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.

I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:

- Upgraded to IE7
- Upgraded to SP3

Neither worked.

Additional information: This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus
infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.
This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the
problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.

Please help.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

> ...This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus
> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

Also see:

Risks & Benefits of P2P file sharing
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/data/downloadfileshare/filesharing.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2008/10/06/the-cost-of-free-software.aspx

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


Glass4USA wrote:
> I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6
>
> Here is the situation:
>
> When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it.
> I
> have to do one of two things to get it to appear:
> 1. Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop
> very bare.
> OR
> 2. Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste it to
> where it should be.
>
> I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file
> does not appear.
>
> This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.
>
> I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:
>
> - Upgraded to IE7
> - Upgraded to SP3
>
> Neither worked.
>
> Additional information: This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad
> virus
> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.
> This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the
> problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.
>
> Please help.

 

[Jose]

On Mar 30, 7:51 pm, Glass4USA <Glass4...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> I have XPSP3 and IE7 and Firefox 3.6
>
> Here is the situation:
>
> When I download a file to my computer, it does not appear where I put it. I
> have to do one of two things to get it to appear:
> 1.  Download it to the desktop, where I do NOT want it--I keep my desktop
> very bare.
> OR
> 2.  Download it to where I want, then run Search, then cut and paste itto
> where it should be.
>
> I also have a related problem--sometimes when I am trying to upload a file
> does not appear.
>
> This happens with both Firefox and IE, so I know it is XP.
>
> I have taken the following actions to resolve the issue:
>
> - Upgraded to IE7
> - Upgraded to SP3
>
> Neither worked.
>
> Additional information:  This started occuring AFTER I got a very bad virus
> infection, and the only way to get my system running was system restore.  
> This took it back to the beginning, and I have not seen the last of the
> problems this virus, and system restore, have caused.
>
> Please help.

SR is not a time machine and is not the way to remove a malware
infection - as you now know!

I would start with some reputable scans and only then work on any
remaining issues. It does not make sense to try to fix an infected
system.

Perform some scans for malicious software, then fix any remaining
issues:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

When your scans are done, fix Firefox first.

In FF, click Tools, Options, Main. That is the screen where you tell
FF how do handle downloads. You can download to your desktop, a
certain folder or always have it ask. Those are the options. It
cannot decide for you on the fly where to download things and do it
one place one time and another place some other time based on your
feelings but it should always behave as configured - when you set it
up once, it better behave or it is broken and it needs to be fixed.

If FF does not seem to be handling your downloads correctly, change
the download settings and try again to make sure FF is even looking at
your settings, then when you are sure it is paying attention, change
the settings back the way you want. There is no reason it should not
behave as configured if it is installed and operating correctly. If
it still doesn't work, describe what you see that you do not think you
should see or what you do not see that you think you should and we
will fix it.

Your FF download settings have nothing to do with the way IE works and
vice versa.

If you still have trouble after scanning, do this:

To eliminate questions and guessing, please provide additional
information about your system.

Click Start, Run and in the box enter:

msinfo32

Click OK, and when the System Summary info appears, click Edit, Select
All, Copy and then paste the information back here.

There will be some personal information (like System Name and User
Name), and whatever appears to be private information to you, just
delete it from the pasted information.