Can't download any files at all


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can't download any files at all


    I've been running WIndows 10 for a little while now, over a month. Now, for some reason I cannot download a file. If I try from Firefox, it fails, if from IE it fails and if from Edge it fails. I'm stumped??? I can surf the web but just can't download any file at all. I've tried downloading attachments from my gmail as well as software from other web sites. Nothing works? HHHEEELLLPPP!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    What are the error messages you get?

    Try disabling your anti-virus software.
    Try it from Safe Mode with Networking. You can get there by clicking on Power then right click on Restart.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I have no special anti-virus. Windows Defender and Windows Firewall, that's it. I've tried Safe Mode, no luck. If I go into FireFox and try a download an attachment from gmail it just says Failed - googleusercontent.com - and a time. If I try IE or Edge there are no error messages at all. Apart from downloading everything is fine. It is a dual boot machine and if I boot to Linux Mint, then everything works fine, including downloads. I did do a download a few days ago, so something must have changed but for the life of me I don't know what.

    As for the disabling Anti Virus, I disabled Anti Virus AND the Windows Firewall, no luck either. Still keeps saying failed.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 659
    10 preview 64bit
       #4

    Have you dissabled any Services, While i was playing around with W7 years ago i dissabled one and had this problem, but like i said it was years ago.
    The only thing i remember is that was nothing really to do with Browsers/downloading.
    It might point you in the right direction.

    Roy
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 54
    Windows 10 Pro build
       #5

    I experienced a couple of of permission based issues with file downloads; I would attempt to save to my documents directory, and it would give me a permission error, forcing me to save to the desktop. From there, I was able to move the file to the doc directory or wherever else I wanted to save to. It seems to come and go. Weird.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 703
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    Hi

    There is a possibility that malware is preventing you from being able to download. That has been a symptom on machines I have cleaned before.

    You'll need go to a different device and download an AV on to a usb stick (I recommend Malwarebytes). Then return to your device, install and scan

    Like a say. Just a possibility. Well worth checking out though I reckon...Please advise of the outcome
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 122
    Windows 10
       #7

    WhyMe said:
    Hi

    There is a possibility that malware is preventing you from being able to download. That has been a symptom on machines I have cleaned before.

    You'll need go to a different device and download an AV on to a usb stick (I recommend Malwarebytes). Then return to your device, install and scan

    Like a say. Just a possibility. Well worth checking out though I reckon...Please advise of the outcome
    I have the exact same problem. Suddenly can't download a file from any website. I click a file download - it makes an attempt, then acts as though I never clicked the download link (no message, no error) Malwarebytes scan came back clean as did Vipre antivirus. (I do not run both programs simultaneously) Disabling AV does not change anything....

    This seems to be login dependent because I can download files fine with my sons login (non-admin) but can't with mine (admin).

    I have no idea what to try next other than creating an new admin user account. This is crazy......

    Has anyone had luck figuring this out?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #8

    Hi,

    Something has tampered with the policy settings for the admin account in an attempt to take control of that machine.

    Cheers,
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 122
    Windows 10
       #9

    fdegrove said:
    Hi,

    Something has tampered with the policy settings for the admin account in an attempt to take control of that machine.

    Cheers,
    Ok - so how do I fix it?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2,832
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #10

    Hi,

    Either use your son's account and temporarily make it an admin account. Then delete your account, make a new one for yourself and reset your son's to whatever it was once yours is working properly.

    Or make a new admin account for yourself from within your existing account and delete the faulty one.

    Or start a hunt for whatever is disallowing you to download files which could be time consuming.

    If that's no option or too much hassle, then backup up whatever you think you need and reinstall from a clean drive.
    Which is what I'd do if I suspected something fishy and had no clue where it came from. YMMV but I don't waste time on my machines trying to figure it out when a clean install is often that much faster and more reassuring securitywise in the end.

    Cheers,
      My Computers


 

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