Topic: TCP/IP cannot download

[BIG_J]

Well here is the problem. Just recently my computer will not let me download any files.  As soon as I start the download a message will pop up and say that I I.E. has to exit because of a problem.  I have seen my IP address, it is fine and I have tried to run a program that reconfigures my TCP and gets a new one and it still gives me the same message, and this just started about a week ago, never had any problems before that, any help would be appreciated

[Sandra]

Hi BIG_J  

Can you tell us which OS you are using and how you are connecting to the net please ?

[BIG_J]

Well I am on a LAN with a university and windows XP

[BIG_J]

sorry forgot to mention it is a T1 connection as well

[Sandra]

Nice one re speed
Noticed you had a uni IP  
Have you tried uninstalling IE ?
It will usually offer a repair option when you go to add/remove programs and then the windows components part that should sort it hopefully  

[BIG_J]

Well I went to control panel and to add/remove prgrams and went to remove internet explorer and clicked remove. It asked if I would like to unistall (no repair option :-[ ) so I clicked yes and then rebooted my computer but no luck  :-[ it still does the same thing

[Sandra]

Its nothing to do with the unis firewall or something that they have recently added to restrict certain downloads, although I wouldnt expect that to crash IE really

[Lona]

Hi Big_J, have you tried Windows Update. There could be a fix on there. It might not work but worth a try.  

[BIG_J]

Well I would not think that unis has passed something because I work with the LAN administrators and they have told me nothing and my roommate does not have any problems downloading the same thing?

[Sandra]

Just an idea, I had a problem with my e mail and MSN Messenger a week or so back even though IE was working fine.
I had to reboot my router to correct it, so it must have messed up the settings of the router somehow.
Have you anyway of getting access to the router to reboot it to see if that helps, still cant think why it would crash IE though  

[Sandra]

I have come across this but it says it should have been fixed in the version that installs with XP as this is for IE 5.5  

Internet Explorer closes when a download is commenced (in IE 5.5)
Note: This problem has been resolved with IE5.5 SP1.

This is the official Microsoft article on this issue:

Internet Explorer Window Closes When You Click a Download Link
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q268/9/76.asp

The problem is especially common when downloading files, MP3's etc.  A workaround is to use ctrl,n to open a new window BEFORE starting a download.

Also have a look at this link:

Browser Window Closes When You Click Link to Download Files [Q275290]
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q275/2/90.asp

[Sandra]

As a temporary fix it sounds like if you right click the download link and choose Save Target As then it may work, until someone comes up with the answer to make it work as it should do normally  

[BIG_J]

Thanks I am trying the solutions to the problem in the article right now

[BIG_J]

Well it does work.  However I have to be quick to right click and the error messages still comes up and I cannot get rid of it or I lose everything, but as long as I do not click ok on the error message I can still download, thanks for the help

[Sandra]

Hope it works but thats really for IE 5.5 on 98.
XP installs IE 6 I think so it should be fixed in that but worth a try.
Did you try Lonas suggestion about Windows Update as it may allow you to update a fix off there as it seems to be a bit different to the normal IE downloads