Windows 7: How do I select where to download a file to?

Whenever I downloaded a file in WinXP, a window would come up asking me where I wanted to save the file to. In Windows 7 HP, it just seems to automatically download to the current "users" Download file. How do I configure Windows 7 to work like XP? Thanks.

what version/flavor of browser are you using?

IE8

Update to IE9, before a download can start there is a message tab that arrives(annoyingly) at the bottom of the window, just above the taskbar, asking you to confirm the download.There is an arrowed part on the right hand side allowing you to browse to whichever directory you wish, after you have made a choice it will download to that directory in future unless you specify a new one.

If it's any help to you I've created a Downloads folder on my external hard drive and whenever I download anything I always choose Save As from the bottom of the screen when using IE9 and point the download to my own Downloads folder.

This way, you can run a virus scan on the download before you install it and you have a copy of it should you need it in the future.

Internet Options/Security Tab/Custom/Download/Automatic Prompting.../Enable

(I also have the Advanced Tab of Internet Options, Browsing section, with a check on "Notify when downloads complete", however that appears to be the default and probably just means that the download window changes to "Download Complete" until you close it.)

If those don't do it I have also used a registry addition:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions]
"AlwaysPromptWhenDownload"=dword:00000001

(Copy those lines into Notepad, save it as a .reg file, double click on it to install in the registry.)

Can't hurt to try the above as it's easy to undo by reverting the options or deleting the registry restriction that was added to the list.