Solved IE 10 can't download programs or files

[bru]

Recently moved from IE9 to IE10 using Windows Update. I had hidden the Optional Update, but unhid it to install IE10. Now I get a "program couldn't be downloaded" or "document couldn't be downloaded" error whenever I try to download. Some things do download even though I get the error but it is more miss than hit. Obviously there is a problem.

I see this issue mentioned for various versions of IE including IE10 and many say it is related to User Accounts. I really don't want to create a new Account just to be able to download.

Some things I have done to troubleshoot:

Verified that another browser, Chrome, can indeed download the same things giving me problems in IE10.

Rolled back to IE9 and I can again download with no errors. Unless I use the 64-bit version, then I get the same error. No real concern as I always used 32bit IE9 but it made me think but AFAICT there is only one version of IE10, not two different like IE9.

So the problem is related to IE10. I have seen various fixes mentioned, including resetting IE10 to default, but no luck. Is it possible that since I just updated to IE10 that I don't have all the patches that have been issued which may have fixed this issue? I checked Windows Update and it doesn't give me any patches but maybe I have to wait until next Patch Tuesday but even then I have no certainty it will fix this issue.

I know I can just use Chrome but I want to have IE as an option. The fact that IE9 is able to download just fine while IE10 does not leads me to IE10 as the issue. But how to fix?

Go back to IE9 is one option. It is out of date, even IE10 is old now. But I felt it better to go to IE10 rather than IE11 on my Win 7 system. Should I update to IE11 and see if I get the same issue? I have a feeling I will. I would be on IE9 when I update it but I am concerned if I find I still have the same issue can I still go back to IE9 by uninstalling the update? At least now I can go back to IE9.

edit: Just checked and it seems my version of IE10 is up to date through May 2015 based on the Update Version listed. So I have an updated IE10 that won't let me download.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Creating a new/temporary Windows user profile just to test this download issue should not be a hard thing to to. If the downloads work in the new/temporary Windows user profile, then we know for sure that it is not the website acting weird for IE10/IE11 and you have a place to start the troubleshooting (e.g. your normal Windows user profile).

On a 64bit OS, starting with IE10, the OS will load the 64bit version as the "parent" process. That "parent" loads 32bit "children" to show you webpages. If you turn on EPM (Extended Protection Mode), IE will load the safer 64bit "children" as often as it can. See my post/videos here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Shut down your machine,
Restart and manually check for updates and see what comes up,
You say you hid an update,
How many others have you hidden ?

Also which third party security suite do you have installed along with any other malware/ spyware utilities you have installed,
Cheers.

 

[bru]

Hi,
Shut down your machine,
Restart and manually check for updates and see what comes up,
You say you hid an update,
How many others have you hidden ?

Also which third party security suite do you have installed along with any other malware/ spyware utilities you have installed,
Cheers.

I hid the IE10 update when it first came out. I also hid the IE11 update. I think I have hidden a few others here or there but all were optional not important. I have checked for updates once IE10 is installed, none show. The fact that the updates version listed of IE10 (10.0.27 KB3049563) takes me to May 2015 tells me it is up to date.

Creating a new/temporary Windows user profile just to test this download issue should not be a hard thing to to. If the downloads work in the new/temporary Windows user profile, then we know for sure that it is not the website acting weird for IE10/IE11 and you have a place to start the troubleshooting (e.g. your normal Windows user profile).

On a 64bit OS, starting with IE10, the OS will load the 64bit version as the "parent" process. That "parent" loads 32bit "children" to show you webpages. If you turn on EPM (Extended Protection Mode), IE will load the safer 64bit "children" as often as it can. See my post/videos here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...-bit-64-bit-ie10-windows-7-a.html#post2312336

I have tried numerous sites and files with IE10, all give me the error. Also, If IE9 32bit and Chrome download the same programs/files that IE10 can't can it really be a website issue?

The fact that IE9 64bit, opened manually, causes the exact same issue as I see in IE10 leads me think it is something related to what you say about how IE10 operates related to 32bit and 64bit. By default I do not have "Enable Enhanced Protection Mode" ticked so from your link it is opening tabs in 32bit so maybe it isn't related to 32bit/64bit. But the fact that IE9 64bit gives the same download error leads me to think it is somehow related.

I can try a new User Account but the fact that I can go back and forth between IE9 and IE10 without changing anything else, and it behaves exactly the same (IE9 downloads, IE10 does not) makes me wonder how it can be an Account/Profile issue. It all is leading me to IE10 as the problem, but maybe I am looking at it too simple.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
And your existing security is ?

 

[bru]

Hi,
And your existing security is ?

Sorry, missed that one. MSE and Malwarebytes Pro.

IE9 downloads, changing nothing but updating to IE10 and no downloads. Not sure how other things can have an effect but I certainly don't understand how most of this works. Searching tells me plenty of people reported the same problem when first moving from IE9 to IE10 but by waiting so long I would have though any issues that were causing this, if there were any, would have been patched.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and thanks
I'd say go to Manage add-ons,
On the bottom left switch the page view to Show = Run without permission,
Disable all.
Same goes for Show all add-ons and toolbars and extensions.
Test that.

 

[bru]

Hi and thanks
I'd say go to Manage add-ons,
On the bottom left switch the page view to Show = Run without permission,
Disable all.
Same goes for Show all add-ons and toolbars and extensions.
Test that.

I can do that but I opened IE10 with no add-ons with the same result, not able to download. So I don't think it is an add-on causing the problem.

If I didn't mention it, I do get the dialog box, it starts to download but then gives me the "...could not be downloaded" message. I have tried changing where it downloads to with no success. I keep coming back to IE9 32bit downloads programs and files fine but IE10 does not, therefore there must be a problem with IE10, but what?

 

[UsernameIssues]

Can you provide the steps to reproduce?
(e.g. one or two websites and the download link clicked on)

Have you reset IE?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1222-internet-explorer-reset.html
Do step 5 too.

 

[bru]

Can you provide the steps to reproduce?
(e.g. one or two websites and the download link clicked on)

Have you reset IE?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1222-internet-explorer-reset.html
Do step 5 too.

I have tried numerous sites and files, e.g. the current version of CCleaner from Piriform's site or .docx and .pdf files from my own archived email. IE9 32bit will download no issue, IE10 will not download the exact same programs/files. Or I should say that I get the could not complete message since sometimes, even though it tells me the download did not complete, the download will have worked. But this is an exception, most things will just not download. I saw others mention having this issue as well.

I did reset IE, but it can't hurt to do it again.

edit: I just ran sfc /scannow and it tells me it repaired some files. Will see if that did anything.

 

[ThrashZone]

The add-ons that run without permission are never disabled,
Not even In-Private browsing disables them they have to be manually disabled
It's a hell of a list,
Double clicking the top one will usually select all then hit disable all.

As a last resort right click the ie shortcut and click on run as admin.
Or properties and run this program as admin.

 

[Layback Bear]

After all the things you have tried and done I would do a Repair Install if it was my computer.

A tutorial by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[bru]

Problem appears to be sorted.

Settled in to do a few more troubleshooting steps. Was about to fully reset IE10 again and then disable all add-ons as suggested but remembered reading to try Safe Mode w/ Networking. In SM w/N IE10 downloaded everything fine. Started the computer normally fully expecting to have the problem again but the downloads worked fine. So what fixed it? Maybe the File Checker scan. I did try the browser after it had repaired some files and it still gave the issue, even think I did a restart. That had to be it somehow.

After all the things you have tried and done I would do a Repair Install if it was my computer.

A tutorial by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I had that penciled in as a final resort, glad it didn't come to that. Thanks all.

 

[SJesMe]

Since you have the problem sorted, this last bit is probably irrelevant, but if you hid some updates it is possible that one or two of them were prerequisite for ie10. See: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2818833

 

[Layback Bear]

You should not have to use Safe Mode to download any Windows 7 Updates.

 

[bru]

Since you have the problem sorted, this last bit is probably irrelevant, but if you hid some updates it is possible that one or two of them were prerequisite for ie10. See: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2818833

Yes I definitely hid some of the prerequs for Windows 10. Not an issue as they reissue them again frequently or I will just unhide them when the time comes.

You should not have to use Safe Mode to download any Windows 7 Updates.

It wasn't Windows updates, it was downloads such as program files or .pdfs and the like when using IE10. I find I still occasionally will have some glitches with downloading but then a restart sorts it.