Download window flashes non-stop in IE

[bhc]

When I click on a url that ends with .jsp extension, my IE opens up a download (Save As) window, and the download window flashes like crazy. I can't kill the process using Task Manager. I have to log off and log back on to close IE. My friend IE does not have this problem. I compared my IE version, SP, windows version, SP and all the settings in IE and they are all the same. I also reinstalled IE, but that did not help. What could be the problem? I have IE 5.50 SP1, Windows 2K Prof SP2. Thanks in advance.

 

[reghakr]

I had thought SP2 corrected that uissue:

Do you mean .asp rather than .asp?

If so, this might help, although I'd suggest either the repair tool or upgrade to IE6:

Internet Explorer Prompts the User with Two Open or Save Dialog Boxes

------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 2000
the operating system: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 for Windows 95

------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
You may be prompted with two Open or Save dialog boxes when you use Internet Explorer to connect to certain Web pages under the following conditions:

Neither a file name nor an extension is specified in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of a Get request.

-and-

The server replies with both a registered "Content-Type" header and the "Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=" header which specify the file name that you want.

MORE INFORMATION
Because neither a file name nor an extension is defined in the URL for the Get request, Internet Explorer does not know what type of data to expect in the response; therefore, Internet Explorer sets a default Octet-Stream data type.

This data type causes Internet Explorer to display the Open or Save dialog box with the file name information that indicates the Active Server Pages (ASP), Common Gateway Interface (CGI), or PerlScript file that had been located in the URL for the Get request.

If you open the document, Internet Explorer examines the data type which is currently set for Octet-Stream. Because this is an ambiguous data type and there is no file name or extension information in the URL, Internet Explorer looks for additional headers and finds the "Content-Type" and "Content-Disposition: attachment; filename= " headers.

Because the file name and extension is specified in the "Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=" header and the data type is defined in the "Content-Type" header, you are prompted with a second Open or Save dialog box that contains the correct file name information.

reghakr

 

[paulwood]

From what you say, reghakr's advice on running the repair function seems a good place to start. In case you don't know, go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs, select Internet Explorer and choose the repair option. More often than not this will fix weird stuff.

 

[bhc]

I meant .jsp (Java Server Pages). I already reinstalled IE 5.50. That should have fixed IE corrupted files if there were any.

 

[reghakr]

Have you cheked here:

http://java.sun.com/products/jsp/

reghakr

 

[smitee]

bhc

You wrote..."I have IE 5.50 SP1"...

Did you try IE5.5SP2?

smitee

 

[bhc]

No, I have not tried IE 5.5 SP2. But my friend has SP1 and it works fine for him. Good idea though.

 

[rightplace2000]

Hi Reghkr,

Would that article above also apply to .exe files opening the download box when loggin to a site? The file is Omniweb.exe, which through a google search found out that its some kind of website program for programmers. I have Win98 and IE6 on home PC. I have cleared Internet temp folders, History, cookies, and Form password info which did not help. At work my PC has Win2000 & IE6 and I can access the site. I will try the repair proceedure right now.

 

[rightplace2000]

Update, the repair did not work for this problem. Should I just reinstall? IE6 was an upgrade from 5.5sp2. Thanks in advance for all your help

rightplace2000