VB .Net - trouble automating download of a file using urldownloadtofile

Note, in addition to URLDownloadToFile function the alternative approach is to use the webbrowser.navigate function.  

This actually works but I am seeing if I can get this to work with URLDownloadToFile method in order to bypass some popup windows (file download security warnings) that show up in the browser after clicking to download the file.   Instead of finding a way to programatically shut them I thought maybe the URLDownloadtoFile would bypass the browser altogether and thus my problem of the window pop ups as well.   To see what I'm referring to see the attachment.    Thank you in advance!

How about using the My.Computer.Network.DownloadFile function?

I tried two ways just now:

1.
Dim webc As New System.Net.WebClient()
webc.DownloadFile(url, "c:\f_iv200907.exe")

2.
My.Computer.Network.DownloadFile(url.ToString, "c:\f_iv200907.exe")

In each case, there is an "application" file named "f_iv200907.exe") that is downloaded however it is only 1 KB.    Not the same as if I actually download the file myself.  The .exe file size should be over 30 KB.    I tried running the 1 KB exe file that got download and it doesn't do anything. (a dos window pops up and something runs, looks a little like a tetris game but it doesn't do anything).   Not the same exe file that would normally be downloaded if I were to click on the save button.

I think its because you are not authenticated.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/707888/using-http-authentication-with-a-c-webrequest

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Programming/Misc/Q_21932070.html

Thanks code cruiser.  I'll check out these links (they're in C# though although maybe they can still help).

As you know, I've already logged in and navigated through the site using the webbrowser class ...   If I try this approach I would be logging in twice now.  

In addition to that it seems that in order to make the download work using this different approach, I would not only need to authenticate again, but I would need to navigate through the same a series of pages again so that when I click on the final download page, the website knows which report to download.    

Seems like this approach would mean scratching the webbrowser approach correct me if mistaken?  

Just so we're on the same page .. here's the flow again of the program:

1. page 1 - http://www.XXXXXX.com/default.asp - login the site, enter usrname, pswd, click login button
2. page 2 - u_user.asp submit form w/ several hidden values e.g. 'CA', 14, 1
3  page 3 - u_Report.asp - now click on specific report hyperlink.   The report that is displayed will depend on what values were passed from u_user.asp (in step 2)
4. page 4  - u_report_giver.asp?Report=f_iv2009.exe

I added the following code based on your suggestion but something is missing.   I think there are other parameters it needs.   See below:

Dim webc As New System.Net.WebClient()
webc.Credentials = New System.Net.NetworkCredential("username", "password")
webc.DownloadFile(url, "c:\test.xls")

The file gets downloaded but if you open it, it's the source code to the login page.

Relevant HTML to download report
<TD class=leftNavLevel3><A class="submenu" href="ExportFullDepletionExcel.secure">Export to Excel</A></TD>

Page before this passes a "divCode"
https://www.XXXXXX.com/Rpts/Rpts/DepletionParamsReport.secure?divCode=gz