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BaupostJRFlag for United States of America

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Can't download any .exe files from internet

when I try to download an EXE from IE8 I get 'Your current security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded'
'enable download' is checked in security.

when I try to download an EXE from firefox it allows me to click save file but then the file mysteriously cancels with no explanation

This is affecting 5 users the same way. 4 using Windows 7, one using Vista.

Also, suddenly when we want to install a program that was previously downloaded from the internet we first have to click properties and click 'unblock'

No group policies were changed recently.
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BaupostJR
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ASKER

I've tried all this with no success:
Click Start.
In the Search box, Run box or console window type: GPEDIT.MSC to bring up the Group Policy Object editor.
Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Attachment Manager. Here you will find a couple of policies related to this feature, but to disable it you'll want to ENABLE the policy called "Do not preserve zone information in file attachments".
Close the GPO editor.
Either logoff your computer, or refresh the local policy by typing the following command in a Command Prompt or in the Run box:
Gpupdate /force

I was able to get Firefox to download things by doing this:

Bypass Windows Security Policy check
Starting in Firefox 3.0.6 you can use about:config to manually add the new Boolean preference, browser.download.manager.skipWinSecurityPolicyChecks and set it to true. This will bypass the Security Zone Policy check.

I have reset IE security settings to default as mentioned and had no luck either.
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Avatar of Jackie Man
I cannot download exe file from Google Chrome too, but can download exe file from Firefox without changing any setting.

Obviously, it is the settings for the browser only, not the settings of the OS.
strange, I was able to download EXEs from chrome during this mess.
I run Google Chrome in Vista and cannot download an exe file from a remote FTP site.

My initial guess is that the remote FTP site is offline, but when I use Firefox, I can download it.
Also, one of the guys fessed up to accidently turning on IE8 group policies.
we're all set now. apparently the IE settings can screw up ALL the other browsers (in the case of Firefox, you can tell it to ignore them though.