File download dialog box appears when you open Office XP file in browser (303475)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows Millennium Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 Second Edition SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 2000 SP 2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Access 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
This article was previously published under Q303475

SYMPTOMS

When you click a hyperlink to a Microsoft Office document in your Web browser or you double-click an Office document that is attached to an e-mail message in Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express, you are prompted to confirm whether you want to open the document or save it to your hard disk.

The document does not automatically open in the appropriate Office program until the following message is acknowledged.

In Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x, you receive the following message:
You have chosen to download a file from this location.

file name.ext from Web site

What would you like to do with this file?
  • Open this file from its current location
  • Save this file to disk
Always ask before opening this type of file. In Internet Explorer 6, you receive the following message:

You are downloading the file:

file name.ext from Web site

Would you like to open the file or save it to your computer?

Always ask before opening this type of file.

This behavior occurs even if you were not prompted to confirm the opening of an Office document before you installed Office XP.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you have Microsoft Office XP installed. When you install Office XP, the Confirm open after download setting in the Edit File Type dialog box is turned on for all Office file types. The Confirm open after download setting is turned on by default to help prevent the spread of macro viruses.

WORKAROUND

If you are not concerned about specific file types, click to clear the Always ask before opening this type of file check box when the message appears.

You can also manually change the Confirm open after download setting for one or more file types. To do this, use the appropriate method.

Method 1: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Microsoft Windows 98

  1. Double-click My Computer, and then click Options (or Folder Options) on the View menu.
  2. Click the File Types tab, click a specific file type (for example, Microsoft Excel Worksheet) in the Registered file types box, and then click Edit.
  3. Click to clear the Confirm open after download check box, and then click OK.

Method 2: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000, and Microsoft Windows XP

  1. Double-click My Computer, and then click Folder Options on the Tools menu.
  2. Click the File Types tab, click a specific file type (for example, Microsoft Excel Worksheet) in the Registered file types box, and then click Advanced.
  3. Click to clear the Confirm open after download check box, and then click OK.

    Note This setting does not take effect for limited user accounts.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/10/2005
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB303475
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.