It is possible that anti-virus software is corrupting downloaded files or is interfering otherwise.

Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files
• browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Windows Defender: Home Page:
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• AdwCleaner:
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
  http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Thanks for the suggestions Cor-el. But I can download using Internet explorer, so think it can't be an anti-virus software problem. Also, as suggested on the site, I instructed Windows to allow Firefox as an exception to the firewall. I used Microsoft Security essentials to do a scan and there were no problems reported.

By the way, since re-installing firefox, download is sometimes working and sometimes not. That makes doing 'spot checks' a dubious exercise, as a download does not mean problem solved.

Did you try to boot Windows in Safe Mode to see if that makes the downloading work?

Hi Cor-el When I boot Windows in safe mode, I can download. As I said, I can sometimes download anyway, but I did 3 files in a row and they all worked.

Hello,

Please screenshot what happens when you try to download anything in Normal boot mode.

Thanks,

Curtis

Hi Curtis It scans the attachment and then nothing else happens. I've set Firefox to ask me where I want to save downloads - so when it's working the Save As dialog normally opens - but not now.

Patsy reported this in another thread:
"I've tried all the suggested solutions in: What to do if you can't download or save files. I can't download from Yahoo, but can from Gmail. I've tested using copies of the same file on both. Someone suggested checking malware, but I've run a scan and don't have a problem, and as I say, i can use Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Someone asked for a screen shot, who knows why."

She has done all the troubleshooting and made a very good point. Something is wrong with Firefox specifically. Her addons don't look suspect. Unless Ant Video Downloader somehow breaks Yahoo.

Could you try to disable that addon by going to the orange Firefox button > Add-ons or Tools > Add-ons then click the Extensions tab. Click on Ant Video Downloader and click Disable. Exit Firefox, login to Yahoo mail again and test downloading that file attachment. Let us know if that helps.

If that doesn't work, I have a Yahoo email account and I suspect there's a bug between it and Firefox. I'll see if I can reproduce it.

Hi Noah Thanks for your help. i disabled Ant, closed and re-opened Firefox, but I still couldn't download. cheers Patsy

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Unable+to+download+or+save+files

Hi Co-rel When I said I'd tried all suggestions, that's what I meant. Those two pages and the one I named have similar advice. Thanks anyway.

Hello again Noah I wondered if you worked out what was happening? Cheers Patsy

Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?

It is possible that anti-virus software is corrupting downloaded files or is interfering otherwise.

Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files
• browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone = false

Hi Co-rel I use Microsoft Security Essentials. I turned of real time scans but that made no difference. As i said I've tried the suggested ideas. I've also gone to config: about and browser.download.manger etc is turned to false. As I said, downloads work using Firefox with with Gmail and using other browsers with Yahoo. It seems a very specific problem between firefox and yahoo. Cheers Patsy

Hi Patsy

Thanks for staying so patient. I made sure I got the same version of Firefox as you and sent myself a test .docx file in Yahoo mail and tried to open the attachment. Yahoo scanned it then a box opened asking where to save the file. I saved the file and it was saved to my computer.

Thank you for trying all our suggestions. I will keep looking for any clue to solving this as this is a pretty annoying problem to have. Maybe I missed something.

Hi Noah, Thanks for your efforts. Firefox worked fine downloading from yahoo for a long time for me too. I still wonder if my efforts to download a shock wave player is connected. It repeatedly seemed to work without really downloading. Then I tried to download a newer version of flash player and the same thing happened. The problem with Yahoo began a day or so after that. Thanks Patsy

Did you try to boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) to see if that helps?

Hi Cor-el - as per my reply on the 19th:

"When I boot Windows in safe mode, I can download. As I said, I can sometimes download anyway, but I did 3 files in a row and they all worked."

Cheers Patsy

Hi I think I managed to solve the problem. I didn't know that FlashPlayer 11 Active X was for Internet explorer while the plugin was for firefox. I updated the plugin and the problem was solved.

Later... Hello - it stopped working again, but this time I noticed an icon in the address field. Before the URL, there is a little shield, and when I click on it, I can stop Firefox blocking downloads from that site. This solved it! Looks like I'm going to have to do that every time! But now at least I think I know why that response from someone called Curtis asked for a screen shot. When I checked the one I sent him, I saw the shield icon was there.

Note by Noah_SUMO

It looks like the new "Mixed content blocking" feature introduced in Firefox 23 is blocking Yahoo mail attachments from downloading. I can't tell if this is happening for everyone so I'll do a bit more testing and file a bug to get it fixed if needed.

Hello - it stopped working again, but this time I noticed an icon in the address field. Before the URL, there is a little shield, and when I click on it, I can stop Firefox blocking downloads from that site. Looks like I'm going to have to do that every time! But now at least I think I know why that response from someone called Curtis asked for a screen shot. When I checked the one I sent him, I saw the shield icon was there.