This is complicated to say so maybe an example is needed. I have Firefox up and I open up files, for example PDFs. I do not use the option to save the files, I just open them. The files open in the application, for this example Adobe Reader. I then close Adobe. I look in the Downloads, and I see them in my history and I can click on them and they open up each time. If I click on the link to "Open Containing Folder" it takes me to C:\Users\smith\AppData\Local\Temp. I shut down Firefox. I open Firefox and go to the Downloads. I see the files there. I click on the files and nothing happens. I click on the link "Open Containing Folder" and nothing happens. I can select the file, right click and do "Copy Download Link" and then paste that into the browser and it will download the file. It would be nice if instead of doing the cut and paste, if the file is not in the Downloads directory, it would follow the link itself. I checked the knowledge base and do not see a similar problem reported. I checked Options, on the Privacy tab, I do not have the "Clear history when Firefox closes" checked. I am using Firefox 24.0