Hi,

Please see this for possible causes and solution.

If "Open" and "Open Containing Folder" in the right-click context menu in the Download Manager window are grayed then that means that the file is no longer in the original download location.

It is possible that your anti-virus software is corrupting the downloaded files or otherwise interfering with downloading files by Firefox. Try to disable the real-time (live) scanning of files in your anti-virus software temporarily to see if that makes downloading work.

See "Disable virus scanning in Firefox preferences - Windows"

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files

The solution posted by dumdidadida was to go into regedit and change HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell key "default" to "none".

I checked and they were already "none". But for grins and giggles I edited them and changed them to "none". Now it works.

Weird.

One other potentially pertinent piece of evidence is that I mistakenly changed HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive, key "default" to "none", realized my mistake and changed it back to its original value of "Drive". I don't know if that's relevant.

Before closing this, I tried again a day later.

Victory was short-lived. It doesn't work again. I tried the same trick as before, changing things to "none" even though that's what they already were. Doesn't work. I even tried the (incorrect) renaming of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive. Still nothing.

Downloaded something new, to be sure it was still there. Does not work.

Set the key in directory/shell/default to a garbage value. Still does nothing.

Changed it back to "none". Still does nothing.

Deleted it. Still does nothing.

Changed it back to "none". Still does nothing.

I can do a search in windows explorer, click on a found file, select "open containing folder" and that works just as it should.

The files exist. I can go to the original download directory (C:\Temp\Downloads) and they're all there. It's just that right clicking and selecting "open containing directory" causes nothing to happen.

I changed the download directory to c:\foo, downloaded something there. The file's in there, but nothing happens when I try "open containing directory".

It doesn't work in safe mode, either.

Can you open the Firefox Profile Folder?

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder

Can you open the download folder via code like this in the Error Console (Web Developer > Error Console)?

Place an applicable file path between the quotes and paste the code in the Code field in the Error Console (Ctrl+Shift+J) and click the Evaluate button.

var file = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
file.initWithPath("<path_to_download_folder>");
file.launch();

I can open the profile folder, opens to C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\rwwcs9i1.test

I can open the error console.

When I tried to open the containing folder in the normal way it worked, both in c:\temp\downloads and c:\foo.

I pasted the specified code into the "code" window of the error console. When I try to execute the code specified, changing "<path_to_download_folder>" to "c:\temp\downloads" it comes back with a dialog that looks like it's responding in a unix-like way to the backslashes. With "c:/temp/downloads", nothing happens.

But it still works from the download window. For how long, I don't know.

Error console reports

Timestamp: 10/10/2012 6:03:12 PM Error: NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH: Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsILocalFile.initWithPath] Source File: javascript:%20var%20file%20=%20Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);%20file.initWithPath("c:/temp/Downloads");%20file.launch(); Line: 1

and

Timestamp: 10/10/2012 6:03:45 PM Error: NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH: Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsILocalFile.initWithPath] Source File: javascript:%20var%20file%20=%20Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);%20file.initWithPath("c:/foo");%20file.launch(); Line: 1

You need to double backslashes to make them work on Windows.

• "c:\\temp\\downloads"

That worked, but then so did opening containing folder in the usual way. So, I logged out, logged back in, restarted firefox.

Selecting "open containing folder" from the downloads window did nothing.

Entered code above into error console, using double backslashes in the directory name. Folder opened correctly.

Closed the containing folder, tried again from the downloads window. Nothing happens. No new messages appear in the error console.

You can check the download folder via this method by using the code field in the Web Developer > Error Console (Ctrl+Shift+J):

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/User:Dickvl/JavaScript_Error_Console#Download_Manager

The download manager window needs to be open when you evaluate the code in the Error Console and you see a prompt with the info of the currently selected entry. You can hover each of the icons at the far left in the DM window to get a tooltip with that same information.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

• Do not click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

The code appears to function correctly, producing results like this

C:\foo\Introducing Small Basic.pdf,Total Time: 4.297 sec.,Curr Bytes: 2523933 bytes (OK),Max Bytes: 2523933 bytes,Download speed: 587.371 KB/sec

Safe mode does not change the behavior. It still doesn't open the containing folder.

I've tried logging in as a different user on this computer and open containing folder works there. XP Pro, multiple users can be logged in at the same time. I have one account running and everything works, but on the prime user account it doesn't.

That still sounds like some registry corruption in the HKCU hive that prevents the open container menu item from working.

You can try to ask advice at a more Windows oriented forum to see if they know what to look for.

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/ - BleepingComputer.com - Computer Help Forums
• http://windowssecrets.com/forums/ Windows Secrets Lounge
• http://www.eileenslounge.com/index.php Eileen's Lounge

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can also try to reset Firefox:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting

I did a firefox reset. It didn't fix the problem.

I've tried numerous xp support sites. Lots of people have this question, no one has an answer.