Topic awaiting preservation: Download Links Problem in XP?

Over the past few months I have noticed that about 30-40% of the links I click on to download "stuff" simply just don't work. No not even rt click and "save as" works when that happens.
For example on Mahjqa's site there is a link to download skins for GTA cars. It did not work for me, after some correspondence with Mahjqa I got the skins another way (Thanx Mahjqa). He assured me the links were working, so that got me to thinking that all the other places that I thought I had found dead links, were probably working and the fault was at my end!
The most recent "dead" links are on these sites Tao Te Ching and I wanted to download the latest video driver for my system at NVidia None of the links on these pages work. The NVidia link takes me as far as a splash screen warranty to read and then to click "I accept", which I do, then nothing happens.
I have contacted both of the sites named above, needless to say NVidia never got back to me after three emails!!! The chap at Tao Te Ching replied the next day to assure me that the links were working.
So what do you think may be going wrong, has anyone else had problems like this and did you overcome them. I have been in touch with windows XP help, online support, but they too deem it below their dignity to actually answer a customers question.
Any help would be gratefully received.

I had the wost problem with this using IE. Is that what you are using?
For the longest time, when I wanted to download something I had to do it in Mozilla. The only time that I got it to work again was when I got a new hard drive.

Sorry I couldn't be more help

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~

What version of IE do you have? ..and has it been inadvertantly updated? Sometimes your IE gets hijacked and your search results get directed and diverted to certain pre-set locations also causing the 'download' capability to malfunction.
Go to the Microsoft XP Pro site and get a clean version of IE 6 or use the original instalatoion disk to restore a clean version. I would advise that you do a scan for spywear and 'bugs' that can really screw up the way IE behaves.

You can get a free scan application from Lavasoft. http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10045910.html?legacy=cnet

...xpi...

"nuff said"

Good grief!! what a dufuss I am sorry. I should have said straight off that I am running IE6 with SP1. It actually says that I am using a customised version of IE. Although I'm sorry you were having the same troubles as me cprompt I'm glad you told me ;¬
Xpirex thanks for the advice. I already reguarly run Adaware, Spysweeper and Windows Washer, so I thought I was fairly well protected. I also have Norton Firewall and all the Norton utilities which I run regularly. I even turn the firewall off to see if that affects downloads but it makes no difference to my problem.
You say go to the XP Pro site to download IE6 again, is that OK even if I am using XP Home edition? I have never tried reinstalling IE from the original disk, although I have reinstalled the whole XP operating system from disk. I suppose that means I will have to download both the service packs as well?
I'll read up on it and follow your advice Xpirex, any more advice, suggestions would be appreciated.




[edit] I have just checked the Adaware site you linked to and noticed that they are offering a new version of AdAware, Version 6, I have been using version 5. So guess what???????? I tried to download it BUT,,,,,,,,,,,,,BUT BUT. I can't download ....IE6 just will not let me download the B* thing

[This message has been edited by Taobaybee (edited 06-16-2003).]

I have just reinstalled IE6 on my XP Home system and it has made no difference at all, still no downloads on either of the two sites I have listed above. If anyone is interested in the Tao Te Ching the site listed above has some great downloads, if you do download stuff from there can you let me know that it is working please.
I can't figure it. I am considering wiping my hard drive and doing a complete reinstall of everthing. Not a task I relish I can tell you, especially as I have no idea if that will resolve my problem.
I've just noticed that even though I specifically asked not to install MSN Messenger the reinstall of IE6 has placed that devils spawn back on my system.
OK. deep breath ahhh. I'm going to have somthing to eat, sit out in the park ('tis a gorgeous day) and calm down before I take the next step. (Which is looking more and more like a complete format and reinstall) Oh poo. :¬
I'm still open to any more suggestions. Mayhap I can find some good magicks to cure my system.

Just to round this thread off nicely.
I have resolved my downloading problems
I came apon a really good site that gave me almost one to one "real time" assistance in sorting out this problem. It turns out that a program that I had thought I had wiped off my 'puter was still lurking about preventing me from activating "download" links. The nasty piece of software in question was Go!Zilla. Turns out, it had not been fully uninstalled, so I had to reinstall it then completly uninstall it again. Now I am a Downloading Demon (of the nicest kind of course).



[This message has been edited by Taobaybee (edited 06-17-2003).]

I knew something had hijacked your IE... that Go-Zilla is a bitch (scuse my French.) ...and the new version of Ad-Aware would have detected even the fragments that the uninstall had left behind and was buggering up your ability to download. Even scraps that hide in the registry get cleaned out. Still I'm gald you resolved the problem.

...xpi...

"nuff said"