Reset Always Ask Before Opening This Type Of File Check Box in Vista IE

Whenever you download a file such as zip file, Word documents, Excel worksheets or Powerpoint presentations from the web using Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) in Windows Vista, a download dialog window which allows you to choose whether you want to open or save the file to the disk will pop up. On this dialog box, there is a check box on “Always ask before opening this type of file” which is by default ticked, which causes the download selection dialog for a file type to continue pop up on subsequent download.

Save or Open Downloaded File

However, if you untick or unselect the checkbox of “Always ask before opening this type of file” option before clicking on save or open the downloaded files, the next time you attempt to download a file with same file type or extension IE will automatically start to download and then perform the selected action (either save or open) when finished. You can no longer been asked or able to choose whether to open the file or save the file, as the File Download dialog no longer appear, and hence the save or open check box no longer available to reset or change.

In Windows Vista running IE7, unlike in Windows XP or previous operating system with IE6 or IE7 (which is configurable through File Types tab of Folder Options), there is no longer an option to reset or change this behavior to the normal default again through the usual GUI.

To reset or change back the open or save behavior when downloading a file with IE 7 in Vista, simply run Registry Editor (type regedit in Start Search), and then navigate to the following registry key.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute\{0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}

Note: {0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} is the Class ID for the InternetExplorer.Application object.

Inside this registry key, there will be a list of value data corresponding to all the file types that you have unticked the “Always ask before opening this type of file” option check box against.

Reset Registry

Simply delete any unwanted registry values for the file type or extension that you want to reset or return the filetype to their default download behaviour.

For Windows XP, 2003, 2000 and older, there is simpler method to reset the Always Ask setting.

19 Responses to “Reset Always Ask Before Opening This Type Of File Check Box in Vista IE”

  1. sree
    January 20th, 2010 11:59
    19

    thanks works good

  2. SubZerQQ
    January 20th, 2010 03:51
    18

    ok I tweaked further, here is the run command for vista and win7 to clear the subdata from this key winkey and R, paste in text below and hit enter

    reg delete hkcu\software\microsoft\windows\shell\attachmentexecute\{0002df01-0000-0000-c000-000000000046} /va /f

  3. SubZerQQ
    January 19th, 2010 03:29
    17

    this should be the regfile data needed to clear this keys subdata, copy the data below and save into notepad and save as vistadownloadfix.reg , double click or right click the file and merge, good luck.

    REGEDIT4

    [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute\{0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\AttachmentExecute\{0002DF01-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]

  4. duude
    January 3rd, 2010 21:01
    16

    Thank you! Worked on Windows 7 Home Premium!

  5. Josh P
    May 10th, 2009 06:52
    15

    I am having th same issue, I was able to get to the registry entry’s in the example, but I have one question just to be sure. In the directions you say.

    “Simply delete any unwanted registry values for the file type or extension that you want to reset or return the filetype to their default download behaviour.”

    My question is do I delete the CompressedFolder, or do I click modify? Because it says that if I delete it I may make the computer unstable. I just want to make sure I am doing the correct thing. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

    Thanks

  6. bungle
    March 1st, 2009 09:21
    14

    worked a dream thanks. didnt want to reformat over something as small as this :)

  7. Al3x
    February 4th, 2009 07:31
    13

    I cant find the AttachmentExecute.
    I think that i have the same problem that LashKnife has.
    PLEASE help me!

  8. bobo
    July 22nd, 2008 04:38
    12

    it does not work for IE or Firefox. only for windows mail or outlook i assume.

  9. michalerain
    July 13th, 2008 23:41
    11

    It really helped me, thanks!

  10. Kitty
    May 8th, 2008 14:25
    10

    I can’t believe I spent 5 hours trying to follow the comments above. Going in the registry was sheer terror. After spending useless hours trying to enable the dialog box again I found an easier way to do it. So try this:

    For Window Vista Home Edition with Mozilla Firefox

    1.Close all Browsers and open a New Mozilla Firefox Browser
    2.Go to tool>options>contents
    See File Types and Click on “Manage. . .”
    3.Click on “MP3 MP3 Format Sound Open With Windows Media Pla. . .”
    4.Click on “Remove Action”
    Click again on “Remove Action” if prompted
    5.You should not be able to see it on the screen and just hit Close then Ok.

    Close all Browsers and open new Browser,
    Now try opening an “.mp3 link” as a “MP3 Format Sound”
    The Mysterious dialog Box should pop up again prompting you to Open with… Save to Disk or Cancel.

    Hope this helps.

  11. Jessica
    January 29th, 2008 07:27
    9

    Thank you so much!!! This worked for me!

  12. ArtW
    January 20th, 2008 11:22
    8

    It really works!!! — The Registry Edit HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/.

    I had the same problem with MP3 files. The first occurence did not have EditFlags. Searched for next “mp3″, found it, changed it but did not help. Seached the next “mp3″, found it with Windows Media 11 (which is what I am using) — changed 01 to 00 and BINGO!!!

    Many many thanks!

  13. Satish
    December 6th, 2007 13:17
    7

    no help no registry key found.
    I am facning the same problem. Is there any solution
    satish

  14. Lashknife
    October 5th, 2007 03:53
    6

    I’ll check tomorrow at work, hope it works (at home in registry, i did not have the editflags thingy :s (or i’m looking in the wrong place) but i’ll check tomorrow!

  15. matt
    October 4th, 2007 05:05
    5

    Lashknife – i had the same problem. After 4 hours of searching, i found a solution that works!!

    Open Registry Editor
    In HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/ find the file type that you need to change. Example:
    Excel.Sheet.8 for .xls
    Excel.Sheet.12 for .xlsx.
    For other file types, find the appropriate name.
    Highlight EditFlags
    Change the third octet to 00 (it will say 01, which means auto open)

  16. Lashknife
    August 24th, 2007 23:09
    4

    Sadly enough, I’ve disabled this checkbox while opening an attachment in Outlook 2007 in Vista.
    And I don’t simply have this AttachmentExecute key in registry
    Did a “Find” but found nothing relevant, both on AttachmentExecute as for the IE key.

    Any help?

  17. paras
    July 21st, 2007 19:37
    3

    helped a lot, thanks

  18. Microsoft, why do you want me to firebomb your headquarters? : Negativesmart
    July 11th, 2007 18:15
    2

    [...] Reset Always Ask Before Opening This Type Of File Check Box in Vista IE » My Digital Life [I]f you untick or unselect the checkbox of “Always ask before opening this type of file” option before clicking on save or open the downloaded files, the next time you attempt to download a file with same file type or extension IE will automatically start to download and then perform the selected action (either save or open) when finished. […] In Windows Vista running IE7 […] there is no longer an option to reset or change this behavior to the normal default again through the usual GUI. [...]

  19. Disable Automatic Opening or Saving of Downloads (Re-enable Always Ask Before Check Box) » My Digital Life
    June 15th, 2007 17:17
    1

    [...] Open or Save As options again. Note that in Windows Vista, File Types tab is taken away, so the reset has to be done in registry. Get help or contribute tips or tricks at My Digital Life [...]

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