[SOLVED] Problem with Download Folder.

When I need to check for downloads, sometimes they go to my desktop, sometimes they go to another document folder. It appears that downloads go to the most convenient place possible. What happens is this: When I attempt to open the download folder, there's a red box. At the top, it says: EXPLORER.EXE. Then inside of the box, it says: "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel". Has this happened to any of you? And if so, what steps did you take to correct it?

YThat is a first for me!
Could you give a couple of pieces of info.
1. Does this occur with any browser and 2. To which Download folder are you referring. ( There are a couple)

First off. It sounds like you are attempting to open a file, rather than a folder but??

I mainly use Firefox, but Microsoft sites require IE. I'm talking about the folder in Start+Documents, you notice a list beginning with Favorites, then Desktop, then Downloads. That's the folder I'm talking about. Just a minute ago, I used IE to do a sample download. It went straight to Documents, under the Libraries list, that contains Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. None of my downloads goes to the Downloads folder, even though I selected the last download to go there. I hope this gives you better understanding of what I'm talking about. When I bought this PC a month ago, after a few days I backed up. I had to go through the backup procedure 4 or 5 times because the program kept hitting a snag over that very same folder. My neighbor who lets me use her internet connection let me look at hers, her downloads are going into the proper folder. I'm not getting a code over this, just the message I posted above.

I don't have that path on my computers, unfortunately. Default download for IE is C:\Downloads or C:\Users\UsernameDownloads. Have they by chance finsihed up in either of those locations?

No, depending on the program being downloaded, it always ends up in My Documents, or if it's a disc to be made, it comes up on my Desktop. Power2Go opens up any discs to be made. I don't know whether to continue to allowing them to do this and delete the Downloads folder, or what. I've never had this problem on any computer I've owned.

TRy this, works for some.

Click on Start—>Run type click ok
Navigate the following key from left pane
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
Now you should see Download key from right pane

Edit (Double click it) the ‘download directory’ value to the full path of the directory you wish to use and click ok.

Usual warning. Backup the registry before altering anything!

That's one thing I'm afraid of messing up, is the registry. I'm going to try to restore as far back as possible and see what happens. I have no important documents on it, and programs can always be downloaded again, as I have a free connection and only a few programs that I've installed on it. I've messed with the registry on a laptop, and had to reinstall. I won't chance that on a one month old PC.

What happens if you right click the download's folder? Does the "Type" say it is a folder or a program?

It just says, Restore Previous Versions, Open File Location, Send to, Cut, Copy, Remove, Rename and Properties. Today, I downloaded and installed MSE. When I downloaded the inital file, it went straight to the desktop. There, I opened it and it finished the install. That was using Firefox. If I use IE, it saves them to My Documents.

Firefox is, as you know, easily configurable for a default download folder through it's Tools - Options. fwiw. Microsoft used to insist on IE for some of its sites. Under pressure from its own users, particularly Technet forums, they had to change this policy. I am not aware of any MS sites now that need IE only. If you could tell me of one, I could publicise it in the right area.
The problem with IE8 is that it dowloads to a temp file and then redistibutes to the appropriate (or what it thinks is appropriate) portion of the library.
The fix I mentioned is, to the best of my knowledge, the only way to prevent this. But I have disabled my libraries as, at least in my useage, I cannot see why I should overcomplicate something which to me has been so simple until Windows came up with the library idea.