Fix IE Not Prompting to Save Location - Internet Explorer XP

Resolving the "Always Ask" Dialog Issue in Internet Explorer and Windows XP

Users of Internet Explorer on Windows XP may occasionally find themselves facing a frustrating situation. This occurs when the option to "Always ask before opening this type of file" has been inadvertently disabled, and the setting cannot be re-enabled.

Fortunately, a straightforward solution exists to restore this functionality. The issue centers around a specific dialog box that prompts users to confirm their desired action when opening certain file types.

Resetting the Open/Save Dialog Choice in Windows XP

Begin by opening a File Explorer window. Navigate to the "Tools" menu and select "Folder Options".

Within the Folder Options window, select the "File Types" tab. This tab allows you to manage settings for various file extensions.

Identify the file type for which you wish to reset the prompt. For example, if the problem pertains to zip files, select the "zip" extension. This process is applicable to other file types like Excel or Word documents as well.

Click the "Advanced" button. Locate and check the box labeled "Confirm open after download".

If the "Confirm open after download" box is already checked, toggle it off and then back on again. This action effectively resets the setting.

Following these steps, your downloads should once again prompt you to choose a location, allowing you to easily determine where downloaded files, such as Firefox, are being saved.