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General discussion

accessing downloaded stuff

by newg Jul 10, 2009 1:08PM PDT

My husband has an acer laptop and had some guys at work load some stuff on the computer with work related files. I don't know if this has something to do with my problem or not. Now I cannot open any downloaded files from the internet - I am trying to download Advanced System Care and it does download (I save these to a file that I have on the desktop) but when I click to set it up on the computer I get a box that says - Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item. I also get the same message when trying to open downloaded files from logitech for mouse hardware. Help! Thank you kindly, Gwen

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7 Posts
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A few solutions/tips
by itsols Jul 11, 2009 1:42AM PDT

Hi, Here are a few checkpoints for your to see why you cannot download files.

1. Your line speed. If the download speed drops beyond a level, the download maybe interrupted abruptly. And depending on how you downloaded the file(s), resuming it MAY not be possible.

2. Check if your permissions. Sometimes your browser may be customised to disallow downloads of specific types.

3. Your user profile. If your computer has multiple user(s) see that your account has permission to download the file.

4. Download location. Sometimes files are downloaded to specific folders by default. Perhaps it has been changed and you're looking in the wrong direction.

5. Is there a removable drive? If you had a pendrive or similar removable medium on the computer during download and if you happened to remove it afterwards or during the download, your drive letters and paths will/may change. This is particularly true with partitioned drives, depending on how they were setup.

Hope you find this useful.
Happy computing!
Khalid

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Did they change your account status?
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Jul 11, 2009 9:40PM PDT

If you were an Administrator before, are you an Administrator now?

Check the Control Panel > User Accounts, and see what type of account you have.

Mark

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Yes
by newg Jul 12, 2009 4:08AM PDT

I checked and all the accounts are listed as admin - there are three. But I just downloaded and installed ccleaner to my daughter's account on the laptop and everything works just fine. Any suggestions?? Thanks, Gwen

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Is this Windows Vista?
by MarkFlax Forum moderator Jul 12, 2009 4:22AM PDT

If so, there may be problems with UAC, (User Access Control), or with the location you downloaded to.

You said you downloaded to a 'file' on your Desktop. Do you mean you downloaded the installer file to your Desktop, or downloaded to some folder on your Desktop? I ask because that "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item" looks like it is an unauthorised location.

If Vista, what happens if you right click the file and select "Run as Administrator"?

Mark

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Yes
by newg Jul 12, 2009 4:44AM PDT

I think you are right about the UAC. Is there anyway to change this for the account? How can I set the laptop (w/ 3 accounts on) it so that I don't have to download the same program 3 different times?

I have a folder on the desktop that I call 'downloaded files' and when I download something I put it there and the just install from there. Someone told me to do that and then it is easy to know what is downloaded on the computer.

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Re: not download 3 times.
by Kees Bakker Jul 12, 2009 4:57AM PDT

One time downloading and installing is enough. Then the program is on the machine and everybody who wants it can use it. There is no special way of setting up your machine needed at all. It's all very standard: programs need only be installed one time. Not twice, not thrice. Just once.

Most (but not all) install programs put the shortcuts to run the program, find help, uninstall it and whatever more, in Start>Programs of "all users". So all users can access the installed programs via the Start>Programs menu (that's XP language, the principle in Vista is the same).
Some of those can put a shortcut on the desktop also. That could be "all users" desktop or just the desktop from the user who installs the program. Other users can make their own shortcut on their own desktop if they want so.
Some programs only install to the Start>Programs of the installing user. Then other users must make all the shortcuts themselves (or copy yours). But making shortcuts isn't the same as installing.

If you download to a folder on your desktop, you should be able run the downloaded program, I think. It's not clear why you can't.
But most users would download to another folder. Personally, I use Program Files>installed_programs to download the setups to. Others make a folder in Shared Documents. I'd say that anything else is better than your desktop, because you will never need the setup program any more. So why keep it so much in sight?

Kees

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Good advice
by newg Jul 12, 2009 10:11AM PDT

I see what you mean about the downloaded programs so got rid of the file folder. Just wondering if you have any ideas how to be able to download from my husbands profile, if not I guess I'll have to keep downloading on my daughter's profile. Thanks, Gwen

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