Cannot download any files

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Level 1

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Cannot download any files

Strange thing started happening about a week ago - prior to this I had no trouble.

I can't download or save any files from the Internet - not .dmg files, not ppts or pdfs sent to me through email, nothing. I've tried in Safari, Firefox, and IE. My Safari settings do allow opening safe content.

Also tried verifying permissions but that didn't work either.

Any help very much appreciated!
thanks

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Dec 23, 2005 6:56 PM

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Answer 1

carrieleigh Author

Level 1

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Dec 23, 2005 7:04 PM in response to carrieleigh

I should also mention that I get an error saying "cannot create file" in Safari's download manager when I try.

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

726,923 points

Dec 23, 2005 8:39 PM in response to carrieleigh

Open Safari's preferences and check that the folder Safari is trying to download files to actually exists and isn't a system folder; if you're not sure where you can download files to, set the download folder to the desktop. If Safari is set to download files to the desktop and you get that error message, click on the desktop and choose Get Info from the Finder's File menu. Under Ownership & Permissions, give yourself read and write access; you may need to change the owner to yourself to do this. This change won't be made by running repair permissions.

(9793)

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Answer 3

carrieleigh Author

Level 1

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Dec 24, 2005 6:46 AM in response to Niel

ok - great. Safari was set to download to the desktop and I don't have write access to the desktop, so I changed the folder Safari downloads to and was able to download files. Thank you!

Then I tried to change my desktop privileges. I changed the owner to myself but still wasn't able to give myself access (the dropdown was still dimmed). Then I went to Accounts in System Preferences but the box to allow myself to administer the computer was dimmed (and the lock was unlocked).

Any ideas?
thanks again.

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Answer 4

Niel

Level 10

726,923 points

Dec 24, 2005 10:18 AM in response to carrieleigh

Open the Script Editor in your /Applications/AppleScript folder and paste in the following:

do shell script "chmod 700 ~/Desktop"

Press the Run button to correct the permissions on the desktop.

(9794)

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Answer 5

carrieleigh Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 24, 2005 12:10 PM in response to Niel

that worked - thanks very much.

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