cannot save or run downloaded files

[Kyote]

First whats going on, then I'll explain what I'm asking.

A friend of mine has Vista on his 2 home computers. His and his Wife's. They recently rearranged furniture, including the computers. When they plugged them all back in to their router, neither their computers, nor their xbox, could connect to the internet anymore. They called their ISP(Charter Communication) and Charter told them nothing was wrong that their cable modem was showing up fine and seemed to be working just fine. So they had a tech come out to their place and the guy was baffled. He swapped out their cable modem but said nothing was wrong with the old one, he just swapped them to make them feel better I guess. But even the tech guy couldn't understand why they suddendly cannot access the net. Even removing the router from the equation did not help one little bit. A buddy of theirs brought his laptop over to their house and was able to connect to the net through their cable modem so we know the modem is working just fine.

Well, thats when my Brother told them to call me. I did all the basic things you'd expect, starting from scratch. We started with connecting directly to the cable modem and got what I expected, zilch. I checked ipconfig and noticed they had a 169.*.*.* IP on both computers. by the way I'm doing all this long distance since they live several hours away from me. That 169 is wrong, or at least it seems like it to me so I banged away trying to change that with no results. Every change I made reset to 169 instantly. Even a restart didn't help. So I had them plug it into the router and got a normal 192.*.*.* IP. At this point, several hours after we began, I gave up for the time being on that particular problem. I figured having them do something then explain to me what was going on just was not working. Besides, I dont use Vista, I use and prefer XP. So I decided to use remote assistance if I could to take a look at it myself. I told them to call Charter and get the CD with USB drivers for their modem. Charter told them USB drivers wont work for their Ambit u10c018 modem on Vista.

At this point they call me back and I realized Charter obviously dont want to help them. So I get the drivers and email them to them. They went to a friends house and copied them to a flash drive and brought them back and installed them. All that worked just fine.

Now to the problem. I'm able to connect to both but right now I'm going to explain the problem I'm having with 1 in particular.

I'm currently connected and I try to download a file. The file seems to download just fine, shows the progress and everything. But it does NOT save the file. I tried changing the destination folder from users\name\downloads to a new folder I created c:\temp and got no change. No file of any type will save when downloaded from the net. So I tried choosing 'Run' instead. Then it downloads the file and open an internet security window about the file asking if I want to run it and I click run again and then it disappears. POOF, gone, with no apprent attempt to run what so ever. This happens on every single file I try to download.

I asked my friend(Danny) about it. He says that that's been like that on that particular computer as long as he's had it, or can remember. On the other I can download and save files just fine. But it's getting REALLY annoying having them switch back and forth, and re-creating a RA file then mail it to me each time I need to try something else.

Also, when trying to save the file, like I said it downloads smoothly, shows the progress and everything. But even though the box about closing the download window is NOT checked that window disappears as soon as the file is done downloading.

Now, I've tried going into internet options and resetting all zones. I've even went to the advanced tab and reset in there. I has not changed anything except for the set homepage.

Please, can anybody help me help them? I'm currently connected to them but I have them minimized. I'll keep checking things but until I can get this changed I think on this particular PC I'm at a stand still.

Also, if anyone reads this and may know of a solution to why they cannot connect via their Ethernet ports after merely rearranging furniture I'd love that as well. But the main thing I'd like to solve is this inability to save or run files from the net.

Thank you for reading this lengthy description.

Scott

Power off the router and then back on. Do this with the computer shut down.
See if you can go online. My router periodically loses it's mind also.

If that doesn't work try a hard reset of the router. There is usually a
recessed button that is reached through a tiny hole in the rear via a
straightened paper clip. Press and hold the button in for about 7-10
seconds. Test again.

If still N/G open a command prompt window using administrator privileges.
Then:

type ipconfig /release
then type ipconfig /renew

Get back to us please.

The files disappearing is quite an annoying problem! Mine would do the same
thing (I'm using Vista). I'd DL the file as usual, it would appear on the
desktop, then all of a sudden, it would be gone, poof! Didn't matter where I
DLed it, it just disappeared. I found a few people with the same problem on
a few message boards, but no solutions. After playing with ie setting on and
off for a few months, I tried uninstalling my AVG anti virus. What do you
know, it works. I can DL files now. So, give that a try.

[Kyote]

I've already tried all of that. We've shut down the router and computer several times, firing up the router and then once it's fully initialized then firing up the computer. No joy... I even told him how to do a hard reset of the router and still no joy. I'm thinking it may be drivers, but I canot really believe it'll be that since it happened to both PC's and not just 1. I don't believe in coincidences, or I guess I should say I don't trust them.

I appreciate you taking the time o try and help. You very well may be right. He does have AVG installed but it's corrupted. I installed Avast but when I tried to uninstall avg I got an error. Since I cannot download and tools I cannot get the avg uninstaller tool. I'll have to do that from the other computer and save it to the flash drive then run it on the affected system. I'm hoping like mad your right. I'll let you know as soon as I find out 1 way or the other.

I hope noone takes this the wrong way but if anyone else responds to this would you mind removing the copy of my post from your reply? It just makes the thread somewhat bulky. I think it may even make it so we get fewer responses per page with so much text. It's my fault for typing so much in the first place but I wanted to explain it all as fully as I could. So if you don't mind removing my quoted text before you add yours I'd really appreciate it.

Also, thank you both very VERY much for trying to help me. After all the hours I've spent trying to help Danny out it's nice to have others trying to assist in a solution.

You say you got them to plug the PC into the router and got a normal 192.*
- what were they plugging into before?
When diagnosing connection troubles, I generally have them connect directly to the modem to determine whether or not the modem is working.

>Is the link cable plugged into the correct port on the PC? Is it fully
plugged in (the clip might have broken)
Yes it's plugged into the correct port. Yes it's fully plugged in.

>Is the cabling correct - from PC to router not PC to PC + router to router.
I'm going to assume that the cabling is correct. Danny, and his wife, neither one are computer illiterate. They just don't have the patience to fix their own problems I think. but from everything I've had them do it seems that everything is normal where cabling is concerned, thus the reason I assume it's correct.

>Were any new cables added?
No

>Are any of the cables, or ports, cross over?
No, this too I assume since I have no way to check them myself. The only cables they have are the ones provided by the cable company.

>Have they tried different ports on the router?
No, I don't think we've tried different ports. But I can check. But it seems to me if the ports on the router went bad... well, 2 of them at the same time? That's pushing coincidence. But again I can check that so thank you for thinking of it.

>Most ethernet connectors have a link indication light - this should light
>when there is a cable connection to a device that is on (i.e. the one on
>the PC should light if the router is on and there is a correct cable
>connection - and will light even if the PC is off)
I completely forgot to have them check the lights on the cards. But since at least 1 of the computers can access the router's UI I'm sure at least it's NIC is ok.

>Does windows notice the cable being plugged in and removed?
Yes

>When the cable is in what does windows think is the problem?
When plugged into the modem directly it eventually says unknown network and they get absolutely no net connectivity. when connected to the router the one that I can see the router's UI with reports no problems at all... I think... I double check to be sure tohugh.
>Can the PCs see each other?
Not sure, I will check though.

>Are the PCs' network connections set to use DHCP (Obtain IP address
>automatically in TCP/IP properties)
It's set to automatically receive settings. Not sure if thats the same thing but I'll do my best to check. Should be a somewhat similar location as on Windows XP.

>The fact that it happend when reorganising produces smoe thoughts.
>1) Configuration of the router - it is possible that some setting on the
>router was not saveed and was lost when it was unplugged to reorganise.
This is one of the things that occured to me. I mean just have trouble believing both developed the same problem simultaneously.

>2) In reconnecting the cables the cables weren't reconnected exactly as
>before.
This is a possibility. But like I said they are familiar with computers. Since I can now see the router's UI from one though it makes me lean towards believing that they are hooking the cables up correctly.

>3) A cable got damaged, or has a flakey connection.
This is a distinct possibility. Though why both had trouble I can't guess. But it could be the cable for 1 is bad. I can have them swap them out to check that, if they can't see each other over the Network, that is.

>You refer to a cable modem, and a router, initially I had assumed these
>were the same - but the picture shows only 1 ethernet port - so I assume
>these are distinct. The model number for the router might help.
Router = Linksys wrt54gs v7
Modem = ambit u10c018

>Make sure the PCs conntect to the router and the router connects to the
>modem (it may be that you need to use a special (external) port for this
>connection).
No, from what they tell me everything has normal Network connections/cables.

>If the PCs are adjacent try plugging different cables into them.
I should have considered this myself. Each computer could possibly have a different problem connecting so the cables from one may work for the other.

>Try connecting only one at a time.
This is how we've been doing it, at least I think they've been doing only what I've told them. But I can check.

>My first guess would be some sort of cableing error - the fact that
>everything doesn't work implies it isn't just a cable fault.
Yeah, but now that I can at least see the router's UI from one makes me think it's possible that they had different problems, since I've done the same thing to both. I'll swap out the cables and see if that fixes it if they cannot both access the router and ping each other.

Thank you very much Alan. I'll report back with a progress report when I know more. Danny's at work now though.

Thanks for replying Ed. And your right. My very first thought was maleware attack. So once I established that they did indeed have a connection problem I started trying to find out what Spyware/Virus got them. Once I got them the USB driver's I was able to connect and install anti virus, and anti-spyware software. Neither of them showed anything.... Well, one of them didn't for sure but I have not checked the virus chest and logs of the other yet. But I will. I use Avast for my anti-virus and a combo of Spybot and Advanced System Care 3 for my other Maleware detection/removal.

Your right. You cannot be sure unless you ask.

Thank all of you that have been trying to help. I will report back to let you know, when I know a bit more.

Well, the problem with being able to download and save/run fileso n the one PC is fixed. It was the AVG remnant. I downloaded the uninstall tool on the other pc and saved it to a flash drive then ran it from the other PC and BINGO.

Thank you very very much Bill. That part of the problem is no longer a problem!! Woohooo....

I'm still working on the other suggestions so I'll report back soon hopefully.

ok
both computers can see the router's ip of 192.168.1.1.
both computers can open the routers UI using that IP(192.168.1.1).
both computers can use the routers UI to ping the Cable modem.
both computers can ping the cable modem's IP of 192.168.100.1 from a cmd prompt.
The router's routing tables can see both computers.
Neither computer can connect to the internet through the router.
both computers when connected to the cable modem directly cannot ping the modem.
both computers also cannot open the UI of the modem when connected directly.
both computers cannot access the internet via the Ethernet port.
both computers can access the internet via the USB.

To me this seems strange. I mean why can they see the cable modem when connected to the router, but not when directly plugged in to the cable modem?

Seeing the modem through the router indicates to me the Ethernet port on the CModem is working fine. Same with the Ethernet ports on each computer and the router. All Ethernet ports are fine. Also all are connected properly. But then when they try to connect directly to the modem and access or ping the modem it fails utterly.

A 168.* sounds like the windows default.
A 192.* sounds like a address issued from the router (DHCP)

You say you got them to plug the PC into the router and got a normal 192.*
- what were they plugging into before?

Things to check
Is the link cable plugged into the correct port on the PC? Is it fully
plugged in (the clip might have broken)
Is the cabling correct - from PC to router not PC to PC + router to router.
Were any new cables added?
Are any of the cables, or ports, cross over?
Have they tried different ports on the router?
Most ethernet connectors have a link indication light - this should light
when there is a cable connection to a device that is on (i.e. the one on
the PC should light if the router is on and there is a correct cable
connection - and will light even if the PC is off)

Does windows notice the cable being plugged in and removed?
When the cable is in what does windows think is the problem?
Can the PCs see each other?
Are the PCs' network connections set to use DHCP (Obtain IP address
automatically in TCP/IP properties)

The fact that it happend when reorganising produces smoe thoughts.
1) Configuration of the router - it is possible that some setting on the
router was not saveed and was lost when it was unplugged to reorganise.
2) In reconnecting the cables the cables weren't reconnected exactly as
before.
3) A cable got damaged, or has a flakey connection.

You refer to a cable modem, and a router, initially I had assumed these
were the same - but the picture shows only 1 ethernet port - so I assume
these are distinct. The model number for the router might help.
Make sure the PCs conntect to the router and the router connects to the
modem (it may be that you need to use a special (external) port for this
connection).

If the PCs are adjacent try plugging different cables into them.
Try connecting only one at a time.

My first guess would be some sort of cableing error - the fact that
everything doesn't work implies it isn't just a cable fault.

Both PCs running together through the same router... Am I being naive? It
seems to me an ideal set up for a malware invasion hitting both PCs at once
via the router. With your knowhow, I guess you have already checked this out
with up-to-the-minute scanners - but weeeell, you never know!

Of course, several "PCs running together through the same router" is
*exactly* what a router is for.

That's why they call it a router.

Did you know that most routers have a bit of firewall functionality?

I suspect this is part of the problem.
The documentation I read for the cable modem listed its IP address, and
nowhere mentioned DHCP, so I suspect that it doesn't support DHCP. This
means if you connect a PC direct to it the PC can't get its settings -
hence the strange (default) address.

As a first step try connecting one the PCs to the router and check its
address - check it can see the router's web UI.
Then ADD the second and check its address. Check it can see the router's
web UI.
With both still connected check the first can still see the web UI
(especially if the second doesn't connect)
From what you have said I expect that they will all then get correct
addresses.
At which point the chances are they will be able to see each other on the
network. Have them check any shared folders/printers.
ipconfig at a command prompt will give the PC's IP address - the two PCs
should give different values (assuming default values in the router
192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101)

Next connect the cable modem. Check the enet light goes green. Double
check the cable from the modem is in the internet port on the router.
Now open a command prompt and try the command
ping 192.168.100.1
This is the IP address of the modem from the manual.
If the enet light on the modem flashes then the routing is probably
correct. You might not get a reply as the modem might not support PING.
Alternatively try "tracert 192.168.100.1" This should get a response from
192.168.1.1 and then from 192.168.100.1 but might not be supported by the
devices.
If you get no flashing and an "unreachable message" from ping then some
routing setting has not been saved.
You might also want to try this from the routers web UI - That only tests
it between the modem and the router but may narrow down the problem.
Also try to access the modem's web UI on http:192.168.100.1

It is allways best to verify assumptions - it is not unknown when you ask
to get the reply is "Sorry I forgot", or "I thought you did that"

So there should also be none left over.

It is pushing coincidence.

Yes but the cable modem should be plugged into the internet port on the
router not a standard port (1-4) - the firewall sits between this special
port and the others on the router, and non-local traffic will be routed to
it.

Yes I know that. It was both machines being hit at the same
time, is what I was driving at. Having a firewall, even a good one, is often
no protection. This is even truer on the average domestic router.

I was also trying not to insult anyone!!

OK, I misinterpreted what you were saying. Sorry for that. Obviously, we
really are in full agreement :)

Normally, networks are set up so that the first three octets of the IP are
to be the same on all the computers in the net. This is controlled by the
'subnet mask'. If your modem is at 192.168.100.x and the rest are at
192.168.1.x, that might be the problem. I've had just that problem...

If you can reassign the modem's IP address to something safe, i.e.,
192.168.1.x, with a value of x which is not in use elsewhere locally, and
is also outside the range of values used by DHCP, you'll be home free.

The way I would do that is to wire one of the computers directly to the
modem, reassign that computer to 192.168.100.2 or something similar, change
the modem as above, then reassign the computer to the 192.168.1.x subnet.

An alternative is to change the subnet mask to 255.255.0.0, which will
expand the subnet to include all the above.

Because when the PCs connect to the router they send a DHCP request out to
get their settings, and the router's DHCP servers allocates them an
address on the 192.168.1.* sub-net which they use there IP address. Then
when they send anything to an address not on that sub-net the router
passes it through the firewall and out the internet port to the modem -
which either responds to it if it is addressed to 192.168.100.1 or passes
it on.

When you connect the PCs directly to the modem via ethernet then when they
send the DHCP request the modem ignores it and the PC doesn't get a IP
address, and falls back to its factory default settings - which aren't
suitable in this case.

So everything is now reconnected as it was before the reorg.
So it looks like some setting was lost.

Connected via the modem connection tests:
Lights on the modem before enet, sync, ready on.
In a command prompt run
ping 74.220.195.50

The enet, send, and recv, lights should flash briefly and you should get
back a response time.
If you get an unreachable address then you have a routing problem on
either the router or all the PCs.
If you get a timeout and:
enet remains on - router not routing external traffic correctly.
enet flashes, send remains steady - modem not forwarding traffic.
enet and send flash, recv remains steady - modem not connected?
All flash - routing problem with reply?
You might want to try this with the USB connection to see how the lights
should be.

If you get a response time then try
ping bluehost.com
This should be about the same - but with more flashing.
If you get a can't resolve address reply - then the problem is in the DNS
settings - probably on the router, but check the PCs are set to get their
DNS automatically.

Go to both devices web interface and check logs, and status pages.