Windows XP network security.

[thingy]

We've gotten a whole batch of IBM's in here at work that come pre-loaded with Windows XP. Quite a few apps (especially at the company in the City) are run from the server. When I try to run one of these apps I always get a "File Download" prompt giving me the exact same security message you generally get when saving files from the internet and a prompt "Would you like to open the file or save it to your computer?" with the options "Open" "Save" "Cancel" and "More Info". Save is greyed out, as is the checkbox below that says "Always ask before opening this type of file".

I am opening these from the network, not from the internet. I do not want this frigging security message, I just want the program to open straight away. It doesn't do this for my copy of XP that I have at home. In fact, these IBM's are the only machines I've ever seen that do it. The Dell's that came with XP pre-loaded didn't, nor did the HP's.

I can't for the life of me find where I turn this off. Help?

[pleed]

Have you mapped the drives or are you using the UNC?

[thingy]

I just discovered it doesn't do it if I go to tools->map network drive. It only occurrs to drives mapped using the "net use" command. Still unsure as to what it is.

http://www.zgeek.com/albums/uploads/screeny.jpg

[chip256]

Have you disabled/modified the firewall?

[thingy]

Firewall disabled. Just played around some more. The batch files always mapped using the IP address due to an issue Windows 95 computers had (they're all gone now, just 98, 2000 & XP clients). Using the computer name it wouldn't give me the prompt any more.

Why would this be the case?

[svvampy]

I think you need to enable it in the Network Zone Security Options.

I don't have XP in front of me at the moment, but in 2k you click, from IE Tools>Internet Options, click the Security tab and click the 'web content zone' and then click the 'Custom Level' button. One of the options should be 'Downloads\File Downloads', and there are radio buttons to enable/disable.

---edit: D'oh, too late.

[tikdoph]

I've seen a similiar problem happen with web pages, when you type in a URL, instead of opening the .html file, your browser will instead try to save it with a box similiar to the screenshot you showed. This usually occurs when there's a problem with the file associations set for .htm and .html files.

It might be something similiar in your case so try checking the File Associations in Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types and see what settings apply to .exe files.

Edit: heh... that's what happens when you wait 'til after lunch to click on Submit