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I try to download newest Mozilla to replace my old version, but I get
presented with a query box that baffles me every time.

In essence, the box warns me that the download file is "of type
application/x-download (Application)", and informs me that "Mozilla does
not know how to handle this file".

In further text, the box offers radio-button choices as whether I should
open the file or save it to disk.

I don't know which of these choices to mark, and---fearing that a wrong
choice might do irreparable damage---I cancel the download and
regretfully abandon whole update process.

Please, which should I choose? And, where and how in Mozilla browser
preferences can I permanently solve this "x-msdownload" problem?

All suggestions appreciated.

Clint wrote:
> I try to download newest Mozilla to replace my old version, but I get
> presented with a query box that baffles me every time.
>
> In essence, the box warns me that the download file is "of type
> application/x-download (Application)", and informs me that "Mozilla does
> not know how to handle this file".

This just means that Mozilla cannot do anything with this file because
it is not a web page or some other document that Mozilla can handle
natively. The same prompt will come up if you try to open an
OpenOffice.org document, Word document, etc.

>
> In further text, the box offers radio-button choices as whether I should
> open the file or save it to disk.
>

Click Save to Disk. Save the file in an easy to find location. Then,
shut down Mozilla and run the downloaded file.

> I don't know which of these choices to mark, and---fearing that a wrong
> choice might do irreparable damage---I cancel the download and
> regretfully abandon whole update process.
>

The wrong choice won't hurt anything in this case. However, you should
always use caution when downloading files from unknown sites because
they could contain spyware, viruses, trojans, etc.

> Please, which should I choose? And, where and how in Mozilla browser
> preferences can I permanently solve this "x-msdownload" problem?
>

You can probably tell Mozilla to automatically save these files by
clicking the "Always use selected action" box in the download prompt.
However, I strongly recommend leaving it as is for security reasons. It
won't hurt anything, and will prevent you from downloading things you
don't want.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 08:16:34 -0500, in Newsgroup--> alt.fan.mozilla, the
personage of "Clint" <>, courtesy of Message-id
<hS9Jc.2206$> and wondering whence the lambs &
piglets, bleated & squealed:

>I try to download newest Mozilla to replace my old version, but I get
>presented with a query box that baffles me every time.
>
>In essence, the box warns me that the download file is "of type
>application/x-download (Application)", and informs me that "Mozilla does
>not know how to handle this file".
>
>In further text, the box offers radio-button choices as whether I should
>open the file or save it to disk.
>
>I don't know which of these choices to mark, and---fearing that a wrong
>choice might do irreparable damage---I cancel the download and
>regretfully abandon whole update process.
>
>Please, which should I choose? And, where and how in Mozilla browser
>preferences can I permanently solve this "x-msdownload" problem?
>
>All suggestions appreciated.
>

ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.or...-installer.exe

Worth a try

Many thanks, Jim. I followed your directions and now have the new
Mozilla up and running.

Clint