# Firefox 4.0.1: Downloading files on XP vs. Vista **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 18, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-4-0-1-downloading-files-on-xp-vs-vista/585977 "2011-06-18T22:15:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-4-0-1-downloading-files-on-xp-vs-vista/585977/1 "2011-06-18T22:15:51Z")
I use Firefox 4.0.1 on both XP Pro and Vista Home Premium. On Vista, when I download a file with a right-click and Save Link, I get a dialog that allows me to save it anywhere I want. On XP, it saves it to a default directory. I think I can change the default, but I can’t seem to be able to specify file-by-file where to save it. On both systems, Firefox tells me it is up to date. Why do they behave differently, and is there a configuration change I can make on the XP box to make it behave like it does on the Vista box? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-4-0-1-downloading-files-on-xp-vs-vista/585977/2 "2011-06-18T23:31:14Z")
It’s not a Vista or XP thing, it’s a Firefox thing. In earlier versions of Firefox, you choose the Save Options in the Firefox menu: Tools-\>Options-\>General tab. You can then choose a default download location, or whether you want to be able to choose a location with each download. I don’t know how Firefox 4.1 does it, but it might be the same. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-4-0-1-downloading-files-on-xp-vs-vista/585977/3 "2011-06-18T23:52:41Z")
The option is still there in FF 4.01 (i.e., the latest general release version) in Windows 7 (and, I am sure, in Vista or XP too). You can either set a default directory for downloads, or you can set it to “Always ask me where to save files.” ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firefox-4-0-1-downloading-files-on-xp-vs-vista/585977/4 "2011-06-19T01:16:42Z")
Holy crap, it never occurred to me to check the options. :smack: That did it! Thanks!