# Grief caused by IE **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675 "2001-09-04T15:04:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/1 "2001-09-04T15:04:12Z")
For some reason my WinAmp didn’t recognize that an updated version was out so I uninstalled it and installed the newer version. Everything is just fine until I head to SHOUTcast for my daily dosage of **Radio Boink - 1970’s Porno Soundtracks**. As I clicked the link up comes the file download window. I’m a bit perplexed but just uncheck the “Always ask before opening this type of file” box. After I have got enough of the pimp mood I try another station. Up comes the same window…WTF?? I uncheck the box and try again. Nope, still asking if I want to open or to save the file. So what’s going on? Can I fix this thing or do I have to re-install IE. I’m using IE 6.0 if that has something to do with this. ---
**Author:** ![NutWrench](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nutwrench/32/20193_2.png) [@NutWrench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutWrench)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/2 "2001-09-04T15:32:22Z")
Sounds like the media player that comes with IE 6 has hijacked your media filetypes. Start up Windows Explorer (not IE). Find an MP3. Left-click once to select it. Now hold down the Shift key and right click. You should see an additional option “Open with” Choose this. A window will pop up, showing all the installed applications on your computer. Scroll down to WinAmp (it’s sorted alphabetically) and double-click on it. All done! Your MP3’s should now open with WinAmp again. 🙂 –Nut ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/3 "2001-09-04T16:21:12Z")
Thanks **Nut** but that doesn’t help. The problem isn’t about file associations and the files in this case are .pls files not mp3s(no matter, just FTR). WinAmp plays them just fine but the problem is that every time I click on a link I’m prompted whether to open the file or to save it to disk. After unchecking the box once this shouldn’t be asked again.This is pretty frustrating in the long run. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/4 "2001-09-04T19:20:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NutWrench \* > \*\*Sounds like the media player that comes with IE 6 has hijacked your media filetypes. > > Start up Windows Explorer (not IE). > > Find an MP3. Left-click once to select it. > > Now hold down the Shift key and right click. > > You should see an additional option “Open with” Choose this. A window will pop up, showing all the installed applications on your computer. Scroll down to WinAmp (it’s sorted alphabetically) and double-click on it. All done! > > Your MP3’s should now open with WinAmp again. 🙂 > > –Nut \*\* Now **that’s** a handy shortcut. Handy. Thanks for bringing that up. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/5 "2001-09-04T21:52:21Z")
If Windows Media Player had hijacked the file/MIME type, it would be attempting to launch when the link was clicked. More likely, the culprit is that the re-installed WinAmp isn’t being located properly. You didn’t mention that you went into WinAmp and made sure that the file type was selected in “File Type Setup.” You might try that, first. (As well, in case Media Player **is** the villian, check the “Formats” tab in it’s options, too.) ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/6 "2001-09-05T10:13:28Z")
Nope **Cerowyn** it has nothing to do with file associations. In fact you can forget everything I told about WinAmp etc. I was just telling the background to this problem. The problem is: IE doesn’t believe that I do not want to be asked everytime I click on a .pls link whether to download it or to open it from it’s current location. I want to open it and not to be bothered everytime to confirm it. This problem has nothing to do with any other program, it is purely caused by IE. All I want to know if I can fix this somehow or if I have to re-install IE. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/7 "2001-09-05T10:21:19Z")
According to various things i’ve read about the new IE 5.5 and IE 6, I am willing to bet it’s a security feature that keeps you from getting viruses. Basically it will ALWAYS check now, just in case you go to a site that wants to install something evil on your machine, just so you are aware of what’s happening. It’s actually a good feature and might help viruses from striking Outlook (like most viruses these days are wont to do) but I’m sure it’s frustrating for you not to be able to control it. I would suggest taking a look at security setting deep inside IE (tools -\>inet options -\>security -\>custom level). ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/8 "2001-09-05T10:37:44Z")
Ok **ZipperJJ** go and click some downloadable item. Up comes a window. Lookey what it says in the bottom… There’s a little box with a tick in it and “Always ask before opening this type of file”. Even when I _uncheck_ it I’m asked the same thing next time. This shouldn’t happen, ok? ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/9 "2001-09-05T10:57:30Z")
I’ve heard of this happening to other users of IE 6.0. I chalked it up to being a bug. Just a guess, but that’s probably what it is. ---
**Author:** ![OneChance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/74df32/32.png) [@OneChance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneChance)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2001, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grief-caused-by-ie/79675/10 "2001-09-05T11:04:08Z")
Oh, by the way, try this: 1. Open My Computer. 2. Go to View \> Folder Options \> File Types. 3. Scroll down to the PLS file type if there is one. Highlight it and click Edit. 4. Uncheck the box labeled “Confirm open after download.” If it’s already unchecked, I don’t know what to tell ya.