# IE8, and tracking download status in Firefox. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208 "2009-03-29T19:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/1 "2009-03-29T19:53:26Z")
So I downloaded IE8 this weekend. I don’t like it. The tabs are long overdue, and it’s a lot more polished around the edges, but it’s soooo sloooow. First off, any tips on speeding it up? Especially opening new tabs, which takes a couple of seconds (at a minimum), way too slow for me. Now, before everyone jumps on me to switch to Firefox, Chrome or Safari, I have FF and Chrome already, and I do use them for a lot of browsing. Here, however, is the only reason I like IE, and the only reason I still use it: when I download files, IE shows a download window, one that’s reflected on the Windows task bar (with percentage progress). When I’m downloading multiple files, I enjoy being able to see at a glance the status of all my downloads WITHOUT having to click on anything. Also, IE downloads stay downloading once I back out of a browser (I think you can get FF to do that, right? Add-on somewhere?). Anyway. . . is there a way I can get either Firefox to track downloads like this, especially on the task bar? Honestly, it’s the _only thing_ holding me back from junking IE entirely (and I say this as a Microsoft fan, by and large-- nothing personal Bill, I just need to change!). And while I like the “bare bones” style of Chrome, I’d rather use Firefox. Any help? ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/2 "2009-03-29T20:07:48Z")
I don’t know of a way to make Firefox show its download progress in the task bar, but go to Tools -\> Options and there’s an option for showing the download window whenever you start a download. That window has a progress bar in it, and what I also like about it is that it’s a window that also lists prior downloads so you can track what you’ve already downloaded. Also, I’m sure there’s an extension that lets you put a progress bar in the task bar, I’ve just never looked for one. But there’s an extension for everything! ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/3 "2009-03-29T20:42:50Z")
I haven’t installed an extension for it and get a progress bar in the taskbar showing “x active downloads” (multiple machines and operating systems, perhaps not on all of them) but as \*\*kushiel \*\*says, it is a simple matter to enable the download manager window to remain visible and show the progress of multiple downloads. I usually have this enabled and then click on the downloaded file’s name to install it or run it. ---
**Author:** ![\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/eada6e/32.png) [@\_Undecided\_Adrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Undecided_Adrian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/4 "2009-03-29T20:47:02Z")
I recommend the [download statusbar](https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/26). You have a bar at the bottom of the window with all running and recently completed downloads, you can launch the files with a double-click. There’s also the option of letting your virus scanner automatically scan all downloaded files. ---
**Author:** ![davekhps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@davekhps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davekhps)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/5 "2009-03-29T21:15:01Z")
> [@'\[Undecided](#): > > Adrian;10984415’]I recommend the [download statusbar](https://addons.mozilla.org/de/firefox/addon/26). You have a bar at the bottom of the window with all running and recently completed downloads, you can launch the files with a double-click. > There’s also the option of letting your virus scanner automatically scan all downloaded files. Adrian, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for-- even includes the option of downloading after you quit Firefox. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2009, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie8-and-tracking-download-status-in-firefox/491208/6 "2009-03-30T06:21:11Z")
> [@davekhps](#): > > Adrian, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for-- even includes the option of downloading after you quit Firefox. Well, yeah – where did you think IE8 copied that idea from?