Downloads and installs from cd blocked

The PC is a HP desktop running Vista Business 32 bit. I have not been able to find the drop down on IE to determine which version it is.

I am not very familiar with Vista but have followed suggestions from previous posts back in 07 with no success.

When attempting a download from a site ex: windowsstartup - startup inspector, the box comes up offering run/save options. I choose save then to desktop (have tried specific existing folders as well). The indications are all good that the program and an associated file are downloading. I get the tone indicator and the box goes away. The file is not on the desktop or using search anywhere on the system. I have tried choosing run with no success as well.

In addition, when putting a cd in and trying to install a program the system appears to be trying to install, though without the usual boxes to click through, then goes away with no successfull install.

This all started about 4 weeks ago. I suspect a Vista update but my laptop with Home Premium is not having any problems.

I've set the security setting for downloads to prompt, turned the firewall off, turned off avg, deleted all temp files, cookies, etc. all to no avail.

My wife does use the system for games a lot. Existing programs all work fine but we have to update a couple within the next week.

Thanks in advance for your responses and help.

Mike

Locate IE version under "Help" or "tools" bar> "About". This will tell you If you have IE7/IE8(version)

You can try a system repair, or a system restore to a point before the issues occured (if said restore point still exists)

As for startup program inspection- use the built in vista Defender to check it.

Turning off UAC/Antivirus/Firewall is very bad, and may have resulted in Malware infection/corruption of your Computer/home network.


AVG 8.0 has been determined by others as the most likely cause for the download issues. Simply disabling it will not work. It must be un-installed. (Windows Installer Cleanup Utility)
Remove it, restart and download this:
Avira Antivir:http://www.free-av.com/en/download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html (free)
Eset NOD32 4:http://www.eset.com/download/free_trial_download.php (free 30 days)

Have you used reg cleaners, and are you getting any error messages, or UAC Administrator prompts? when you try to run executables off a disk?

Try this also:
sfc/scannow ( this looks for Windows Integrity issues and replaces if possible)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

You may also want to check for corruption of Windows NTFS Attribute files/bad sectors on disk and repair/recover if possible.
Diskcheck
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/165576-how-make-vista-more-responsive-faster.html

To perform a self-diagnostic inspection of your system try this:
Eset SysInspector
http://www.eset.com/download/sysinspector.php

Also, try searching for MSConfig, which will bring up a startup settings manager. Choose "Diagnostic Boot" and restart. This wills tart your computer with ONLY the ABSOLUTELY necessary drivers to start up. Then try and install something. If it works, then one of your disabled drivers (AVG?) is the problem.

~Lordbob