2 Desktop Icons Per Download

Win ME: After each download I have 2 icons for that download on my Desktop: the .exe file & the program. Is this normal? Do I need to keep both on the Desktop? Shouldn't the .exe have been automatically placed in Program files? If this is an ME aberration, is there a fix? If Program Files isn't the correct place for the .exe, then where?
Thanx

 

Hi Hermit - I'll attempt to elucidate a little. Generally you need to specify where to download stuff to. In my case it's a folder called Downloads on the second partition of my Primary HD.


It appears that your default download destination is Desktop so you will need to change that.

To reiterate, you are downloading files onto your Desktop, when you install you are left with 2 icons, one signifying the D/L'd file and one representing the installed package.

I cannot be more specific as I am unaware what Download Manager, (if any), you are using.

FWIW I've been using Fresh Download for a few years and it's pretty good

 

Only installed (installable) Programs/applications would have their own folder created in %Program Files% folder. When downloading executables, it will prompt you to either SAVE - OPEN - CANCEL, Save would download and save the executable to a folder on your local disk, open would run the installation from the server but the executable would eventually have its effects on the local machine (if it is a legit application, it'd install onto local disk by creating its oen files/folder, etc....if it is a virus...well you can imagine, so it is always a smart thing to save the executables onto your disk first, scan with a virus scanner then install if ok.

IE does normally remember the last download location (in your case desktop) and uses that location for the following downloads.

You could modify this in the Windows Registry:
Start > Run > type regedit > OK
On the left expand/scroll down to this location:
\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer
after you click on Internet Explorer folder on the left hand side list, you will see the contents appear on the right hand side, look for and entry called 'Download Directory' double click on it and modify its path so IE know where the downloads would be saved to.