Member Avatar for Ritesh_4

Hello
I had a problem related to this thread: http://www.daniweb.com/hardware-and-software/microsoft-windows/web-browsers/threads/379762
However, now from my IM client, after a file transfer was done, I get the option (as a link in the IM window), to either open the file, or open the folder where the file has been sent, but however, am unable to open either links when clicking on them. I believe the problem is from my Windows itself, any one can help me troubleshoot this?

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Dani AI

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A focused troubleshooting checklist for the behaviour reported by (links in the IM transfer and browser “Save” dialogs failing to appear until processes are killed). The pattern usually means either an invisible/modal dialog is open, Explorer/shell code is hung, or a third‑party hook (shell extension, AV or plugin) is stealing or blocking the common-file dialog. The items below are ordered from least to most invasive.

Quick, immediate checks:

- Trigger the Save/Open dialog.
- Press Alt+Tab to look for the dialog window.
- If it exists but is off-screen: press Alt+Space, then M, then use arrow keys to move it into view.
- Right-click the taskbar and choose "Cascade windows" to pull hidden windows onto the desktop.
- Check Task Manager -> Applications; if the dialog is listed, select it and click "Switch To".

Isolation steps (next if the above doesn’t help):

  • Restart Explorer: kill explorer.exe from Task Manager, then File → New Task → type explorer.exe. This often clears shell/hook problems without rebooting.
  • Test whether the problem is per-application or per-user: open Notepad and use Save As; create a new Windows user and test there; boot into Safe Mode (or do a clean boot via msconfig) to see if a startup item or service causes it.
  • For browser-specific symptoms, start the browser with add-ons disabled / safe mode or a fresh profile to rule out an extension/plugin.

Deeper fixes and cautions:

  • Conflicting shell extensions are common culprits — use a shell-extension manager (disable non-Microsoft entries), reboot and retest.
  • Run sfc /scannow to repair system DLLs (XP may request the install CD) and perform a full anti‑malware scan.
  • If saved dialog positions seem corrupt, consider exporting and then deleting the ComDlg32 entries under
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32 (export first; create a restore point).

These steps address modal/off-screen dialogs, shell hangs and third‑party hooks — the three most likely causes given the behavior described.

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Member Avatar for Member #915617

Could you be more specific?

What IM client are you using?

Jeff

Member Avatar for Ritesh_4

Am using Spark IM, from Ignite Realtime, I did post an issue there as well but no replies. Am still having the problem on firefox as well, whereby I click save image or page and it does not popup, until I kill all firefox process and open again
Am not able to trace where this problem is coming from :(

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