Overview
This article will give instructions for unblocking executable files that Microsoft Windows may block when downloading. Instructions on preventing Microsoft WIndows from blocking an installer file will be given as well.
Diagnosis
If you download a file from the Internet or receive one by email, Microsoft Windows might block these for security reasons.
Microsoft Windows classifies certain files as unsafe downloads by identifying the file type and the security settings for each one. This can result in files that cannot be accessed, extracted, executed or registered properly.
Follow the solution steps to verify if the installer has an unblock button.
Environment
- Microsoft Windows 7 and later
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and later
Solution
To unblock a file, follow the steps below:
- Open Microsoft Windows Explorer to locate and right-click the downloaded file, choose Properties from the context menu.
- Click the Unblock button in the lower right-hand corner of the resulting dialog.
- Click OK or Apply.
Preventing Microsoft WIndows from Blocking Files from Trusted SItes
This can also be prevented in the future by adding the download location to your trusted sites.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Click on the gear icon in the upper right corner and choose " Internet options " from the list.
- Go to the Security tab and click on Trusted sites.
- Click the Sites button. You will be presented with a list of sites you have explicitly chosen to trust. By default it is blank.
- Add the sites to the list that you need to trust. http://cdndl.gfi.com, for example.
- If you get a "Trusted sites" error when adding the site and the site address starts with http:// (not https://) then you will need to uncheck the "Require server verification..." checkbox.
- Click Close and then OK to save these changes.
Confirmation
Verify that the software file can be accessed, extracted, executed and registered without errors.
Priyanka Bhotika
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