Every time I try to download something using IE6 I get this message:

"Download failed. Make sure you have cookies enabled and try again."

I have tried the suggested answers to fix the problem but it won't go away.

Also I am unable to download anything using Mozilla Firefox as I also get an error message.

Usually in IE, if you have changed the security setting(s) a little marquee usually comes up right above the address bar, saying click here to start download.

Do you remember the specific Firefox error? Maybe that will give me a clue on why both browsers are giving you the same problem. So far, I think it's a setting somewhere on your computer. What version of Windows are you using?

One thing to try, instead of left click on the link to download, try to right click and choose Save Target As.

Then choose the folder/directory you want it to go into. See if that temporarily solves your problem.

If you have modified IE's security setting, try Tools->Internet Option then go into both the privacy and security tabs, click on default setting.

This problem has only arisen recently. I can't remember the error message on Mozilla Firefox as it was quite long but I will try to find out what it was.

Or better question is, do you have anti-virus software, if so when is the last virus definition update?

Also some downloads are fine with IE while others are not.

With IE the problem does not seem to be size related but probably the downloads do now work from some websites.

The error message from Mozilla Firefox says that the file could not eb saved because the source file could not be read

try again later or contact the server administrator.

In Mozilla Firefox it downloads the file then when it is finished the error message is displayed.

Now, something I just remembered, old AOL used to behave this way, (if I remember correctly) if you leave the download program alone, after a certain time, it would time-out.

You and I in a little toy shop
Buy a bag of balloons with the money we've got.
Set them free at the break of dawn
'Til one by one, they were gone.
Back at base, bugs in the software
Flash the message, Something's out there.
Floating in the summer sky.
99 red balloons go by.
99 red balloons.
floating in the summer sky.
Panic bells, it's red alert.
There's something here from somewhere else.
The war machine springs to life.
Opens up one eager eye.
Focusing it on the sky.
Where 99 red balloons go by.
99 Decision Street.
99 ministers meet.
To worry, worry, super-scurry.
Call the troops out in a hurry.
This is what we've waited for.
This is it boys, this is war.
The president is on the line
As 99 red balloons go by.
99 Knights of the air
Ride super-high-tech jet fighters
Everyone's a superhero.
Everyone's a Captain Kirk.
With orders to identify.
To clarify and classify.
Scramble in the summer sky.
As 99 red balloons go by.
99 dreams I have had.
In every one a red balloon.
It's all over and I'm standing pretty.
In this dust that was a city.
If I could find a souvenier.
Just to prove the world was here.
And here is a red balloon
I think of you and let it go.