454063 - "Save link target as" and "save page as" do not work if default download directory isn't accessible

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 429827

(Firefox :: Menus, defect)

Description

[:aceman]

1. in preferences, choose a correct directory for "download all files to" field.
2. select "always ask where to save files"
3. saving link targets works fine now
4. in shell, make this directory not accessible to the firefox user (e.g. chmod a-rwx), or rename the directory
5. "Save link target as" and "save page as" do not work now, without any hint, the directory chooser window does not appear.
6. selecting a new valid directory fixes the problem.

This is strange, because when "always ask where to save files" is selected, the download dir ("download all files to") above it is disabled, as if it wouldn't be ever referenced. But it probably is, maybe to present a default directory from which the user navigates to the correct dir when saving each file.

Comment 1

[:aceman]

Specifically, the default directory is stored in the about:config pref browser.download.dir .

Comment 2

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

Sounds to be phenomenon I reported to Bug 443006 Comment #13.
 - "always ask where to save files" (browser.download.useDownloadDir=false)
 - browser.download.lastDir is not accessible
 - Failed to create browser.download.dir
What error is reported to Error Console?

"Fall back" scenario looks to have been altered - browser.download.dir is tried before fall back to MRU directory, Desktop, Current directory etc.

Comment 3

[kaishaku_]

I experienced this just now on OSX.
* Set prefs to "Download files to" a file to a directory.
* Remove or make inaccessible via chmod this directory.
* Change option to "Always ask me where to save files."
Now attempting to download a file, it doesn't ask me where to save -- it just tells me that the previous directory is inaccessible.  I am not given the option to choose another location.

I "solved" this by dragging the directory back out of the trash can.  Now, I was able to select a different location.  I could then drag it back to the trash.

Comment 4

[Raza Abbas]

I believe I've just run into this bug on Windows XP SP3 and FF3.0.11. My download directory is set to a flash drive, which is no longer plugged in. Now, attempting to do either "Save Page As" or "Save Image As" has no effect whatsoever and no dialog box is shown. If I set the download directory back to an active path (desktop for e.g.), the dialog shows up fine. The expected behavior should be to ALWAYS show the dialog box, and maybe start at Desktop (which is default download dir.) if the current download directory is inaccessible for some reason.