543063 - Dowloading .doc files causes endless loop of open windows and .doc.part files

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[ponter.boddit]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.6; en-US; rv:1.9.1.7) Gecko/20091221 Firefox/3.5.7
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.6; en-US; rv:1.9.1.7) Gecko/20091221 Firefox/3.5.7

In attempting to download a .doc file from a commercial site (I was downloading a label template from the Avery site), once the download started, windows kept opening, and temporary files (e.g. FA4E58ri.doc.part) were written to the downloads folder, in an endless loop that couldn't be stopped except to force quit Firefox. Subsequently, I successfully downloaded the file in Safari with no problems, which is why I'm suspecting there's a bug somehow in Firefox (or Firefox interacting with a bug in OS X 10.6.2? Some other combination?). I have no way of testing to see if the problem is with the website, but it did download fine with Safari.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Go to website (with same OS, and all other variables the same, of course)
2.Click on the download button for the Avery 5164 labels
3.Watch your screen go crazy
Actual Results:  
As explained above ... once the download started, windows kept opening, and temporary files (e.g. FA4E58ri.doc.part) were written to the downloads folder, in an endless loop that couldn't be stopped except to force quit Firefox.

Expected Results:  
The .doc should have downloaded to the downloads folder. Period.

The name of the download file (if this had any effect on triggering the behavior) is U-0091-01_P.doc. I don't know why they didn't name it, say, Avery_Template_5164.doc, but only they understand such mysteries.

Comment 1

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

That happens you you select to open this files with Firefox itself.

a) you open for the first time for a .doc file
b) you get the firefox download dialog
c) you select "open with: Firefox" and "remember this decision"
d) Firefox launches the helper application (which is Firefox itself in this case) and the new opened Firefox gets the file. This Firefox can not handle the file internal, looks for configured helper applications and find one: Firefox itself....... -> you have a loop

solution: change that entry in preferences/applications

Comment 2

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

Reporter, are you still seeing this issue with Firefox 3.6.13 or later in safe mode? If not, please close. These links can help you in your testing.
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles

You can also try to reproduce in Firefox 4 Beta 8 or later, there are many improvements in the new version, http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html

Comment 3

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

No reply, INCOMPLETE. Please retest with Firefox 3.6.13 or later and a new profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). If you continue to see this issue with the newest firefox and a new profile, then please comment on this bug.