How to prevent computer from downloading any files

When you download any file form the internet and save it to NTFS drive, the windows operating system adds specific metadata to these downloaded files. These metadata are considered to be attachments. This is the default operation carried out by the windows OS.

This is an annoying default setting of windows 10 OS that prevents you from opening or executing the downloaded files directly. Metadata is knows as data that describes other data. The metadata added as attachment to the downloaded file is known as Zone Information. Windows Attachment Manager uses the IAttachmentExecute application programming interface API to find the file type, the file association, and to determine the most appropriate action to take.

When you download files and save them on your disk, Windows adds specific metadata to these files. These metadata are considered to be attachments. When Windows adds metadata to the download files as an attachment, this is known as Zone Information.

Now, the Zone Information is where the root of the matter lies. When File Explorer opens a file, it reads the attached Zone information stored in the same location and checks to see if the file came from an unknown source or not. If Windows finds that the file is unrecognized or came from unknown sources, it prevents you from opening it.

Windows SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting. Running this app might put your PC at risk. I don't recommend turning SmartScreen off completely because it is helpful in preventing you from downloading a malicious file or app, but you can disable it in Microsoft's Edge browser if you want to override its protection and go ahead and download a file it doesn't recognize.

You can disable SmartScreen in the Windows Defender Security Center app in total or just for Edge, but for the latter it's faster to do so right within Edge itself, particularly if you are already using Edge. Here's how to toggle SmartScreen off and on in Edge:. Hope that helps!

You can use Caffeine for Windows. It will prevent your computer from going to sleep or hibernating. Another option is to play music in Windows Media Player, set WMP to prevent the screen saver and it won't go to sleep either. If you don't like the music you can mute it but it'll still keep your system up without changing system-wide settings. How-To Windows. Read Also: Disable startup programs using Windows built-in tool.

The Nerdic Staff. Not a nerd, but ask me something nerdic, I'm willing to help you. You might also like More from author. Apps and Software. Prev Next.