Enabled Protected Mode in Internet explore could cause this issue

So in Internet Explorer un -check it and see if that helps.

It can be disabled under Internet Options > Advanced > Enable Enhanced Protected Mode

This post was edited by zep516 on Mon, Jan 6, 14 at 1:37

Are you sure you are at a safe site and not being redirected to a doubtful site where look alike programs are really malware?

Do you use WOT (Web of Trust) or a similar program that indicates whether Google searched sites are safe or not?

Yes, I am at safe sites-Even Piriform (CCleaner), malwarebytes, etc are downloading with the underscore instead of the dot.
This only started a couple of weeks ago, not a huge deal, but more of an inconvenience-
at least I know stuff is not downloading directly, I have to make a conscious effort to change the underscore to a dot.
Zep-cannot find the "Enable Enhanced Protect Mode"-it is not listed in the advanced area! Maybe I am missing something? or misreading?

This post was edited by steve_fl on Mon, Jan 6, 14 at 20:27

If you know the download is safe, why not just rename the file? Or maybe you've already tried that?

That's what I have been doing snidely-
I was just curious as to why is started happening all of a sudden, if it was a MS download/security update or something that caused it, and if anyone else was having the same problem.

Hi steve fl,

OK,

That was just one of the things mentioned.

There's a long discussion here, about the problem. Good luck it goes on an on and no real solution.

Someone mentioned the asktool bar could cause it, who knows, check you add /remove programs for asktool bar. If found uninstall it. Clearing out temp files was mentioned.

Here is a link that might be useful: the dot in download filenames always gets changed to an underline

Since this worked for a few, give it a shot. It's a very small program and runs from the desktop it does not install, It's actually a beneficial program to run once in while, a lot of crap can hide there... Nothing to lose!

Download TFC by OldTimer click Here to your desktop. Click the Save file tab, save it to the desktop. Then double click it to run it.

Double-click TFC.exe to run it.

Note: If you are running on Vista, right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator

TFC will close all programs when run, so make sure you have saved all your work before you begin

* Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process.
* Depending on how often you clean temp files, execution time should be anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two.
* Please let TFC run uninterrupted until it is finished.

Once TFC is finished it should restart your computer. If it does not, please manually restart the computer yourself to ensure a complete cleaning.