Saving .gif Images to My Pictures

I only seem to be able to save images as .bmp files in My Pictures. Obviously this means I may want to save an animation and it ends up as a still. I have checked through the permitted file types and .gif is listed, but my chosen images will not save in that format. Where am I going wrong?

Assuming you are using IE goto tools > internet options > under temporary internet files >delete files.

I regularly clear out my temporary internet files - makes no difference. To explain further, what happens is say I see an animation I'd like to keep for future use as an avatar or something, I right click it and then 'save picture as' which takes me into 'My Pictures'. When I get to My Pictures it will allow me to save the pic, but only as a .bmp file even though the original format of the pic is .gif. The drop down box in My Pictures only has one option: bmp! If I carry out the same action on my office PC, which also runs on XP (but the Pro edition) I can save .gif files no problem.

Have a read of this page.

That was helpful to read, but the box referred to is not checked in my advanced options. Gif appears as a permitted file type under 'tools' 'folder options' within My Pictures but when you come to save an image it is not an option under the drop down box at actual image save stage. No one I know with XP has this problem!

Try this page:

Internet Explorer saves images as bitmaps (.bmp Files)

I thought I'd cracked it. There were two files, one 'damaged' the other 'unknown' and I removed them both. Then I confidently went off to save a .gif file to My Pictures and guess what..... yup, .bmp is the only option available When I was removing the 'unknown' file I got a message saying it was not possible to completely remove it and that I should go to 'add/remove programmes' if necessary. Will this have had any effect? If I'd gone to 'add/remove programmes' I would not know what to look for anyway...

Was there any indication of what the unknown file was part of? Did you notice the file name?

Is this a new problem? Any new software installed that might coincide?

Did you restart IE after the change? Perhaps reboot the computer?

I'm afraid I didn't notice any details of the 'unknown' file. I have restarted the computer to no avail. The problem has, as far as I'm aware, always been there, but then again I haven't tried to save any gif files until fairly recently so it may have become a problem as opposed to always having been one. Is there any chance that it is caused by one of the security settings in my firewall or anti-virus software? I run Zone Alarm Pro and AVG Free Edition respectively.

It could well be zone alarm. See if the problem persists if you disable it.