XP SP2: Files Will Not Automatically Download
Contributed by davak 
August 11, 2004 
Tagged: Windows
Many websites will start sending a download 3-5 seconds after a view visits a page. This will no longer work after SP2.
Many download sites have you visit a page and wait a few seconds before your download starts.
By design, this practice will no longer work for a user after SP2 is installed. For security reasons SP2 will no longer allow downloads without an user-initiated action.
Many spyware companies used this technique to install their evil progies.
Many of the legitimate download sites will say someting like “if you do not receive your file in 5 seconds, please click here.” If you have SP2, that file ain’t ever coming until you click the link.
Welcome to the new SP2 world.