I can't run any internet downloaded programs on my vista(HELP)

[CompNeophyte]

As the title suggests, any(and I do mean any) programs that I have downloaded on my relatively new Windows Vista(HP) will not run. I have downloaded all the windows updates from windows live, I have downloaded several patches, I have disabled as many security settings as I can fathom, and I have also created new user accounts to download other web browsers. I am stuck with my default Explorer because after I download the setups for any other browsers my computer claims that the files are corrupt. Some programs I have tried to download include Safari, Firefox, Pirates of the carribean online, star wars galaxies, several playfirst applications, and Itunes. By the way, I can download any applications from CD(storebought) but when i burn any applications on CD that i downloaded online then reload them onto my Vista it still wont run it. I'd be very grateful for some quality advice here.

[Broni]

What EXACTLY do you mean by "won't run"? Any errors when you try?

[patio]

I can download any applications from CD(storebought) but when i burn any applications on CD that i downloaded online then reload them onto my Vista it still wont run it. I'd be very grateful for some quality advice here.

This caught my eye...most applications on CD/DVD cannot simply be copied/burned to another CD/DVD and expect to run properly...this is by design.

What type of internet connection is this ? ?

[CompNeophyte]

I'm running on DSL connection, and incidentally, all the computers that have had the latest updates in my house have had this problem for months. Error messages include:

Error decompressing data. Corrupt Installer?
The installer you are trying to use is corrupted or incomplete.
Error: Program is corrupt.
File is corrupt

After all of these and a few others the program(which was running fine) immediately shuts down before I can use it. Some programs wont even open long enough to lie and have windows tell me they are corrupt. Also, I have the latest security on both windows and norton so I know it isn't a virus.

[Broni]

What's the size of your hard drive, and how much free space is there?
What happens, if you try installation in Safe Mode?

[CompNeophyte]

I have over 300 GB free hard driver and a five GB ram. My computer itself is a laptop and i cant run the programs downloaded from the internet even in safe mode.

[patio]

5Gig of RAM on a laptop ? ?
300Gig free on a laptop ? ?

[CompNeophyte]

Its a really good laptop ^_^. But still, i cant download application or programs from offline. Someone...Anyone... Help... 

[Broni]

What about patio's questions?

[CompNeophyte]

I answered all his questions. They were more incredulous than auctually definitive. Technichally, I have 258 GB left for free space on my hard drive, and about 5gb on my Ram. I copied firefox onto my computer using a burned cd from a different computer, but I get the same error messages with firefox.

[Broni]

Try creating new profile: http://vistasupport.mvps.org/create_new_user_profile.htm

[CompNeophyte]

I already tried that. The error message still occurs when I try to run any downloaded executeables.

[JJ 3000]

When you download a file, do you save it and then burn it to a CD? Why not just click run instead of save?

[Broni]

Try here: http://nsis.sourceforge.net/Why_do_I_get_NSIS_Error
Use listed steps, first, but if no help, try "/NCRC" switch listed there.

[CompNeophyte]

I tried that already, Auctually from that same page. I just tried it again but to no avail.