problem downloading anything

Hi to all. I have been around macs for a few years being into graphic design at college and university and I own a mac book, just a standard macbook. Well I use to but it got stolen, coincidentally my friend owned exactly the same as mine and he owed me some money so we came to an agreement and I have it now.
Anyway, when I go to download anything, be it a torrent, a program anything, it downloads only as html code readable in text edit. That little logo of a white piece of paper is in the place of the download every time, can someone please help...

Thank you, tom

Would be helpful if we had your computer spec/model and what browser you are using.

To be honest I don't know the spec on this macbook.. That doesn't ever really bother me. I just use to for design work in fotoshop and in deisgn and playing poker..
I use firefox and safari. It never use to happen with my previous macbook. I thought it may be a settings problem, but it seems it may be downloading things for windows and not macingtosh, i don't know...

ThailandTom said:

To be honest I don't know the spec on this macbook.. That doesn't ever really bother me.

Click to expand...

It might not bother you but the specs of your machine and what OS you are running, too us, the other members it makes it easier for us to try and help you with your solution. The more info the better and if someone needs to know more they will ask

How are you downloading these files, like are you using a program like Jdownloader or Speed, or are you just right clicking on the file and clicking Save As? If you're using Firfox, try the plug-in called flashgot, it's a download catcher which gives you better control on how files download.

flashgot, okay I will go and look it up, thanks

How would I go and find the spec of my mac?? It is not that I cannot bebothered it is that I simply don't know it lol. I know a fair bit about macs but not a huge amount lol. I just know how to to in depth design on them and surf the net

Installed flashgot and still it did not work. I will attach a screen shot of the file as it downloads. EVERY file downloads like this...

That's because you're downloading Windows programs. You have a Mac.

Mac's don't run .exe files.

i know you cannot run windows files, i said that previously. But i download drum loops and samples for mixing music which i use to do on my old mac, they do not download either, everything results in this white paper icon.. can you convert them from windows files?