Unable to download exe files after unblocking, 404 error. handler mappings execute change prevent infopath, export to excel, and sharepoint designer from working.

Question

I removed .exe from the block list, checked MIME types, all ok,
I followed this solution: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sharepoint2010setup/thread/b380a13e-a15f-4e32-98cd-12747538ad20?prof=required
( go into IIS (I am assuming IIS 7.0) and select the particular web site and click
handler mappings and Edit feature permissions and
uncheck the Execute box .)
It works, I can now open exe files. But it causes other major troubles so far:
-Cannot Export Lists to Excel
-Cannot Publish and Save InfoPath forms
-Cannot edit subsites in SharePoint Designer.
Does anybody have another solution that won't disable other features? What is the best way to do it? I have SolidWorks Edrawings in .exe that needs to be accessible.
Thank you.
Guillaume Gagnon, MCP Senior System Administrator Forensic Technology WAI Inc.

Answer 1

Hi Guillaume,
As you know, if we remove the Execute permission for handle mappings, we will be able to download .exe file from SharePoint server. But as you said, this will cause other issues.
The another solution to allow to download .exe file is remove the CGI-exe handle mapping from the handle mappings directly. You may need to restart Internet Information Server(IIS). After that, we will be able to download .exe file directly.
Open the IIS manager
Select the site from the "Sites" tree
Double-click "Handle Mappings"
Right-click "CGI-exe", and then click "Remove"
Thanks,
Jin Chen
Jin Chen - MSFT