Run Excel output window automatically closing; how do I stop that?

[zakatak]

From Internet Explorer, in Cognos Analytics 11.0.5, we run a report same as we did in Cognos 10.2.1. The HTML report generates fine. If we choose to "Run Excel", a window pops up showing that the report is running. Then the window disappears and, to the user,  Cognos "loses" the Excel version of the file/is broken.

What I found:

• Excel output is listed when we "View downloads" from within IE, but we have Open and Save as buttons in the Actions column
• Chrome starts out the same, but the popup window never disappears and instead we are shown Chrome's "Open" option in the popup

I have already directed people to use Chrome, but there are some people who just won't change. So, any idea on how to make IE not automatically close the popup window?