IE8 bug: uploading .url file gives content instead of file

I was uploading a .url file to sf.net with IE8 and FF3, and noticed that .url
files get opened and read instead of uploaded. the result being that instead
of the .url file being what I see on the other end, no, I see the a mangled
version of the whole long URL instead of a .url file on the other end!

serious flaw.

I am beginning to think it is a flaw in IE8 and firefox. because I can't
even attach it to an email message in my web yahoo mail (firefox3).

thought you should know. maybe there is some sort of workaround. Then
again, maybe not if the browser is doing it. Why these files and not others?

..url shortcut files are text files unless they include an icon. Then they
start out as text and end up as binary. so if your server is detecting it as
text by looking at the first few lines, you are handling it wrong.

..url files are created by both firefox, IE8, and I think Safari and Opera
and Chrome as shortcuts to web sites to hold the link.

an example of the content of a text-only .url file:

[InternetShortcut]
URL=http://www.3com.com/products/en_US/searchbyproduct.jsp?path=download&searchby=sku&sea rch=3c905b-tx
HotKey=0
IDList=
[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
Prop3=19,2