BACKSPACE Key Does Not Load Previous Web Page (171976)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q171976

SYMPTOMS

When you view a shell folder in Internet Explorer, My Computer, or Windows Explorer and then press the BACKSPACE key, you move up one level in your namespace instead of back one page in your Internet history.

For example, if you open http://www.microsoft.com in Internet Explorer, My Computer, or Windows Explorer and then open C:\Windows, when you press BACKSPACE, C:\ is opened instead of http://www.microsoft.com.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, click the Back button on the Standard Buttons toolbar to go back through your history instead of pressing BACKSPACE.

STATUS

This behavior is by design and is consistent with Windows Explorer behavior.

MORE INFORMATION

A shell folder is a resource on your local hard disk or LAN that can be accessed using the "File:" protocol (for example, "file://c:\windows" or "file://\\<path>\webpage.htm," where <path> is the full UNC path to the Webpage.htm file). When you view a shell folder in Internet Explorer, My Computer, or Windows Explorer, your namespace appears in the Address box on the toolbar. If you press BACKSPACE, it takes you up one level in your namespace. For example, if you are viewing C:\Windows and press BACKSPACE, it takes you to C:\, then to My Computer, and then to Desktop.

When you access a resource on the Internet (for example http://www.microsoft.com or ftp://ftp.microsoft.com), your history appears in the Address box on the toolbar instead of your namespace. When you press BACKSPACE, it takes you to the previous page in your history instead of up one level in your namespace.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/20/2004
Keywords:kbui KB171976
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