Error message when clicking hyperlink in Office: "Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server" (218153)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft Office Word 2003
  • Microsoft Excel 2002
  • Microsoft Outlook 2002
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
  • Microsoft Word 2002
  • Microsoft Excel 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2000
  • Microsoft Word 2000
This article was previously published under Q218153
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you create a hyperlink in an Office document and then click the link, you may receive the following error message
Unable to open <URL>. Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server
where <URL> is the hyperlink that you inserted.

NOTE: The hyperlink does work if you type it directly in the browser or in the Open box of the Run dialog box (click Start, and then click Run).

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

  • You are using Microsoft Internet Explorer:

    • A proxy server -or-

    • A firewall that does not allow HTTP requests to be placed on your local network
    -and-

  • Internet Explorer is not your default browser.

    -and-

  • The following registry key is not present or is not set to 1:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this issue, either add the Internet subkey, if it is not present, and set the Value data, or if it is present, set the Value data of the Internet subkey.

Adding the Internet Subkey to the Registry and Setting the Value Data

  1. Quit any programs that are running.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, browse to the following subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common

    Note This registry key is the same for all versions that listed in the "Applies To" section. This registry key will not be different for the different versions.
  4. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
  5. Name the new subkey Internet.
  6. Make sure the Internet subkey is selected. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Add the following registry value:

    Value Name: ForceShellExecute

  7. Double-click ForceShellExecute, and then set the Value data to 1. Click OK.
  8. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

Setting the Value Data

  1. Quit any programs that are running.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
  3. In Registry Editor, browse to the following subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet


    Note This registry key is the same for all versions that listed in the "Applies To" section. This registry key will not be different for the different versions.
  4. Make sure the Internet subkey is selected. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Add the following registry value:

    Value Name: ForceShellExecute

  5. Double-click ForceShellExecute, and then set the Value data to 1. Click OK.
  6. On the Registry menu, click Exit.

MORE INFORMATION

If your operating system is Microsoft Windows 2000, you must upgrade the Hlink.dll file. This update is included with Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

A hyperlink may not go to a Microsoft Word document or a Microsoft Excel worksheet after you use this workaround. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

280680 Cannot follow hyperlink to Office document

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/18/2006
Keywords:kberrmsg kbprb KB218153
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