Complex DHTML Pages Cause Memory Usage to Increase Beyond Bounds (248630)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
This article was previously published under Q248630

SYMPTOMS

The amount of memory used by Internet Explorer grows unexpectedly when you are working with dynamic Hypertext Markup Language (DHTML) pages or .hta files.

CAUSE

Internet Explorer does not release memory used (for example, with repeated use of the innerHTML function) until the document is released. Internet Explorer completely releases the memory used by a page on exit.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer version 5.01. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

267954 How to Obtain the Latest Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack


WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use either of the following methods:
  • Reload the page to free the memory.
  • Install Internet Explorer 5.01. This version does not have this problem. To obtain Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Internet Explorer version 5.01 Service Pack 1.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/18/2005
Keywords:kbbug kbfix kbie501sp1Fix KB248630
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