Err Msg: HTTP Error 405, 405 Method Not Allowed (186809)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q186809
We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 6.0 running on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. IIS 6.0 significantly increases Web infrastructure security. For more information about IIS security-related topics, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/prodtech/IIS.mspx

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to search the product documentation that ships with the Microsoft Windows NT Option Pack version 4.0, the following error message may occur:
HTTP Error 405
405 Method Not Allowed

The method specified in the Request Line is not allowed for the resource identified by the request. Please ensure that you have the proper MIME type set up for the resource you are requesting.

Please contact the server's administrator if this problem persists.

Alternative Error May Occur In Internet Explorer 5.0

Under certain circumstances in Internet Explorer 5.0, the following error message may be displayed instead:
The page cannot be displayed
There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed.

Please try the following:

* Open the localhost home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
* Click the Refresh button, or try again later.
* Click Search to look for information on the Internet.
* You can also see a list of related sites.

HTTP 500 - Internal server error Internet Explorer

CAUSE

The product documentation uses the Internet Data Query file (Idq.dll) to perform searches. Either the Idq.dll file has not been installed, or it is missing from the properties of the IISHELP application directory.

WORKAROUND

To resolve this issue, perform one of the following workarounds:

Idq.dll Does Not Exist

If the %SystemRoot$\System32 folder does not contain the Idq.dll file, perform the following to install it:
  1. Run the Windows NT Option Pack 4.0 Setup program, and then click Add/Remove.
  2. From the list box of Components, select Microsoft Index Server, and then click the Show Subcomponents button.
  3. At a minimum, from the Subcomponents of Microsoft Index Server list box, click the Index Server System Files checkbox to select it, and then click OK.
  4. Finish running the Setup program.

Idq.dll Already Exists

If the Idq.dll file already exists in the %SystemRoot$\System32 folder, perform the following to create a script mapping for the IISHELP application for Idq.dll:
  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and point to Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack.
  2. Point to Microsoft Internet Information Server and click Internet Service Manager.

    NOTE: Be sure to click Internet Service Manager and not Internet Service Manager (HTML).
  3. Expand the Internet Information Server object, expand your server object, and then expand the Default Web Site object.
  4. Right-click the IISHELP application directory and click Properties.
  5. Click the Configuration button in the Application Settings section of the Virtual Directory tab.
  6. Click Add and use the following information to create a new script mapping:

    Executable: C:\Winnt\system32\idq.dll
    Extension: idq

    NOTE: C:\Winnt is the default Windows NT installation directory; yours may be different.
  7. Click OK three times.
NOTE: You do not need to restart IIS for this to take effect.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/22/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB186809
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