Netscape Navigator Errors: "HTTP Error 400"; "400 Bad Request" (187034)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q187034
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:

SYMPTOMS

When browsing an Internet Information Server (IIS) Web site from Netscape Navigator version 4.05, the following error message may occur:
HTTP Error 400

400 Bad Request

Due to malformed syntax, the request could not be understood by the
server. The client should not repeat the request without
modifications.

CAUSE

The Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that Navigator is attempting to open contains a space.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do one of the following:
  • On the server, rename the file that contains a space to another name that does not contain a space.

    -or-
  • In the Navigator Location text box, substitute "%20" (without the quotation marks) for the space in the URL. The string "%20" is the URL encoding equivalent of a space character.

    For example, if the URL is
    instead use:

MORE INFORMATION

When you view directories in "directory browse" format (no default.htm in the directory), the link at the top of the page called "[To Parent Directory]" is not URL-encoded with a %20 in place of any space-character in the filename.

When you use Netscape Navigator version 4.05 and click the link, the Web server stops responding and the error message occurs.



The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.


(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.


Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/22/2005
Keywords:kbpending kbprb KB187034