Internet Explorer Returns Error Message When Being Redirected (193489)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95 SP 1
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q193489

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to view a Web Site, Internet Explorer 4.0, 4.01, or 4.01 Service Pack 1 (SP1) may intermittently return any of the following error messages:
  • Internet Explorer cannot open the internet site URL:<site> the downloaded file is not available. This could be due to your security language setting or because the server was unable to retrieve the requested file.
  • Internet Explorer cannot open the internet site URL:<site> the connection to the server was reset.
  • Object Moved. This object may be found <here>

CAUSE

Internet Explorer does not properly handle an HTTP/1.1 302 redirect returned from a proxy server or Internet server when the HTTP/1.1 302 redirect is sent to Internet Explorer in two separate TCP frames (one with the HTTP/1.1 302 redirect, and the other with a HTML body containing a page for the new location).

When Internet Explorer receives the first TCP frame with an HTTP/1.1 302 redirect, Internet Explorer processes the redirect command and attempts to use the open socket connection to the server that sent the redirect. This occurs because Internet Explorer has not processed the second TCP frame containing the FIN or the "socket close connection" command, so Internet Explorer assumes that the current state of the socket connection is still open. This is an intermittent problem because Internet Explorer may recognize that the socket connection was closed by the server and open a new socket connection to the server if Internet Explorer receives the TCP frames close enough together, or if no HTML body is sent at all.

NOTE: With a network packet analyzer, the server returns a standard HTTP "302 - Object Moved" header back to the browser, which is normal behavior for the redirect process. The browser should handle this and go to the redirected site.

RESOLUTION

Internet Explorer 4.x

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

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

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

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 typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date      Time    Version         Size     File name
   ------------------------------------------------------
   09/28/98  12:06p  4.72.3509.2800  370,488  Wininet.dll

NOTE: Before you apply this fix, you should obtain and install Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 1, which is available at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx/

Internet Explorer 5

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next version of Internet Explorer that contains this fix that contains this hotfix.

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

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

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 typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English-language version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date      Time     Version          Size     File name
   --------------------------------------------------------
   06/02/99  11:45am  5.0.2718.200     334,608  Wininet.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

This problem is fixed in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01. To download Internet Explorer 5.01, refer to the following Microsoft Web site:

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

MORE INFORMATION

To work around this issue, do one of the following:
  • Add this function to your web server:
    Function XRedirect(sURL)
Response.Buffer = True
Response.Clear
Response.Status = "301 Moved"
Response.AddHeader "Location", sURL
Response.End
End Function
    A global editing utility changed all source code from Response.Redirect to XRedirect. The code is in an include file referenced by all .asp pages.

  • Disable all proxy server caching and set "Response.Buffer = True".
These methods may not work in all cases, but they are worth a try in order to avoid having to install a hotfix that has not been regression tested.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/15/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kberrmsg kbprb KB193489
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