"HTTP 400 - Bad Request" Error Message if Content Length Field in Request Header is 0 (293131)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Information Services 5.0
This article was previously published under Q293131

SYMPTOMS

When you are running Internet Information Server (IIS) and you browse a Web site, you may receive the following error message in the browser:
HTTP 400 - Bad Request
Refreshing the page in the browser may make the error message disappear.

CAUSE

Under certain conditions, IIS may misinterpret a Content-Length header of 0 (zero) as a bad HTTP request.

RESOLUTION

Internet Information Services 5.0

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later: 
   Date         Time    Version        Size     File name
   -----------------------------------------------------
   4/11/2001   05:46p  5.0.2195.3492  357,648  W3svc.dll

Internet Information Server 4.0

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.

To resolve this problem, 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 usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:
   Date         Time   Version    Size     File name     Platform
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   17-Apr-2001  10:30  4.2.765.1  214,544  Adsiis.dll    x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:30  4.2.765.1  330,672  Asp.dll       x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:29  4.2.765.1   55,392  Httpodbc.dll  x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:30  4.2.765.1   98,912  Iischema.dll  x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:28  4.2.765.1   63,472  Iislog.dll    x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:29  4.2.765.1  185,792  Infocomm.dll  x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:28  4.2.765.1   29,520  Iscomlog.dll  x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:30  4.2.765.1   38,256  Ssinc.dll     x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:30  4.2.765.1   25,360  Sspifilt.dll  x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:29  4.2.765.1  229,024  W3svc.dll     x86
   17-Apr-2001  10:29  4.2.765.1   88,032  Wam.dll       x86

   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1  307,984  Adsiis.dll    Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1  552,720  Asp.dll       Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1   89,360  Httpodbc.dll  Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1  107,280  Iischema.dll  Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:26  4.2.765.1  112,912  Iislog.dll    Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:26  4.2.765.1  305,424  Infocomm.dll  Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:26  4.2.765.1   46,352  Iscomlog.dll  Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1   60,688  Ssinc.dll     Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1   39,696  Sspifilt.dll  Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:27  4.2.765.1  385,296  W3svc.dll     Alpha
   17-Apr-2001  10:26  4.2.765.1  150,288  Wam.dll       Alpha

STATUS

Internet Information Services 5.0

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Internet Information Services 5.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

Internet Information Server 4.0

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Internet Information Server 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION

This error may occur anytime the Content-Length header is 0 (zero), but this error occurs most often when you search an IBM Lotus Domino Server. If you are searching a Lotus Domino Server, after you apply this hotfix you may see the following error message in the browser (instead of the "HTTP 400 - Bad Request" error message):
HTTP Web Server: Lotus Notes Exception - Query is not understandable
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:9/23/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbWin2000sp3fix KB293131
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