You cannot download files that are 2 GB or larger (298618)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
This article was previously published under Q298618

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to download a file from the Internet by using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may find that the download does not complete. As a result, you cannot download the file.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the file that you try to download is 2 gigabytes (GB) in size or larger. You cannot download files of this size with HTTP in Internet Explorer.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you can configure a Web site that is dedicated to downloading large files. To do this, disable the HTTP Keep-Alives Enabled option for a Web site that Internet Information Services (IIS) hosts. To disable this option, follow these steps:
  1. Open Internet Information Services Manager.
  2. Right-click the Web site that requires the change, and then click Properties.
  3. Clear the HTTP Keep-Alives Enabled check box that is located on the Web Site tab, and then click OK.

Note The HTTP Keep-Alives Enabled option enables a client that connects to the Web server to reuse the current TCP/IP session when it downloads all content from the Web server. When you disable this option, an Internet Explorer client can then download files of up to 4 GB. However, it also forces the client to establish a new TCP/IP session with the Web server for every content object that is downloaded from the Web page. Additionally, it creates extra TCP/IP overhead for both the server and the client which will adversely affect page load times.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Internet Explorer, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:4/17/2006
Keywords:kbnofix kbprb KB298618
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