Internet Explorer 6 appears to stop responding, and you may also notice a memory leak on the computer (886710)

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
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, you cannot connect to a Web site, and Internet Explorer 6 appears to stop responding (hang). This issue occurs even when you close one or more browser windows when the maximum number of simultaneous connections that the server allows is reached. You may also notice a memory leak on the computer.

CAUSE

This issue occurs if a Web page contains a script that creates XMLHTTP objects and uses the OnUnload event in JavaScript. The XMLHTTP objects are released but not destroyed during the OnUnload event.

WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use the JavaScript abort method on the XMLHTTP objects to clean up the XMLHTTP objects when the Web page is unloaded. For example, the following code example uses the abort method on the g_httpObj object.

<BODY onUnload="abortxml()"> 

function abortxml()
{
if (g_httpObj))
  {
      g_httpObj.abort();
  }
}

Note In this code example, g_httpObj is a placeholder for an XMLHTTP object.

MORE INFORMATION

When the XMLHTTP objects are not destroyed, the connection handle object to the server may not be released as expected. When the connection handle object is not destroyed, you cannot open a new Internet Explorer 6 window if the maximum number of simultaneous connections that the server allows is reached.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	7/6/2005
Keywords:	kbprb KB886710 kbAudDeveloper