Error message: "Internet Explorer cannot download a file" (816868)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows XP SP1
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000 SP2
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000 SP3
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6a
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 2000

SYMPTOMS

When you try to download a file with Internet Explorer from a Web server, you may receive the following error message:
"Internet Explorer cannot download FileName from WebServer."

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the content disposition header for the file stream is greater than approximately 150 bytes and the Latin character set is equal to 150 characters. This behavior may occur if the content disposition header is formatted with a non-Latin character set, such as Japanese or Russian.

For example, a 17-character content disposition header in the Japanese character set is 153 bytes because the UTF-8 encoding scheme uses 9 bytes to represent a single Japanese character, but it uses only 1 byte in the Latin character set.

RESOLUTION

Internet Explorer 5.01

Update information

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 3

DownloadDownload the IE5.01sp3-KB871260-Windows2000sp3-x86-ENU.exe package now. Release Date: July 30, 2004

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 4

DownloadDownload the IE5.01sp4-KB871260-Windows2000sp4-x86-ENU.exe package now. Release Date: July 30, 2004

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites

Because of file dependencies, this update requires Internet Explorer 5.01 SP3 on Windows 2000 SP3 or Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4 on Windows 2000 SP4.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information

This update does not replace any other updates.

File information:

Internet Explorer 5.01 SP3 Update

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   21-Jul-2004  20:55  5.0.3532.2100     792,848  Browseui.dll     
   03-Mar-2003  17:24  6.0.2800.1172      33,792  Ieuninst.exe     
   09-Oct-2003  17:04  6.0.2800.1271      27,136  Ieupdate.exe     
   21-Jul-2004  21:02  5.0.3532.2100   2,287,888  Mshtml.dll       
   19-Aug-2003  18:00  5.0.3521.1800      48,912  Pngfilt.dll      
   21-Jul-2004  20:54  5.0.3532.2100   1,100,048  Shdocvw.dll      
   21-Jul-2004  20:52  5.0.3532.2100     279,312  Shlwapi.dll      
   05-Mar-2002  04:53  5.50.4915.500      84,240  Url.dll          
   21-Jul-2004  21:04  5.0.3532.2100     409,360  Urlmon.dll       
   21-Jul-2004  21:04  5.0.3532.2100     450,832  Wininet.dll

Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4 Update

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   21-Jul-2004  21:21  5.0.3819.2100     792,848  Browseui.dll     
   03-Mar-2003  17:24  6.0.2800.1172      33,792  Ieuninst.exe     
   09-Oct-2003  17:04  6.0.2800.1271      27,136  Ieupdate.exe     
   21-Jul-2004  21:24  5.0.3819.2100   2,287,888  Mshtml.dll       
   13-Jun-2003  02:15  5.0.3806.1200      48,912  Pngfilt.dll      
   21-Jul-2004  21:20  5.0.3819.2100   1,100,048  Shdocvw.dll      
   21-Jul-2004  21:20  5.0.3819.2100     279,312  Shlwapi.dll      
   05-Mar-2002  04:53  5.50.4915.500      84,240  Url.dll          
   21-Jul-2004  21:25  5.0.3819.2100     409,360  Urlmon.dll       
   21-Jul-2004  21:25  5.0.3819.2100     450,832  Wininet.dll


Important In addition to installing the above update, you must add a registry key. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
  2. Select the following subkey in the registry:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
  4. Name the new key as follows: FEATURE_ERROR_FILENAME_EXCEED_RANGE_KB816868
  5. Right-click on FEATURE_ERROR_FILENAME_EXCEED_RANGE_KB816868, point to New, and click DWORD Value.
  6. Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.
  7. Double-click the iexplore.exe subkey, type 1 in the Value data text box, and then click OK.
  8. Exit Registry Editor.

Internet Explorer 6

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Internet Explorer 6 service pack that contains this hotfix.

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

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

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.

Prerequisites

Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel. 
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   28-Apr-2003  12:15  6.0.2800.1193     586,240  Wininet.dll

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/27/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbQFE kbIE600sp2fix kbIE600preSP2fix kbfix kbbug kbprb KB816868 kbAudEndUser kbAudITPRO
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.