Cannot Access UNC Path Saved as a Favorite

ID: Q165679

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02a for Windows 3.1

SYMPTOMS

After adding what appears to be a universal naming convention (UNC) path to an .htm file in the list of favorites, you may not be able to access that file using the Favorites menu after restarting Internet Explorer.

CAUSE

Microsoft Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups are not UNC-aware. The UNC path name in the Favorites.htm file causes Internet Explorer to attempt to resolve the UNC path name as a file name on the local computer.

RESOLUTION

Map a drive letter to a network resource prior to adding a file located on that resource to the Favorites menu.

For information about mapping a drive, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type "mapping network" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "mapping network drives" topic.

STATUS

Microsoft is aware of this situation and will post more information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base when it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Internet Explorer locates a file initially (despite the fact that Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups are not UNC-aware) by using the following syntax:

   file:\\<server_name>\<file_name.htm>

If you then save the file as a favorite, restart Internet Explorer, and attempt to access the file from the Favorites menu, you may receive the following error message:

   'file:c:\<installation_directory>\\\<server_name>\<file_name.htm>'
   could not be found.
   The attempt to load
   'file:c:\<installation_directory>\\\<server_name>\<file_name.htm>'
   failed.

When Internet Explorer checks the Favorites.htm file in its installation folder, it finds the entry that begins with "file:" and assumes that the backslashes ("\\") are the first two characters in the file name. In addition, it assumes that the file is located on the local drive.

When the file is not found, Internet Explorer modifies the entry to include its installation folder followed by a backslash. It then adds what it believes to be the file name, beginning with the two backslashes. Because this is not an actual path, the error message is generated.

Additional query words: 3.00

Keywords          : kbui msiew31 
Version           : 3.0 3.01 3.02a
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: September 10, 1997