Two Hits on Server Per POST Request on Internet Explorer

ID: Q160013

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 2.0, 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If a CGI application returns a MIME Type that is unknown or not associated to Internet Explorer internally, Internet Explorer makes two POST requests to the server.

CAUSE

When the result of a POST request is processed, Internet Explorer first looks at the MIME type returned in the HTTP header. If this is not recognized by Internet Explorer or the application is external to Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer discards the response to the first POST request and initiates a second POST request.

For example, if you use the following HTML code to define a form

   <H2>POST Request</H2>
   <FORM ACTION="/cgi-bin/iistest.exe" METHOD=POST>
   <INPUT TYPE=SUBMIT>
   </FORM>

and Iistest.exe is a CGI application that returns the following HTTP header and body

   Content-type: text/unknown

   This is normal text

a trace would show two POST requests made to the server. Internet Explorer incorrectly assumes that the CGI application returns the same information for both requests.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the products listed at the top of this article.

Additional query words: ie30 ie3 GET html

Keywords          : kbnetwork msiexplore kbbuglist
Version           : 2.0 3.0 3.01 4.0
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

Last Reviewed: January 25, 1998