Error Message: Error Locating Object Handler

ID: Q180553

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to download a program (.exe) or zip (.zip) file, Internet Explorer may display a blank Web page with an ActiveX icon in the upper- right corner. If you click the ActiveX icon, you may receive the following error message:

Error Locating Object Handler
There is no viewer available for the type of object you are trying to to open. The following information is available about this object: 

   Address of Object:             <Web address of the file>
   Content Type:                  <type of file>
   Possible location of viewer:   Microsoft ActiveX Gallery 



   Do you want to go to this location to download a viewer for this type
   of object ?


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a plug-in or ActiveX control on your computer has been uninstalled or deleted, but has left entries in the registry.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).


To resolve this issue, delete the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Plugins\Extension


MORE INFORMATION

The following plug-ins and ActiveX controls have been known to cause this behavior:

For information about troubleshooting active content in Internet Explorer, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154036 Troubleshooting Active Content in Internet Explorer

Additional query words: object handler error 


Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg msiew95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01,5
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: July 28, 1999