XWEB: OWA Error 404 Opening Messages After Applying 5.5 SP

ID: Q192930

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open messages with the Outlook Web Access (OWA) client with Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 Service Pack 1, you may receive the following error message:

HTTP Error 404 File Not Found. The Web server cannot find the file or
script you asked for. Please check the URL to ensure that the path is
correct. Please contact the server's administrator if this problem
persists.


CAUSE

The URL path for messages is incorrect. The OWA client is looking for a message path of: 


  javascript:parent.openNewWindow("/exchange/forms/IPM.NotefrmRoot.asp?...

Instead of: 

  javascript:parent.openNewWindow("/exchange/forms/IPM/Note/frmRoot.asp?..

There is a calculation and check done on the files in the Webdata directory to determine if the object is a file or a directory. If some flags (such as Archive or Compressed) are set on the directory, it may cause the calculation routine to be incorrect and produce the wrong URL.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server version 5.5. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q191014 XGEN: How to Obtain the Latest Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

Component: Outlook Web Access 

   File Name     Version
   -----------------------
   Cdohtml.dll   5.5.2404.0


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. This problem was first corrected in Exchange Server 5.5 Service Pack 2.


MORE INFORMATION

Download the compressed Setup file appropriate for the server for your hardware platform. Select the appropriate files as indicated by the following list: 


      Alpha AXP(TM)     Psp1cdoa.exe
      Intel(R)          Psp1cdoi.exe

  1. Download appropriate file to a temporary location on the server's local hard drive.

    Example: English version for the Intel platform will be located at:
    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/exchange/exchange-public/fixes/<LANG>

    /Exchg5.5/PostSP1/CDOHTML-fix/PSP1CDOI.EXE


  2. Unzip the file by typing the file name of the self-extracting archive at the command prompt.

    Example: The version for the Intel platform will be Psp1cdoi.


  3. Stop the World Wide Web Publishing Service and the Internet Information Server (IIS) Administrator Service (if you are using IIS 4.0).


  4. Rename your existing Cdohtml.dll in your \Exchsrvr\Bin directory to Cdohtml.old.


  5. Copy the included Cdohtml.dll to your \Exchsrvr\Bin directory.


  6. Copy the included Cdohtml.dbg file to your \Winnt\Symbols directory


(optional).

  1. Click Start, Run, and in the text box type:

    regsvr32.exe <drive>:\exchsrvr\bin\cdohtml.dll

    This will register the Cdohtml.dll.


  2. Click OK on the dialog box stating the Cdohtml.dll was registered successfully.


  3. Start the World Wide Web Publishing Service and the Internet Information Server (IIS) Administrator Service (if you are using IIS 4.0).


  4. The Exchange Server computer should be updated successfully now, and you should no longer get the HTTP 404 error when opening messages.


Additional query words: exfclnfaq 5.5 sp1 OWA 


Keywords          : exc55sp2fix 
Version           : WINDOWS:5.5
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: April 12, 1999