KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q185379: Browser Stops When .Exe File Attempts to Run Instead of Download

Article: Q185379
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 05-AUG-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Browser Symptoms
----------------

When you click an .exe file from a browser to download it, the file attempts to
run, causing the browser to stop responding.

NOTE: Internet Explorer does not actually stop responding. After the timeout
period eventually expires, it displays the following error message:

  Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site
  http://<URL>/<filename>.exe.

  The operation timed out

Server Symptoms
---------------

In the Event Viewer on the computer running Internet Information Server (IIS),
the following error is listed in the event log:

  System Error, Source=W3SVC, Event ID=16

The event details contains the description:

  The script started from the URL '/<filename>.exe' with parameters ''
  has not responded within the configured timeout period. The HTTP server is
  terminating the script.

CAUSE
=====

The virtual directory containing the .exe file has the Execute application
permission enabled. This causes IIS to attempt to run the .exe files in that
virtual directory for the browser instead of downloading them.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, change the virtual directory application permission
to None or Script. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. In Internet Service Manager (ISM), view the Properties page for the
  appropriate virtual directory in the Web site.

2. On the Directory, Home Directory, or Virtual Directory tab, under
  Permissions, select either None or Script.

(c) Microsoft Corporation 2000, All Rights Reserved. Contributions by Kevin
Zollman, Microsoft Corporation.


Additional query words: mmc fails stops IE hang hangs hung akz

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis400
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbpending

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.