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Q186809: Err Msg: HTTP Error 405, 405 Method Not Allowed

Article: Q186809
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 21-OCT-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to search the product documentation that ships with the
Microsoft Windows NT Option Pack version 4.0, the following error message may
occur:

  HTTP Error 405
  405 Method Not Allowed

  The method specified in the Request Line is not allowed for the resource
  identified by the request. Please ensure that you have the proper MIME type
  set up for the resource you are requesting.

  Please contact the server's administrator if this problem persists.

Alternative Error May Occur In Internet Explorer 5.0
----------------------------------------------------

Under certain circumstances in Internet Explorer 5.0, the following error message
may be displayed instead:

  The page cannot be displayed
  There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be
  displayed.

  Please try the following:

  * Open the localhost home page, and then look for links to the information you
  want.
  * Click the Refresh button, or try again later.
  * Click Search to look for information on the Internet.
  * You can also see a list of related sites.

  HTTP 500 - Internal server error Internet Explorer

CAUSE
=====

The product documentation uses the Internet Data Query file (Idq.dll) to perform
searches. Either the Idq.dll file has not been installed, or it is missing from
the properties of the IISHELP application directory.

WORKAROUND
==========

To resolve this issue, perform one of the following workarounds:

Idq.dll Does Not Exist
----------------------

If the %SystemRoot$\System32 folder does not contain the Idq.dll file, perform
the following to install it:

1. Run the Windows NT Option Pack 4.0 Setup program, and then click Add/Remove.

2. From the list box of Components, select Microsoft Index Server, and then
  click the Show Subcomponents button.

3. At a minimum, from the Subcomponents of Microsoft Index Server list box,
  click the Index Server System Files checkbox to select it, and then click OK.

4. Finish running the Setup program.

Idq.dll Already Exists
----------------------

If the Idq.dll file already exists in the %SystemRoot$\System32 folder, perform
the following to create a script mapping for the IISHELP application for
Idq.dll:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and point to Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack.

2. Point to Microsoft Internet Information Server and click Internet Service
  Manager.

  NOTE: Be sure to click Internet Service Manager and not Internet Service
  Manager (HTML).

3. Expand the Internet Information Server object, expand your server object, and
  then expand the Default Web Site object.

4. Right-click the IISHELP application directory and click Properties.

5. Click the Configuration button in the Application Settings section of the
  Virtual Directory tab.

6. Click Add and use the following information to create a new script mapping:

  Executable: C:\Winnt\system32\idq.dll
  Extension: idq

  NOTE: C:\Winnt is the default Windows NT installation directory; yours may be
  different.

7. Click OK three times.

NOTE: You do not need to restart IIS for this to take effect.

Additional query words:

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

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

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