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Q257619: Access Violation When Path/File Name Is More Than 260 Characters

Article: Q257619
Product(s): Internet Information Server
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWin2000PreSP1Fix kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix kbWin2000sp1Fix
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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

- Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Internet Information Services version 5.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If a long path or file name (more than 260 characters) is used in the
<!--#include virtual | file ="filename"--> directive in an ASP page, IIS
generates an Access Violation error message.

CAUSE
=====

The buffer allocated for the file name is 260 characters long. Therefore, a file
name that is more than 260 characters causes a buffer overflow and an Access
Violation error message to occur.


RESOLUTION
==========

Windows 2000
------------

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For
additional information, click the following article number to view the article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack



Windows NT 4.0
--------------

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to
computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the
fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and
information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls
may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to
additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific
update in question.

The English version of this fix for Windows NT 4.0 should have the following file
attributes or later:

  Date      Time    Version  Size     File name  Platform
  -------------------------------------------------------
  01/03/00  01:45p  4.2.737  329,024  Asp.dll    x86
  01/03/00  01:45p  4.2.737  550,160  Asp.dll    Alpha



STATUS
======

Windows 2000
------------

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows 2000. This problem was
first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

Windows NT 4.0
--------------

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION
================

A fix has been added to check the file-name length. If the file name is more
than 260 characters, a "Include file not found" error message is returned to the
browser.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbWin2000PreSP1Fix kbWinNT400PreSP7Fix kbWin2000sp1Fix 
Technology        : kbiisSearch kbiis500 kbiis400
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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