Err Msg: The Path <Web Address> Does Not Exist or Is Not a...

Article ID: 190414
This article was previously published under Q190414
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.
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SYMPTOMS

When you try to use the Windows Update or Web Help feature of Windows 98, you may receive an error message similar to one of the following messages:
The path 'http://update.microsoft.com' does not exist or is not a directory.
-or-
The path 'http://windows.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?OLCID=0x0409&0S= at&PRD=windowsupddate' does not exist or is not a directory.
-or-
The path 'http://windows.microsoft.com/isapi/redir.dll?OLCID= 0x0409&CLCID=0x0409&OS=at&prd=support&ar=w98' does not exist or is not a directory.
You may receive a similar message if you use a Web address as an Explorer.exe command-line argument (for example, "explorer http://<Web address>").

Note that if you do not include the complete Web address (for example, you do not include "http://", you receive an error message.
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CAUSE

This behavior can occur if a program modifies the properties of the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop. This interferes with Windows Explorer's ability to identify a Web address as a command line and display Web content.

Using System Policy Editor to enable the "Hide Internet Explorer icon" policy is also known to cause this behavior.

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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.

You can edit the registry using System Policy Editor (Poledit.exe) or Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Check with your network administrator before you make any changes to the registry.

System Policy Editor is available in the Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit folder on the Windows 98 CD-ROM.

For more information about system policies and using System Policy Editor, please see Chapter 8 of the Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit.

To resolve this behavior, use either System Policy Editor or Registry Editor to disable the "Hide Internet Explorer icon" policy.

System Policy Editor Method

To disable the "Hide Internet Explorer icon" policy using System Policy Editor, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type poledit, and then click OK.
  3. On the File menu, click either Open Policy or Open Registry as appropriate.
  4. Double-click the user's policy file or Local User as appropriate.
  5. Double-click the Desktop category to expand it, and then click "Desktop Restrictions" (click the words, not the check box).

    Note that you need to have the Shellm.adm file as a current policy template to have "Desktop Restrictions" available.
  6. Click the "Hide Internet Explorer icon" check box to clear it, and then click OK.
  7. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit on the File menu.
  8. Restart your computer.

Registry Editor Method

To disable the "Hide Internet Explorer Icon" policy using Registry Editor, delete the NoInternetIcon value from the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer


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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 98.
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MORE INFORMATION

Deleting the Internet Explorer icon from the desktop does not affect Windows Explorer's ability to recognize a Web address as a command-line parameter.

The Run dialog box accepts both complete and abbreviated Web addresses because Internet Explorer (Iexplore.exe) is able to interpret them correctly. For example, any of the following command lines should perform as expected in the Run dialog box:
www.microsoft.com
http://www.microsoft.com
iexplore http://www.microsoft.com
iexplore www.microsoft.com

Windows Explorer (Explorer.exe) must have the complete Web address to function correctly. You always receive an error message when you type the following command line in the Run dialog box:
explorer www.microsoft.com

If the "Hide Internet Explorer Icon" policy is enabled, you receive an error message when you type the following command line in the Run dialog box:
explorer http://www.microsoft.com
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Properties

Article ID: 190414 - Last Review: February 3, 2011 - Revision: 1.3
Keywords: 
kbenv kberrmsg kbprb kbui KB190414
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