FP98: Unable to Complete Transaction on Server with NTLM

When you use FrontPage Explorer to connect to a Web server, you may receive the following message:

This problem can occur if you have not installed the Client for Microsoft Networks in your Network control panel. Without the client, FrontPage cannot process the request for NTLM authentication.

To resolve this problem, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install the Client

If you want to log in to a server that is using NTLM authentication, install the client for Microsoft Networks. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click the Network control panel icon.
3. If the Client for Microsoft Networks is not one of the installed components, click Add.
4. Click the Client type of network component, and then click Add.
5. In the Manufacturer column, click Microsoft. In the Network Clients column, click Client For Microsoft Networks. Click Add.
6. If you are prompted to do so, insert the Windows 95 compact disc or floppy disk in the appropriate disk (disc) drive. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.

Method 2: Use Basic Authentication

Disable NTLM authentication on the Web server and use Basic authentication instead. Note, however, that Basic authentication is easier to decipher than NTLM, and makes your Web less secure.

Use the IIS Service Manager to disable NTLM authentication on IIS 2.0 and 3.0 running on a Windows NT server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. On the Windows Start menu, point to Programs, point to "Microsoft Internet Server (Common)," and then click Internet Service Manager.
2. Double-click the WWW Service icon.
3. Click the Service tab.
4. Click to clear the "Windows NT Challenge/Response" check box. Click to select the "Basic (Clear Text)" check box.
5. Click OK.
6. Stop the WWW Service by clicking Stop on the toolbar.
7. Restart the WWW Service by clicking Play on the toolbar.
8. On the File menu, click Exit.

Method 3: NTLM Authentication Error Opening FrontPage Web

For more information about the NTLM authentication error when you open a FrontPage Web, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

NTLM is the authentication scheme used by Windows NT. It can also be used by the Microsoft Internet Information Server, Microsoft Peer Web Services for Windows NT Workstation, version 4.0, and the Microsoft Personal Web Server for Windows 95. Basic authentication is the standard authentication scheme for the Internet.