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Error message when clicking hyperlink in Office: "Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server"

Article ID: 218153 - View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q218153

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SYMPTOMS

When you create a hyperlink in an Office document and then click the link, you may receive one of these error messages:

Unable to open <URL>. Cannot locate the Internet server or proxy server.

Unable to open <URL>. Cannot open the specified file.

<URL> = the hyperlink you inserted.

NOTE: The hyperlink does work if you type it directly in the browser or in the Open box of the Run dialog box (click Start, and then click Run).

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CAUSE

This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

You are using Microsoft Internet Explorer:
- A proxy server -or-
- A firewall that does not allow HTTP requests to be placed on your local network
-and-
Internet Explorer is not your default browser.

-and-
The following registry key is not present or is not set to 1:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet

*For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet

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WORKAROUND

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ )

How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

To have us work around this problem for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.

Fix it for me

To fix this problem automatically, click the Fix it button or link. In the File Download dialog box, click Run and then follow the steps in the Fix it Wizard.

Fix this problem
Microsoft Fix it 50655

Notes

This wizard may be in English only. However, the automatic fix also works for other language versions of Windows.
If you are not on the computer that has the problem, save the Fix it solution to a flash drive or a CD and then run it on the computer that has the problem.

Then, go to the "Did this fix the problem?" section.

Let me fix it myself

To work around this issue, either add the Internet subkey, if it is not present, and set the Value data, or if it is present, set the Value data of the Internet subkey.

Adding the Internet Subkey to the Registry and Setting the Value Data

Quit any programs that are running.
Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
In Registry Editor, browse to the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common
Note This registry key is the same for all versions that listed in the "Applies To" section. This registry key will not be different for the different versions. If you are running 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows you need to use the Wow6432Node HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet.
On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
Name the new subkey Internet.
Make sure the Internet subkey is selected. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Add the following registry value:
Value Name: ForceShellExecute
Double-click ForceShellExecute, and then set the Value data to 1. Click OK.
On the Registry menu, click Exit.

Setting the Value Data

Quit any programs that are running.
Click Start, and then click Run. Type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
In Registry Editor, browse to the following subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet

Note This registry key is the same for all versions that listed in the "Applies To" section. This registry key will not be different for the different versions. If you are running 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows you need to use the Wow6432Node HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Common\Internet
Make sure the Internet subkey is selected. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Add the following registry value:
Value Name: ForceShellExecute
Double-click ForceShellExecute, and then set the Value data to 1. Click OK.
On the Registry menu, click Exit.

Did this fix the problem?

Check whether the problem is fixed. If the problem is fixed, you are finished with this section. If the problem is not fixed, you can contact support
(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus)
.
We would appreciate your feedback. To provide feedback or to report any issues with this solution, please leave a comment on the "Fix it for me
(http://blogs.technet.com/fixit4me/)
" blog or send us an email
(mailto:fixit4me@microsoft.com?Subject=KB)
message.

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MORE INFORMATION

If your operating system is Microsoft Windows 2000, you must upgrade the Hlink.dll file. This update is included with Windows 2000 Service Pack 1.

A hyperlink may not go to a Microsoft Word document or a Microsoft Excel worksheet after you use this workaround. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

280680

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/280680/ )

Cannot follow hyperlink to Office document

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