When you click on a file:// URL that points to a file for which you do not have the required permissions, Internet Explorer may generate the following generic error message:

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This problem occurs under the following conditions:

•	The FILE:// URL refers to a UNC name that points to a file (not a UNC name to a share or folder.).
•	The client user account does not have proper permissions to access the share where the file resides.
•	The Internet Explorer "Show HTTP friendly error message" setting is on.

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To work around this problem, use HTTP:// URLs instead of FILE:// URLs.

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Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

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In the preceding scenario, Internet Explorer calls Urlmon.dll to bind to the FILE:// URL. URLMON uses the SMB protocol to request the file. Because the client does not have proper permissions on the file, the server sends back an "ACCESS DENIED" error. URLMON handles this error as a generic error, and displays the "Page cannot be displayed / Cannot find server or DNS Error" error message.

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