Cannot open an Excel 2003 workbook by using Internet Explorer 6.0

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a Microsoft Office Excel 2003 workbook from a Web site by browsing to the location with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, you cannot open the file. Instead, you receive the following messages:

Some files can harm your computer. If the file information below looks suspicious, or you do not fully trust the source, do not open this file.

Would you like to open the file or save it to your computer?

If you click Save, you receive the following error message:

Internet Explorer cannot download ...File_name.xls from Server_name.
Internet Explorer was not able to open this Internet site. The requested site is either unavailable or cannot be found. Please try again later.

If you click Open, you receive the following error message:

Could not open 'http[s]://Server_name/File_path/File_name.xls'.

After you click OK, you receive the following error message:

Microsoft Excel cannot access the file 'http[s]://Server_name/File_path/File_name.xls' There are several possible reasons:

The file name or path name does not exist.
The file you're trying to open is being used by another program. Close the document in the other program, and try again.
The name of the workbook you're trying to save is the same as the name of another document that is read-only. Try saving the workbook with a different name.

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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   16-Apr-2004  01:56  6.0.2800.1421   2,799,104  Mshtml.dll       
   16-Apr-2004  01:58  6.0.2800.1421   1,344,000  Shdocvw.dll      
   16-Apr-2004  01:58  6.0.2800.1421     485,888  Urlmon.dll       
   16-Apr-2004  01:59  6.0.2800.1421     589,824  Wininet.dll

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