Error Message: The Server Threw an Exception...

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q177300

Expand all | Collapse all

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to open a Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word file using the Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) in Internet Explorer, you may receive the following error message

Internet Explorer cannot open the site http://<address>

The server threw an exception.

where <address> is the location of the Excel or Word file you are attempting to open.

Back to the top

CAUSE

This error message can occur if you previously opened the Excel or Word file in Internet Explorer using in-place activation.

Back to the top

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain Internet Explorer 4.01. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx/ (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx/)

To work around this problem, empty your Temporary Internet Files folder by following these steps in Internet Explorer 4.0:

On the View menu, click Internet Options.
Under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files.
Click OK, and then click OK again. Try to open the Excel or Word file. If you are unable to open the file, proceed to step 4.
Quit and restart Internet Explorer.

If you are still unable to open the Word or Excel file in Internet Explorer using in-place activation, quit and restart Windows.

Back to the top

STATUS

This problem is fixed in Internet Explorer 4.01.

Back to the top

If you attempt to open a Microsoft Office file in Internet Explorer using a protocol other than HTTP (for example, File Transfer Protocol [FTP]) before you empty your Temporary Internet Files folder, the Office program associated with the file may start instead of the file being opened in Internet Explorer using in-place activation.

Back to the top

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 128-Bit Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 128-Bit Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.2

Back to the top

kberrmsg KB177300

Back to the top

Retired KB Content Disclaimer

This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.

Back to the top