Internal clients cannot use Internet Explorer to access FTP sites through Web proxies

Warning

The retired, out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 desktop application has been permanently disabled through a Microsoft Edge update on certain versions of Windows 10. For more information, see Internet Explorer 11 desktop app retirement FAQ.

This article provides the steps to solve the error message that occurs when you use internal clients to visit a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site in Internet Explorer.

Original version:   Internet Explorer, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 Enterprise Edition
Original KB number:   814473

Symptoms

When you use Microsoft Internet Explorer to try to access an FTP site, you may receive the following error message:

Windows cannot access this folder. Make sure you typed the file name correctly, and that you have permission to access to the folder.

Details:   The operation timed out.

Cause

This issue may occur if the following conditions exist:

  • You try to access the FTP site from behind a Web proxy firewall.
  • Folder view for FTP sites is enabled in the Internet Explorer.

When you turn on folder view for FTP sites, the Internet Explorer client bypasses the Web Proxy, and tries to send FTP connection requests directly to the Internet. This operation is unsuccessful.

Resolution

To solve this issue, turn off folder view for FTP sites in Internet Explorer:

  1. Start Internet Explorer.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

  3. Click the Advanced tab, click to clear the Enable folder view for FTP sites check box, click Apply, and then click OK.