Microsoft KB Archive/285081

= INFO: XMLHTTPRequest Object Requires Internet Explorer 5.0 or Later =

Article ID: 285081

Article Last Modified on 6/4/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft XML Parser 2.0
 * Microsoft XML Parser 2.5
 * Microsoft XML Parser 2.6
 * Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0
 * Microsoft XML Parser 3.0 Service Pack 1
 * Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer (Programming) 5.01 SP1
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5

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This article was previously published under Q285081



SUMMARY
The Microsoft XML Parser (MSXML) includes the XMLHTTPRequest object, which provides client-side protocol support for communication with HTTP servers. A client computer can use this object to send an arbitrary HTTP request, receive the response, and have the Microsoft XML Document Object Model (DOM) parse that response.

However, applications may fail when trying to use the XMLHTTPRequest object from a computer that has a version of the Internet Explorer browser prior to version 5.0, even if the correct version of MSXML parser is present. The following are examples of error messages that may be reported:

80004005 Unspecified Error

In Visual Basic:

80004005 Method &quot;Open&quot; of object &quot;IXMLHTTPRequest&quot; failed.

These errors occur because the XMLHTTPRequest object depends on components that are installed by Internet Explorer 5.0 or later to function correctly.



MORE INFORMATION
With MSXML 3.0 or later, a new ServerXMLHTTPRequest object is available as an alternative to XMLHTTPRequest. ServerXMLHTTPRequest is more robust and works well in server applications.

Supported platforms for ServerXMLHTTPRequest include Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 with Internet Explorer 5.01 r later installed. ServerXMLHTTP fails on other platforms, such as Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98.

