Microsoft KB Archive/135974

= Microsoft Knowledge Base =

Smart URL Expansion Does Not Recognize Port Numbers
Last reviewed: May 15, 1997

Article ID: Q135974

The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02a for Windows 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS
If you type a URL (Internet address) with a nonstandard port number (such as www.somewhere.com:8080) in the Open Internet Address box in Internet Explorer, you receive the following error message:

Unable to open WWW.SOMEWHERE.COM:8080. The required Internet protocol is not installed, or the address may be invalid. If you type the URL in the Run dialog box, you receive the following error message:

Cannot Find the file 'WWW.SOMEWHERE.COM:8080' (or one of its  components). Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available. In Internet Explorer for Windows 3.1, you receive the following error message:

This program does not support the protocol for accessing 'WWW.SOMEWHERE.COM:8080'

CAUSE
Internet Explorer's Smart URL Expansion feature does not work if a port number is included as part of the URL.

RESOLUTION
If you type a URL with a nonstandard port number, you must include the protocol as part of the URL. If the example URL above were an HTTP site, the correct URL would be:

http://www.somewhere.com:8080

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.