AutoConfig URL Fails With Basic or Windows NT Challenge/Response

 Last reviewed: January 23, 1998
Article ID: Q166442
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit version 3.2a

SYMPTOMS

When you set up Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 95 or Windows NT or Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 3.1 using Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit version 3.2a, an Auto Configuration URL can be specified so that the settings for Internet Explorer can be changed each time Internet Explorer is started. At startup, Internet Explorer will read a .ins file from a specified server and update any changes in the .ins file. However, if the .ins file is located on a Web server using only Basic or Windows NT Challenge/Response authentication, the .ins file is not read and the settings are not applied.

CAUSE

When Internet Explorer is configured to use an Auto Configuration URL to read a .ins file, it first tries to anonymously access the Web server. If anonymous access fails, other authentication mechanisms are not tried.

WORKAROUND

Enable Anonymous authentication on the Internet Information Server or move the .ins file to a Web server that can use Anonymous authentication.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Internet Explorer Administration Kit version 3.2a. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. 

Version           : WINDOWS:3.2a
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb
Solution Type     : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: January 23, 1998
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