Error Message: The Server Threw an Exception...

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0

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.

CAUSE

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

RESOLUTION

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

   http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download/

1. On the View menu, click Internet Options.

2. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files.

3. 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.

4. Quit and restart Internet Explorer.

STATUS

This problem is fixed in Internet Explorer 4.01.

MORE INFORMATION

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.

For additional information about in-place activation in Internet Explorer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q174893
   TITLE     : Troubleshooting In-Place Activation in Internet Explorer