Internet Explorer Loads Desktop Instead of Page

ID: Q158371

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0 for Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to browse offline, or when you are online and click Stop before the start page is loaded, you may receive the following error message:

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site http://<address>.

The site was not found. Make sure the address is correct, and try again.

When you click OK, Internet Explorer loads the desktop.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur for either of the following reasons:

The Blank.htm file is missing from the Windows\System folder. This file is used as the default start page if you are browsing offline and your regular start page is not cached.

The path to the Blank.htm file in the registry is incorrect or missing.

RESOLUTION

Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to create a new file named Blank.htm in the Windows\System folder. Add the following lines to the file and then save the file:


   <HTML>
   <HEAD>
   <TITLE>Microsoft Internet Explorer</TITLE>
   </HEAD>
   <BODY>
   </BODY>
   </HTML>

For information about using Notepad to write and edit text files, click Start, click Help, click the Index tab, type editors, and then double-click the "Notepad" topic.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

Verify that the Local Page value under the following registry key is not missing or incorrect:

HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

This value should contain the path to the Blank.htm file located in the Windows\System folder.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.01 3.02 4.0 ie30 ie3 ie301 ie302 ie4 ie40 localpage

Keywords : msiew95
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,3.01,3.02,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :