Err Msg: A Connection to the Server Could Not Be Established

When you try to connect to a Web site after installing Internet Explorer, you may receive the following error message: Even though you are unable to access the Internet, you may be able to access an intranet Web site.

This error message can occur if the Wsock32n.dll file is not updated during the Internet Explorer 4.0 installation. This can occur if you upgrade Internet Explorer 3.02 to Internet Explorer 4.0 and you connect to the Internet using a SOCKS proxy server.

To resolve this problem, use either of the following methods:

Upgrade to Internet Explorer 4.01

Obtain Internet Explorer 4.01. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Replace the Wsock32n.dll File

Extract and Replace the Wsock32n.dll File for Windows 95:

1. Restart Windows 95, press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
2. Rename the Wsock32n.dll file in the Windows\System folder to Wsock32n.old by typing the following line and then pressing ENTER
   ren <drive>:\<windows>\system\wsock32n.dll wsock32n.old
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed. For example:
   ren c:\windows\system\wsock32n.dll wsock32n.old
   NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a file named Wsock32n.old. If you do have a file by this name, use a file name extension that is not currently in use.
3. Type the following line, and then press ENTER
   extract <drive>:<path>ie4_s4.cab /l <drive2>:<path2>
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located, <drive2> is the drive letter to which to extract the Ie4_4.cab file, and <path2> is the path to the folder to which to extract the Ie4_4.cab file. For example:
   extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4_s4.cab /l c:\intern~1.0se
4. Type the following line, and then press ENTER
   extract <drive>:<path>wsock32n.dll /l <drive2>:\<windows>\system
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the IE4_4.cab file is located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the IE4_4.cab file is located, <drive2> is the drive on which Windows is installed, and <path2> is the location of the Windows\System folder. For example:
   extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4_4.cab wsock32n.dll /l c:\windows\system
5. Restart your computer.

Extract and Replace the Wsock32n.dll File for Windows NT:

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Command Prompt.
2. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER
   ren <drive>:\<windows>\system32\wsock32n.dll wsock32n.old
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Windows folder is located, and <windows> is the name of the folder in which Windows is installed. For example:
   ren c:\windows\system32\wsock32n.dll wsock32n.old
   NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have a file named Wsock32n.old. If you do have a file by this name, use a file name extension that is not currently in use.
3. Type the following line, and then press ENTER
   extract <drive>:<path>ie4nt_s4.cab /l <drive2>:<path2>
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup files are located, <drive2> is the drive letter to which to extract the Ie4nt_4.cab file, and <path2> is the path to the folder to which to extract the Ie4nt_4.cab file. For example:
   extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4nt_s4.cab /l c:\intern~1.0se
4. Type the following line, and then press ENTER
   extract <drive>:<path>wsock32n.dll /l <drive2>:\<windows>\system32
   where <drive> is the drive letter on which the IE4nt_4.cab file is located, <path> is the path to the folder in which the IE4nt_4.cab file is located, <drive2> is the drive on which Windows is installed, and <path2> is the location of the Windows\System32 folder. For example:
   extract c:\intern~1.0se\ie4_3.cab wsock32n.dll /l c:\windows\system32
5. Click Start, click Shut Down, click "Close all programs and log on as a different user," and then click Yes.

This problem is fixed in Internet Explorer 4.01.

The version of the Wsock32n.dll file installed by Internet Explorer 4.0 is the same version as the file installed with Internet Explorer 3.02, and therefore not updated. The version of the Wsock32n.dll file included in Internet Explorer 4.0 is 5.1.02, and the file size is 26,160 bytes.

For more information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For information about proxy servers, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: