You may receive a "The memory could not be read" error message when you click certain Web site links in Internet Explorer 6

You are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 on a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)

When you click certain Web site links, you may receive the following error message:

This problem occurs with Web site links that use long URL strings that are called from scripts. This problem occurs because the additional information that is associated with a Web site URL is not correctly stored in the Index.dat file. The Index.dat file maintains a reference to all the Web site URLs that you visit. When you click a Web site link in Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer updates the Internet Explorer history with the Web site URL information. Sometimes, Internet Explorer stores additional information that is associated with the URL in the Index.dat file. If this additional information is very long, you receive the error message.

Note The Index.dat file is located in the %userprofile%\Local Settings\History folder.

Windows XP

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP SP1 or Windows XP SP2 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Clear the temporary Internet files and the history cache

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK.
4. Under History, click Clear History, and then click OK.
5. Clear the temporary Internet files and the history cache. To do this, click Clear History under History, click Yes, and then click OK.
6. Restart Internet Explorer.

Method 2: Remove the History folder

1. Restart the computer.
2. Use administrative credentials to log on to the computer.
3. Open Windows Explorer.
4. Locate the %userprofile%\Local Settings\History folder for the user who is experiencing the problem.
   
   Note The Local Settings folder is a hidden folder. To view this folder, enable the Show hidden files and folders option in Windows Explorer. To do this, click the Tools menu in Windows Explorer, click Folder Options, click the View tab, enable the Show hidden files and folders option.
5. Right-click the History folder, and then click Delete.
6. When you are prompted to confirm the folder removal, click Yes.
7. Close Windows Explorer.
8. Restart the computer.
9. Log on to the computer as the user who experiences the problem.
10. Start Internet Explorer.
11. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
12. Under Temporary Internet files, click Delete Files, click to select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK.
13. Restart Internet Explorer.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: