Internet Explorer opens many windows when you click a bookmark link and then close the existing Internet Explorer window quickly

Consider the following scenario:

• On a computer that is running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you use Windows Internet Explorer to open a bookmark link on a Web page.
• Internet Explorer is configured to open the Web page in a new Internet Explorer window.
• You quickly close the current Internet Explorer window before the new window is completely loaded.

In this scenario, Internet Explorer opens many windows, and each window tries to open the Web page that the URL specifies. This problem may cause the operating system to stop responding. In this situation, you must restart the computer in order to resolve the problem.

Note This problem may also occur in other Windows operating systems. This article will be updated when additional information is available.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:

• For Internet Explorer 6:
  • Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
  • Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• For Internet Explorer 7:
  • Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)

For more information about how to obtain a Windows XP service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
For more information about how to obtain a Windows Server 2003 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Registry information

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To apply this hotfix, you must create a registry key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MAIN\FeatureControl
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
4. Type FEATURE_TERMINATE_BOOKMARK_TASK_KB976426, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click FEATURE_TERMINATE_BOOKMARK_TASK_KB976426, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
6. Type *, and then press ENTER.
7. Right-click *, and then click Modify.
8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
9. Exit Registry Editor.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

For Internet Explorer 6 on x86-based versions of Windows XP SP3

For Internet Explorer 6 on x86-based versions of Windows Server 2003 SP3

For Internet Explorer 7 on x86-based versions of Windows XP SP3

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.