When you attempt to open a Microsoft Office XP, or a Microsoft Office 2003, file in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0, the operation fails with one of the following:
414 Request-URI Too Large - The size of the request header is too large. Contact the server administrator.
404 Page Not Found
A DDE error has occurred, and a description of the error cannot be displayed because it is too long. If the filename or path is long, try renaming the file or copying it to a different folder.
This behavior occurs if the file or path is longer than 255 characters, because it cannot be located on a URL Web address, a UNC path, or a mapped drive.
NOTE: Microsoft Office programs are limited to a combined path and file name length of 218 characters. If the temporary file in the Internet Temporary folder exceeds 218 characters, you receive one of the above errors.
To resolve this behavior, update Internet Explorer:
How to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 5.5.
How to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6.
After you upgrade Internet Explorer:
1. Open a CMD.EXE window.
2. Type REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Internet Settings" /V TruncateFileName /T REG_DWORD /F /D 1 and press Enter.
NOTE: REG.EXE is built into Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and later operating systems, or installed from the Windows 2000 Support Tools.
3. If you still cannot open an Office file, Use the Tools menu of Internet Explorer to Delete Files, pressing OK and OK.
