Re: Updates now max out IE's agent string length, causing problems

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[Thanks!]

JW wrote:
Pa Bear asked me to repost this here as it may be related:

Interesting problem with a long description, I have been at this a while
please be patient.

I have a fairly large network (over 1000 workstations). Internet Explorer 7
intermittantly has "Page Cannot be Displayed" error on several sites we use
everyday. If you refresh or click the link (or favorite) multiple times the
page will eventually load. I am using Active Directory, Filtering, Firewall,
Anti-virus etc, so I started eliminating. (I have read all of the previous
posts)

Here is where I am at now. Windows XP Pro. SP3 (freshly loaded) and Internet
Explorer 7. I have gone as far as to bypass everything in my network and
statically assign an address from the ISP and plug in directly to an outside
ISP port. I have no AD, no filter, no firewall, no anti-virus, no add-ons
and default IE security settings (cringe). Yes, I even ran IE with no
addons.
If I apply all of the updates (as of 2-4-09) -except- the .NET updates (any
.NET including service packs) the workstation works as it is supposed to.
Once I install any of the .NET updates the behavior returns. I have ran a
TCP dump to examine the packet traffic. What i see is the browser contacts
the remote server, and starts sending traffic, this just stops and then all
I see is keep-alives every 10-20 seconds until it times out and displays
the error "Page Cannot be Displayed". If the refresh button or the link
(favorite) is clicked several times prior to the error, the page will
eventually load. This is not https and is not just one site. It is not a
DNS or bandwidth issue. If I try to uninstall the .NET updates, it still
will not work. I have to take it back via a restore point to make it
function properly.
As another test, I fully patched the system (as of 2-4-09) including the
.NET updates and installed Firefox 3.0.6. The behavior does not repeat if
FF3 is used as the browser. I would rather not deploy FF3 throughout the
network. I really do not want to try to restore every workstation either.
This is not critical but is extremely annoying, the end users are not happy.
I am looking for any debugging advice or thoughts on what to look at next.

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