Accessing EasyLink Using MS Internet Explorer 7

PCs which have Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) can experience some problems in accessing folders because IE7 uses a newer Web Folders format than that which is used by EasyLink. These problems can manifest in several different ways, each with slightly different symptoms depending on the root cause. The ways to fix this problem on Windows XP are listed below; for Windows Vista, there are some additional steps to be taken which are detailed on the Configuring Windows Vista for EasyLink page.

Scenario One:

Problem: None of the contents is displayed when the My Documents folder is opened. Also, the error message 'An error has occurred which prevents the folder being opened as a webfolder. Click here to open the pages as a basic index page' is displayed when accessing the shared areas. The error message will refer to 'default view' instead of a basic index page for Windows Vista users, however the problem is the same.

Possible Cause #1: The latest version of Web Folders is not installed on the computer

Solution #1: Install the Software Update for Web Folders (KB907306) which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update website.

Possible Cause #2: A pop-up blocker is installed on the computer which is preventing the web folders from opening in a new window or tab.

Solution #2: The steps necessary to disable pop-up blockers or permit pop-ups from certain sites vary according to the particular pop-up blocker in question, so it is unfortunately not possible to document this here, however the application's help file may be of some assistance.

Scenario Two:

Problem: The links to My Documents and/or the Shared Areas do not display the folders on the school computer but the local computer.

Cause: Folder access with EasyLink uses Microsoft Web Folders which is built, in part, on a utility called WebDAV. Early versions of WebDAV were included within Internet Explorer, however greater functionality in recent versions of MS Office prompted Microsoft to start including WebDAV in Office instead. The knock-on effect of this is that PCs with up-to-date browsers but older versions of MS Office do not have any WebDAV software installed.

Solution: In order to correct this problem, it is necessary to install the Software Update for Web Folders (KB907306) which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Update website.

If you still have problems please contact the ICT Technicians for help

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