Technical Resources at AEGIS

Internet and Web Development Tips

Internet Explorer - Connection Timeout Error

Tip By: Mike Barlotta


When developing a Web application, some queries may take a significant amount of time to run. If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.01 the default timeout setting is five minutes. After five minutes have elapsed one of the following messages are returned in a dialog box:

 
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer error 10060 connection timed out.
  • Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site <Web address>. The operation timed out.

    • Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 1 allows the default timeout setting to be configured using the registry. If you do not have the service pack you will need to download and install this before continuing:

    Download IE 4.01 SP1

    After installing Internet Explorer 4.01 Service Pack 1, use regedit to navigate the registry to the following setting:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

    Image

    Add the a DWORD named ReceiveTimeout. The value of ReceiveTimeout is a hex value of the number of milleseconds the browser will wait for a response from a Web server.

    After configuring the registry, restart your computer.

    Additionally when on an intranet using a proxy server the browser may timeout after approx. two minutes waiting for a Web server response. Instead of the browser dialog an HTML page is returned indicating a Proxy server error of 10060 Connection timed out.

    In order to correct this problem you need to change some browser settings. Under View | Internet Options... choose the Connection Tab on the Internet Options dialog.

    Check the Bypass proxy server for local (Intranet) addresses option.

    Click the Advanced button.

    On the Proxy Settings dialog under exceptions add the IP address of the Web server that is causing the problem.