Invalid Syntax Error

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As I mentioned, authorization duo username:password can be a part of URI. Address written to address bar has in this case following structure: protocol://username:password@host/path/filename. It looks, e.g. like http://asd123xcvbnm:987a654b321c0@www.restrict2entry.com/memberssectiononly/.

Please note, that if you have no slighting idea what the Microsoft Windows registry is and how to work with it, do not try to run RegEdit and update mentioned keys handly. You can do more damage that you can even imagine.

Description

Microsoft disabled this form of authorization for Microsoft Internet Explorer at the latest service pack. Both for Microsoft Windows XP and for Microsoft Internet Explorer only. When you use this form, you will get - as usually, very detailed description: “Invalid Syntax Error”.

You have to write only URL without authorization, and appropriate password should be enter when prompted.

A few individuals hidden behind pseudonyms said, that Microsoft wants to disable password piracy, which grown rapidly with wireless connection to internet. It is very easy to monitoring internet traffic at free-of-charge frequencies, because only a few ISP providers use an encryption. I personally doubt, that this is true reason. It is a fact, that this reference can be easily misappropriate – and it is heavily misused at free-access sites! There are a few examples mentioned at original Microsoft Knowledge Database Article Q834489.

This solution has a lot of my sympathy. It makes me only a few problems – mostly with plug-ins at other applications which are based on Microsoft Internet Explorer core. But nothing worth to talk about. However, I agree, that for specific users this can be disaster. If you have serious problem with this, and you want to work in classic fashion way, please do following.

Dissabling

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_HTTP_USERNAME_PASSWORD_DISABLE]
"iexplore.exe"=dword:00000000
"explorer.exe"=dword:00000000

1. Copy the previous five lines into any pure text editor (like Notepad) and save it as e.g. PatchQ834489.reg file. Important is, that file has “.reg” extension. Or download the file here.

2. Open Microsoft Windows' Explorer, find the file, right-click on it, and choose “Install” from pop-up menu

Finish.

Enabling

If you want from some reason to able this restriction back, the easiest way is to put sign “-“ before every key: i.e. “[-HKEY ...” . However, I recommend you, to change values from 0 to 1. At least, there are information left, that something has been done with this.

Other IE-based applications

If you want to modified behavior for any other application – I mean, if you want to disable this authorization for other application too – create a new value, with string as filename of that application and set value to 1. For example, this will be applicable for imaginative Now Playing plug-in:

“NowPlay.exe”=dword:00000001

For detailed description, please read definitely article Microsoft Knowledge Database Q834489 on MSDN servers.

Alternatively, you can use my Insert Authorization tool. Its purpose is different, but it can extract both username and password by simple click on button. These can be copied to clipboard individually clicking appropriate button. It is much more quicker and precise than selecting them on browser’s Address bar.

You can translate or link this tutorial under conditions written at this domain's "Legal Stuff" page and followed. If any doubts, please contact me.

Copyrights, trademarks and credits are collected here.

Marián Stach
Prešov, Slovakia Central Europe
2004-02-18

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