IE8 does not always close handle of file based URL

I am finding the IE8 on Vista does not always close the handle to a file
based URL after the tab is closed. Specifically, I'm opening PDF files so
there's another mime-type handler process involved (in my case Adobe Acrobat)
but using procexp.exe I can see that iexplorer.exe is the process hanging on
to the file even after the mime type handler has exited.

I say not always because sometimes I don't see the file handle under
iexplore.exe at all and other times, the file handle is closed after some
delay. In a 3rd case, the handle is never closed (where never >= 60mins), at
least until I manually exit from IE8.

Is this a feature or a bug?

If this is not the right forum, could someone direct me to the right place?

Thanks,
Kevin

See if http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...liability.aspx
makes things any clearer.

kp88 wrote:
> I am finding the IE8 on Vista does not always close the handle to a file
> based URL after the tab is closed. Specifically, I'm opening PDF files so
> there's another mime-type handler process involved (in my case Adobe
> Acrobat) but using procexp.exe I can see that iexplorer.exe is the process
> hanging on to the file even after the mime type handler has exited.
>
> I say not always because sometimes I don't see the file handle under
> iexplore.exe at all and other times, the file handle is closed after some
> delay. In a 3rd case, the handle is never closed (where never >= 60mins),
> at least until I manually exit from IE8.
>
> Is this a feature or a bug?
>
> If this is not the right forum, could someone direct me to the right
> place?
>
> Thanks,
> Kevin

Thank you for responding and for the link.

Are you suggesting that Automatic Crash Recovery is the reason the file URL
handles are kept open? I suppose that's reasonable if the handles are
eventually closed/released (within a few secs) after the user has closed the
tab or moved on to some other URL, but the case I'm seeing where the handle
is never released seems like a bug to me.

What do you think?

Do you know what conditions must be met in order for the handle to be closed?

Thanks,
Kevin



"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

> See if http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...liability.aspx
> makes things any clearer.
>
> kp88 wrote:
> > I am finding the IE8 on Vista does not always close the handle to a file
> > based URL after the tab is closed. Specifically, I'm opening PDF files so
> > there's another mime-type handler process involved (in my case Adobe
> > Acrobat) but using procexp.exe I can see that iexplorer.exe is the process
> > hanging on to the file even after the mime type handler has exited.
> >
> > I say not always because sometimes I don't see the file handle under
> > iexplore.exe at all and other times, the file handle is closed after some
> > delay. In a 3rd case, the handle is never closed (where never >= 60mins),
> > at least until I manually exit from IE8.
> >
> > Is this a feature or a bug?
> >
> > If this is not the right forum, could someone direct me to the right
> > place?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Kevin
>
>

Are you running Vista, Vista SP1, or Vista SP2?

If the second, Automatic Crash Recovery-instance of IEXPLORE.EXE never
disappears, something else is going on.

1. Does the behavior persist if you start IE in No Add-ons mode? To start
IE in No Add-ons mode:

=> Right-click on the blue IE desktop icon and select Start without
Add-ons; or

=> Start | (All) Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Internet
Explorer (No add-ons).

Troubleshooting and Internet Explorer’s (No Add-ons) Mode:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/07/25/678113.aspx

2. Does the behavior persist if you Reset IE Advanced settings (RIES)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737 <= Read before using!

3. Does the behavior persist if you boot into Safe Mode with Networking?
[Careful! Only remain in Safe Mode just long enough to test!]

4a. What anti-virus application or security suite is installed, is your
subscription current, and is it supported in IE8? What anti-spyware
applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
Were any of these applications running in the background when you installed
IE8 and/or WinXP SP3? May I assume you installed IE8 after you installed
SP3?

4b. Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

5. Do you have an available Restore Point which predates the install of IE8?
<=Just asking for now!!

6. Is Adobe Acrobat/Adobe Reader configured to open PDF files in the browser
or in Adobe Reader? What version of Adobe Acrobat/Adobe Reader are you
running (e.g., v9.1.1)?
--
~PA Bear


kp88 wrote:
> Thank you for responding and for the link.
>
> Are you suggesting that Automatic Crash Recovery is the reason the file
> URL
> handles are kept open? I suppose that's reasonable if the handles are
> eventually closed/released (within a few secs) after the user has closed
> the
> tab or moved on to some other URL, but the case I'm seeing where the
> handle
> is never released seems like a bug to me.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Do you know what conditions must be met in order for the handle to be
> closed?
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>> See if
>> http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...liability.aspx
>> makes things any clearer.
>>
>> kp88 wrote:
>>> I am finding the IE8 on Vista does not always close the handle to a file
>>> based URL after the tab is closed. Specifically, I'm opening PDF files
>>> so
>>> there's another mime-type handler process involved (in my case Adobe
>>> Acrobat) but using procexp.exe I can see that iexplorer.exe is the
>>> process
>>> hanging on to the file even after the mime type handler has exited.
>>>
>>> I say not always because sometimes I don't see the file handle under
>>> iexplore.exe at all and other times, the file handle is closed after
>>> some
>>> delay. In a 3rd case, the handle is never closed (where never >=
>>> 60mins),
>>> at least until I manually exit from IE8.
>>>
>>> Is this a feature or a bug?