TechNote (Archived)

XML files won't open in Internet Explorer after installing Dreamweaver 8.0

Issue

After installing Dreamweaver 8.0 on a Windows 2000, Windows XP SP 1 or Windows XP (no service pack) machine, and making Dreamweaver the default editor for XML files, XML files will not open in Microsoft Internet Explorer. When you try to open an XML file in Internet Explorer, different symptoms can occur:

Dreamweaver opens instead.
Dreamweaver hangs when trying to run Preview in Browser.
Internet Explorer gets stuck in an endless loop with a File Download prompt.
A File Download prompt keeps appearing and the file never appears.

(Ref. 201754)

Reason

The Dreamweaver 8.0 installer adds the following registry entry, which causes the problem:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml]"Content Type"="application/x-xml"

Having this "Content Type" causes Internet Explorer to always try to open XML files in another application.

Solution

Download and install the Dreamweaver 8.0.1 Updater to resolve this issue.

If the Dreamweaver 8.0.1 Updater doesn't resolve the issue, there are some alternative workarounds:

Delete the [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xml] "Content Type"="application/x-xml" registry key mentioned above.Warning: Editing the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require reinstalling your operating system. Macromedia does not guarantee that problems caused by editing the registry incorrectly can be resolved. Edit the registry at your own risk.
Use a different web browser to view XML files.
Uninstall Dreamweaver, and when reinstalling, don't set Dreamweaver as the default editor for XML files.
If you are using Windows XP, upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 2.