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(303479) - When you attempt to import a custom privacy settings file into Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may receive the following message: Your privacy settings file could not be imported. It may not be a valid privacy settings file.

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks

Article ID: 303479 - Last Review: July 27, 2007 - Revision: 3.5

Error Message When You Import a Custom Privacy Settings File

This article was previously published under Q303479

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to import a custom privacy settings file into Microsoft Internet Explorer, you may receive the following message:
Your privacy settings file could not be imported. It may not be a valid privacy settings file.

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when the file that you are importing is not a valid privacy settings file or contains comments. Valid Internet Explorer Privacy Preferences files use the correct Extensible Markup Language (XML) syntax and have an .xml extension. Comments of the following form can not be included in Internet Explorer Privacy Preferences files:
<!-- comment text --> 
				


If you attempt to import a file with incorrect syntax, comments, or an extension other than .xml, you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, ensure that the custom privacy settings file that you want to import is a valid privacy file with an .xml extension and does not contain comments. Valid custom privacy settings files contain specific XML elements that define how Internet Explorer 6 handles cookies.

For information about custom privacy settings import files, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537344.aspx (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537344.aspx)
If you received the custom privacy settings from a third-party content provider, contact the provider of the privacy settings file for assistance in resolving this issue.

To import a customized privacy file into Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Privacy tab.
  3. Click Import.
  4. In the Privacy Import dialog box, locate the privacy settings file that you want to import, and then click Open.

    Note that Internet Explorer does not specify the file type or file extension in the Files of type box. You can click either Internet Explorer Privacy Preferences or All Files. If the file that you want to import is not a valid privacy settings file with an .xml extension, you receive the error message described in the "Symptoms" section of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

You can import custom privacy preferences to Internet Explorer when you click Import on the Privacy tab in the Internet Options dialog box, and then open an Internet Explorer Privacy Preferences file (.xml).

For additional information about importing custom privacy preferences to Internet Explorer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
302880  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=302880/EN-US/ ) The Privacy Settings May Be Displayed As Custom After You Import Settings For Non-Internet Zones Only
301689  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=301689/EN-US/ ) How to Restore Default Settings After Importing Custom Privacy Preferences
298626  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=298626/EN-US/ ) Unable to Export Custom Privacy Settings in Internet Explorer
For additional information about privacy settings in Internet Explorer 6, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
283185  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=283185/EN-US/ ) How to Manage Cookies in Internet Explorer 6
293222  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=293222/EN-US/ ) Default Privacy Settings for Internet Explorer 6

APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
Keywords: 
kbnofix kbprb KB303479
       

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