After you refresh a Web page in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, all the unvisited hyperlinks may appear in the color that you specified for visited hyperlinks.

This problem occurs when the hyperlinks in the Web page include a reference to an anchor.

This problem occurs because Internet Explorer 6 incorrectly evaluates hyperlinks that contain a reference to an anchor.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Internet Explorer 6 installed on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (SP2).

Restart information

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix is not replaced by any later hotfix.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

After you install this hotfix, you must add the FEATURE_AnchorsMarkedVisited_KB918965 subkey and the iexplore.exe DWORD to the registry. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
2. Create a registry key that is named FEATURE_AnchorsMarkedVisited_KB918965. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Locate and then click the following registry key:
      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl
   2. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
   3. Type FEATURE_AnchorsMarkedVisited_KB918965, and then press ENTER.
3. Create a DWORD value that is named iexplore.exe. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click the FEATURE_AnchorsMarkedVisited_KB918965 key that you created in step 2.
   2. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
   3. Type iexplore.exe, and then press ENTER.
   4. Double-click the iexplore.exe value.
   5. In the Value data box, type 00000001, and then click OK.
4. Exit Registry Editor.