Internet Explorer is unable to retrieve a new wpad.dat configuration

Internet Explorer is unable to retrieve a new wpad.dat configuration.

PROBLEM

After updating wpad.dat settings Internet Explorer is not retrieving the new proxy settings.

SOLUTION

This issue can be resolved by performing either of the following procedures:

• Re-configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to automatically detect settings;
• Use the Autoproxutil tool to force Microsoft Internet Explorer to send a DHCP Inform the next time it is launched.

Re-configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to automatically detect settings

Perform the following procedure to re-configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to automatically detect settings.

Note: This procedure is recommended if only a few computers are affected.

1. Open Microsoft Windows Explorer
2. Click on ‘Tools’ and select ‘Internet Options
3. Click on the ‘Connections’ tab and click on the ‘LAN Settings’ button
4. Uncheck the option ‘Automatically detect settings
5. Click ‘OK’ to save changes, and ‘OK’ again to close Internet Options
6. Restart Microsoft Internet Explorer
7. Once Microsoft Internet Explorer has started, click on ‘Tools’ and select ‘Internet Options’ once again
8. Select the ‘Connections’ tab and click on the ‘LAN Settings’ button
9. Now check the option ‘Automatically detect settings to obtain the new wpad.dat file
10. Click ‘OK’ to save changes, and ‘OK’ again to close Internet Options

Microsoft Internet Explorer will now download the new wpad.dat file.

Use the Autoproxutil tool to force Microsoft Internet Explorer to send a DHCP Inform the next time it is launched

Using the Autoproxutil tool, you can force Microsoft Internet Explorer to send a DHCP Inform the next time it is launched, and get the Wpad.dat file. You can download the Autoproxutil tool from here.

Once the download is complete, extract the Autoproxutil tool from the zip file and perform the following procedure:

1. Open command prompt
2. Browse to the directory where the ‘autoproxutil.exe’ is located
3. Run the following command: Autoproxutil /f:3

If you have a large number of computers affected by this issue, it is recommended that you create a logon script that will execute the Autoproxutil tool when the user will login to the computer.