FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.4.2_03"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.2_03-b02)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_03-b02, mixed mode)
and
java version "1.5.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0-beta-b32c)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0-beta-b32c, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I have a GIF file that loads in every other application that I have tried it in (GIMP,IE,Irfanview,etc.) and in some 3rd party Java code, but not with ImageIO.read().
I get the following error:
javax.imageio.IIOException: Unexpected block type 0!
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.readMetadata(GIFImageReader.java:721)
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.read(GIFImageReader.java:954)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1270)
        at GifDecoder.main(GifDecoder.java:115)



STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Contact me for the GIF since I see no way to attach it here.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The image should load into the frame
ACTUAL -
javax.imageio.IIOException: Unexpected block type 0!
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.readMetadata(GIFImageReader.java:721)
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.read(GIFImageReader.java:954)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1270)
        at GifDecoder.main(GifDecoder.java:115)



ERROR MESSAGES/STACK TRACES THAT OCCUR :
javax.imageio.IIOException: Unexpected block type 0!
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.readMetadata(GIFImageReader.java:721)
        at com.sun.imageio.plugins.gif.GIFImageReader.read(GIFImageReader.java:954)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
        at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1270)
        at GifDecoder.main(GifDecoder.java:115)



REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.


CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Use the included 3rd party code.