How to Troubleshoot Script Errors in Internet Explorer (308260)

RESOLUTION

Use the troubleshooting methods that are described in this article in the order that they appear. When you finish a troubleshooting section, test to determine if the script error still occurs. If the issue is resolved, do not go to the next section. If the issue is not resolved, go to the next section.

Test a Web page from another user account, another browser, and another computer

If the problem only occurs when you view one or two Web pages, view the pages from another user account, from another browser, or from another computer to determine whether the problem persists. If the script error persists, there may be a problem with the way the Web page is written. Contact the Web site administrator or content developer to inform them of the problem with the Web page. If the script error does not occur when you use the Web page from another user account, the problem may be caused by files or settings for your user profile. If the script error does not occur when you use the Web page from another browser or another computer, then continue troubleshooting.

Verify that Active Scripting, ActiveX, and Java are not blocked

Verify that Internet Explorer or another program on your computer such as an anti-virus program or a firewall are not configured to block scripts, ActiveX controls, or Java applets. Active Scripting, ActiveX controls, and Java applets are turned off at the High security level in Internet Explorer. By default, Internet Explorer 6 and some versions of Internet Explorer 5.x use the High security level for the Restricted sites zone. By default, Microsoft Windows Server 2003 uses the High security level for both the Restricted sites zone and the Internet zone. To reset the Internet Explorer security settings for the current Web page, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. In the Internet Options dialog box, click Security.
4. Click Default Level.
5. Click OK.

See the documentation for the anti-virus program or firewall that you are using to determine how to turn on scripting, ActiveX and Java applets.

Verify that your anti-virus program is not set to scan the Temporary Internet Files or Downloaded Program Files folders

See the documentation for the anti-virus program that you are using to determine how to prevent the program from scanning the Temporary Internet Files and Downloaded Program Files folders.

Remove all the temporary Internet-related files

Remove all the temporary Internet-related files from your computer. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Under Temporary Internet files, click Settings.
5. Click Delete Files.
6. Click OK.
7. Click Delete Cookies.
8. Click OK.
9. Under History, click Clear History, and then click Yes.
10. Click OK.

Update or repair the scripting engine

To update the scripting engine for Internet Explorer on Microsoft Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows NT 4.0, download the latest scripting engine. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site:To update the scripting engine for Internet Explorer on Microsoft Windows 2000, download the latest scripting engine. To do so, visit the following Microsoft Web site: If you are running Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Server 2003, you are already running Windows Script 5.6. In this case, you may have to perform an in-place upgrade or repair of Windows to repair the scripting engines.

For additional information about how to perform an in-place upgrade or repair of Windows, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Turn off the features that you do not need

Smooth Scrolling

To turn off the Smooth Scrolling feature, follow the steps for your version of Internet Explorer.

For Internet Explorer 4.x, follow these steps:

1. Start Internet Explorer, and then click Internet Options on the View menu.
2. On the Advanced tab, clear the Use Smooth Scrolling check box.
3. Click OK, and then quit Internet Explorer.

For Internet Explorer 5.x and Internet Explorer 6, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. On the Advanced tab, clear the Use Smooth Scrolling check box.
3. Click OK, and then quit Internet Explorer.

Reconfigure the video card settings

Disable the "Show Window Contents While Dragging" option

Note If you do not have Microsoft Plus! for Windows 98 installed on your Windows 98-based computer, go to the "Reduce the number of colors that Windows uses" section.

For Windows 98, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Plus tab, clear the Show Window Contents While Dragging check box, and then click OK.

For Windows 98 Second Edition and Windows Millennium Edition, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Effects tab, clear the Show Window Contents While Dragging check box, and then click OK.

Reduce the number of colors that Windows uses

In Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Settings tab, in the Colors box, click a setting that is less than the current setting, click OK, and then click Yes.

Repeat this procedure until you can either no longer reproduce the error or until you are using the lowest color setting.

Reduce the screen area

In Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Settings tab, in the Screen Area box, move the Screen Area slider to a screen area that is lower than your current screen area setting, click OK, and then click Yes.

Repeat this procedure until you can either no longer reproduce the error or until you are using the lowest resolution setting.

Turn off hardware acceleration

To turn off hardware acceleration, follow these steps:

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. On the Performance tab, click Graphics.
3. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider to None, click OK, click Close, and then click Yes.

Turn off Active Desktop

If you are running the Windows 98, use one of the following methods:

• Click Start, point to Settings, click Active Desktop, and clear the View as Web Page check box.
• Right-click the desktop, click Active Desktop, and then clear View as Web Page check box.

If you are running Windows Millennium Edition with either Internet Explorer 5.5 or Internet Explorer 6, use one of the following methods:

• Right-click the desktop, click Properties, click the Web tab, clear the Show Web content on my Active Desktop check box, and then click OK.
• Right-click the desktop, click Active Desktop, and then clear the Show Web Content on my Active Desktop check box.

If your configuration is different from the configurations that are described earlier in this section, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2. On the Web tab, clear the View my Active Desktop as a web page check box, and then click OK.

Note If any of the preceding sections resolve this issue, you may have to update the driver for your video adapter. For information about how to obtain an updated driver for your video adapter, contact the manufacturer of your video adapter or of your computer.

Install the current version of Microsoft DirectX

For information about how to install the current version of Microsoft DirectX, visit the following Microsoft Web site: