Webpages Won't Open

Pertinent Info: Running Operating System Windows XP Professional with Internet Explorer ver. 6.0.2600. I have been reading all the posts with regard to problems with opening certain webpages in IE 6. As some of you are, I , too, am experiencing problems. The pages that I cannot open all seem to be those written in javascript. As an example, the status bar for the last one I couldn't open read "javascript:newBrowser( "gb/default.htm ", "bpdr ") ". I click on it and nothing happens-I don't even get an error message. I am confused first of all as to what is causing this and, second, what to do to remedy the situation. I tried downloading and installing both the MS VM and the Sun Java programs. Neither seemed to correct the problem. I still cannot open pages of that type. This problem seemed to start when I upgraded to IE6 and installed all the latest patches, etc.

 

Other than installing Sun's Java, what steps have you tried to remedy the problem?

 

While I had Sun Java installed (v. 1.4.0_01) I made sure that I had selected it as my default for java (it was). I tried to check any internet setting that looked like they might be blocking access to these pages, but since I wasn't sure what most of them were, I didn't mess with any of them. When I still couldn't access javascript pages, I uninstalled the Sun program with the intention of going back to Microsoft VM. I saw a post by Alice that included a link to Jim Eshelman's E-List News with instructions for finding and downloading the March 4, 2002 Security Update from Microsoft that would give me a full copy of JVM. I downloaded and installed that and, of course, I still cannot get pages written in javascript. Since I am a neophyte with regard to plug-ins and programming languages -- ActiveX, Java, Javascript, Flash, etc. -- and the wars between Microsoft and Sun (and just about every other software developer) I'm not understanding what installed program is needed to view a javascript page. Are Java and Javascript the same? I don't understand any of this terminology. Why was I able to view these pages before I upgraded to IE6?

 

Both are OOP programming languages. Java was developed by Sun and can be used to make standalone applications. JavaScript, which was developed Nutscrape, is simply text which is embedded within an HTML document and which issues "instructions" to a browser.

Can you post some links for the pages with which you are having problems and also details of your "Internet Zone" security settings?

 

The most recent page that I had problems with is http://www.bpdr.com/tech_gb.htm clicking on the high-speed link into the site. As for my "Internet Zone" settings, I have the level set to medium. There are many settings under the Security tab. Did you want the settings for all of them or are there specific ones you for which you would like the settings? It will take me awhile to write them all down but he first ones are set as follows:
ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disable
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disable
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Enable
Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting: Enable
Downloads
File download: Enable
Font download: Enable
Microsoft VM
Java Permissions: High safety
Skipping down to the Scripting settings - they are all Enable.

What other settings do you need?

 

That particular page/site seems to be mostly flash stuff. You can get current software from Here.

I hope you are more impressed that I was when you get it open though. Pretty much a waste of bandwidth from the parts I saw. Poorly done flash bits and even had they been well done (from a technical point of view) the content was - well, lacking it the kindest term I can think of.

 

I'll have to take your word about the content of the page. I downloaded and installed the Flash plug-in . . . I still get nothing.

 

I'm not convinced that the problem does lie with the browsers handling of JS. Does this site work?

 

I can access the site. The "[pdf]" link works; the "first prototype" link works; the "modular electronics" link will not open and I get an "Error on Page" and the detail shows: Line: 1; Char: 1; Error: Object expected; Code: 0; URL: http://www.bluebotics.com/products/shrimp

 

I'm baffled - that error appears to indicate an error in the coding on the website itself - yet I don't see it!

Have a look here (but I doubt that you'll find a fix there).

If you were running an OS other than XP, I'd suggest that you try uninstalling/reinstalling WSH. I believe, however, that WSH is integrated within XP and cannot be removed.

If I can think of anything further, I'll post back.

 

Thanks for your help Brett. I'll contact my ISP and see if they have any thoughts. If I work out the problem, I'll post here for all to see.

 

This is a followup directed to brett and Newt (and anyone else who may be having the problem outlined) regarding this earlier post. My problem with JavaScript pages has been solved. After uninstalling Norton SystemWorks 2002, the problem disappeared and I am now able to open pages written in JavaScript. There must have been some incompatibility with NSW that was preventing those pages from opening. YEAH!!!