I am having a problem with javascript windows.  Whenever I encounter a
link that starts with javascript:  the window will not open and I find
a blank button on my taskbar.  I have searched high and low for a
solution but nothing has helped solve the problem.  It should be noted
that this problem only exists when using Internet Explorer. 
Javascript functions will work from my desktop.

I am not 100% this is what you're describing, but I believe your
problem is caused by one of two things:


1.)  You have at some point disabled Javascript on your browser.  This
is a bad idea.  Most people do this to disable popups, but it's really
a bad solution.  Javascript is neccessary to navigate a lot of
websites, as you've noticed if this is your problem.  To turn
Javascript back on:

Internet Explorer Menubar ->
Tools (or "Extras") -> 
Options -> 
Security -> 
Internet -> 
Custom Level -> 
Active Scripting

Make sure the "active scripting" option is turned ON.


2.)  If active scripting was turned on, you might have installed a
program on your computer that disables popups.  Normally a link
starting with "javascript:" opens a popup window.  Software on your
computer might have disabled that link.  I suggest you un-install that
software, or atleast try disabling it for now.  Popups can be
annoying, but they have very useful purposes and I do not recommend
disabling them.  If you are unsure if you've installed such software
on your computer, let me know and I'll give you a list of all
popup-killers to check for on your computer.


If neither of these two solutions work, please describe the problem in
greater detail and leave an example and I will find another solution
to your problem.

Thanks for using Google Answers,
xemion-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by twinkleandshine-ga on 27 May 2002 20:37 PDT

I have checked my browser to ensure that everything that is to be
enable is enabled (I am using IE6 btw).

I am not experiencing any problems with Java, just Javascript applets
(ie open window).  I tried this site
(http://www.realapplets.com/help_java.asp) anyway and java is fine. 
Also...It is not site specific.  I have had trouble on any site with a
Javascript applet.  As an example www.gamesville.com.

How would I be able to tell if pop-ups have been disabled on my
computer?

I am running Zone Alarm as my firewall for 3 months and have had
absolutely no problems with it.  Security level is set as low.

I have searched Microsoft high and low and haven't found an answer
that has solved my problem.  I did download and install the Microsoft
Virtual Machine program to no avail.

I do not have NetZip installed on my computer.

Anything else I can mention that may help?

Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by xemion-ga on 27 May 2002 21:22 PDT

ok, please visit http://www.affiliateindex.com/jstest.htm

One alert box should come up as soon as the page loads.  Click the
links to pop the other two.

Please post back to me if any of these came up for you and if so,
which ones?  Thank you.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by twinkleandshine-ga on 28 May 2002 19:33 PDT

I have been unable to access http://jscript.dk/unpatched/.  The
connection times out.

I did find a site at this address: 
http://www.woram.com/tests/java-01.htm
it tests your browser for Javascript.  This is the diagnosis:

JavaScript:  Enabled
Browser:  Microsoft Internet Explorer
Version:  6.0
Operating System:  Windows 98
Color Depth: 32-bit (true color) 
Screen Resolution:  800 x 600 pixels
Available Window Size:  800 x 600 pixels
Current Window Size:  800 x 453 pixels

I have found a prime example of my problem.  I visited this page:
http://members.tripod.com/jsplanet2000/jv_popup.html
When I clicked on the popup window button it brought up an error
message for:

LINE 19 CHAR 2 UNEXPECTED ERROR (OR THE CALLEE IS NOT AVAILABLE OR
DISAPPEARED) CODE 0.

A blank button then appears on my taskbar.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by twinkleandshine-ga on 28 May 2002 19:46 PDT

I have been unable to access http://jscript.dk/unpatched/.  The
connection times out.

I did find a site at this address: 
http://www.woram.com/tests/java-01.htm
it tests your browser for Javascript.  This is the diagnosis:

JavaScript:  Enabled
Browser:  Microsoft Internet Explorer
Version:  6.0
Operating System:  Windows 98
Color Depth: 32-bit (true color) 
Screen Resolution:  800 x 600 pixels
Available Window Size:  800 x 600 pixels
Current Window Size:  800 x 453 pixels

I have found a prime example of my problem.  I visited this page:
http://members.tripod.com/jsplanet2000/jv_popup.html
When I clicked on the popup window button it brought up an error
message for:

LINE 19 CHAR 2 UNEXPECTED ERROR (OR THE CALLEE IS NOT AVAILABLE OR
DISAPPEARED) CODE 0.

A blank button then appears on my taskbar.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by twinkleandshine-ga on 28 May 2002 20:02 PDT

As an update....I downloaded an installed Netscape 6.  Javascript
works fine.  I would have done this sooner but it was impossible to
access the site.

It is obviously a problem with my IE6 browser.  I downloaded and
re-installed IE6 prior to posting the original question.

---

Clarification of Answer by xemion-ga on 28 May 2002 21:28 PDT

Try the following until something works...


1.) Start Menu > Run type "CMD" and press enter and then do all of the
following and restart:
regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 Shell32.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll


2.) Follow the instructions on this page (lists "Pop-up windows may be
blank" as a symptom):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-GB;q281679


3.) Download and run this program:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/msninvestor/Patch/1.0/WIN98/EN-US/mcrepair.EXE


4.)  Start Menu > Run > "CMD" + enter and then run below and restart:
regsvr32.exe MSHTML.dll


5.)  Start Menu > Run > "CMD" + enter and then run below and restart:
regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll


6.)  Goto Internet Explorer Menu Bar > Tools > Internet Options >
Programs
Checkmar "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the
default browser"

Click Reset Web Settings... check Reset my home page. Click OK.

Shut down instances of IE.  Reopen a window.


7.)  Follow these instructions:
Find an older version of oleaut32.dll in the MDAC_IE5.CAB file in your
Windows Updates directory. Extract it to a directory that you can
easily find.

START > PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > SYSTEM INFORMATION

Then Click on TOOLS
SYSTEM FILE CHECKER

Then check the box that says:
extract one file from installation disk
Specify the system file you would like to restore
Then browse to:
C:/windows/system 

click on the oleaut32.dll file and click open.
now you are at the system file check program again just click start.

Now windows will ask you for the oleaut32.dll file that you extracted
from the cab file was mentioned above. Browse for the file you
extracted and make sure that the SAVE FILE IN box says:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM'

end of 7 --


Ok, after you've gone through that list and nothing works...I don't
know what else to do.  I hope something there works, if not, I'll try
looking again.  Please get back to me either way after you've gone
through the list or it's wokring.  Thanks!

xemion-ga

Thanks for the hard work trying to help solve this problem. 
Absolutely nothing has worked.  If I could figure out how to delete IE
and start from scratch I would.  Netscape works perfectly fine.

in IE5.5, it's Tools>Internet Options>Security>Custom Level>Scripting

the option should be enabled

Are you unable to bring up links to java applets? The reason I ask is
that there is a difference between Java, and Javascript. Java can
stand on its own while JavaScript must be placed inside an HTML
document in order to work. Java  is a fully contained program, whereas
JavaScript is text that is fed into a browser that can read it and
then is enacted by the browser.
Without knowing more details about the problem, and without knowing
the exact enviroment it occurs in,  it would be hard to pin down an
exact answer. The problem could be cause by any number of things
depending on what version of Internet Explorer your using, what
operating system you have, and if your on a network ect. Also, it
would help to know other possible clues such as, did it ever work on
the version of Internet explorer that your using now? And if so, did
anything happen around the time it stopped? Another important question
is do you recieve an error message of any kind when this happens?
I'm Assuming that you have checked to make sure that your browser is
configured properly for Java. If this is the case, and your still
having the same problem, it could be that the Microsoft Virtual
Machine is damaged. To resolve that issue you would need to download
and install Microsoft Virtual Machine.
Here is a link where you can download Microsoft VM
( http://www.microsoft.com/java/ )

Another possible cause might be if your using IE version 4.01 or older
and have NetZip installed on your computer, and it is set up to start
automatically when Windows starts. If this is the case, even if you
downloaded the Microsoft Virtual Machine, you would probably get an
illegal operation. Microsoft's solution for fixing the Java problem is
to take NetZip out of your start up.
Instructions for doing this, and more information on the problem can
be found at,
( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q195762 )

Other potential causes might be, a firewall, a proxy server or
security settings may have been set up to exclude Java Applets from
being downloaded.

Here is a web site that has a diagnostic tool for troubleshooting
problems viewing Java applets.
( http://www.realapplets.com/help_java.asp )
Here is a link about a bug in IE 5.5 that causes errors when entering
a Javascript URL
( http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;q269446 )


Hope this helps some?

Just to clarify, the problem he's describing is definitely a
Javascript problem not Java.

A note to disagree with part of the original answer where it states:
"disabled Javascript... This is a bad idea... it's really a bad
solution.  Javascript is neccessary to navigate a lot of websites..."

While a few websites actually require Javascript to navigate them, the
vast majority don't. And it really is a bad idea *for the website* to
require javascript. There are security issues with javascript that
have to be constantly "patched" and if at all you care about them you
would probably want to have javascript disabled.

Well designed websites will take advantage of javascript if you have
it enabled while still allow you to access their content if it's not.

I'm going to have defend my comment here :-)

It is correct that the vast majority of websites do not require
Javascript.  However, many new websites do.  Use of DHTML
(Javascript/html/css combined) is being more and more widespread on
major websites.

Well designed websites will allow you to use their website without
Javascript enable. However, as we all know, the vast majority of
websites are not well designed.

As for security issues with Javascript, they do not exist.  Javascript
is an extremely secure language.  It really cannot do anything to your
computer.

Any security issues are with Internet Explorer, not Javascript. 
Javascript is a cross-browser, cross-platform scripting language.  It
does not have the ability delete files, or rewrite them or change
system settings or anything.  Javascript cannot do any of that stuff.

I definitely do not recommend disabling Javascript.  Try using CNN.com
without.  Even if it does work, you will not get the full experience
that you would with Javascript enabled.

xemion-ga

Just a URL for reference about (dis)(en)abling scripting and vulnerabilities:
http://jscript.dk/unpatched/