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Script Error Traps and Debug Requests

Written on August 23, 2008  |  by RP Mickler  |  Leave a Comment Leave a Comment  |  Bookmark and Share

Script errors and debug requests got you down?
One of the more annoying settings in Internet Explorer is the option to debug a running script. Microsoft apparently assumed that everyone who’d be using their browser would want to troubleshoot errant programs running in Internet Explorer because, obviously, everyone knows how to do this, so they turned on this feature by default. Well, because I see this feature always left on and annoying even the most patient of users, I want to tell you how to turn it off.
Scripts are instructions sent to your browser. They’re interpretted like programs and perform things on your computer. Just like programs, scripts can be flakey and break.

Essentially, this problem is typified with a dialog that looks something like this; your results may vary depending on your operating system and browser version. You’re getting this dialog because Internet Explorer thinks you want to fix this code and allow the program to run successfully. Chances are you don’t care and you don’t want to be prompted again to debug anything. If that’s the case, follow these instructions.

1. Access the Control Panel.

2. If you’re in Vista, switch to Classic View. Enter Internet Options.

3. Go to the Advanced Tab.

4. Again, depending on version, you could find the checkboxes we’re looking for under Browsing. you want to check the options to “Disable Script Debugging”; check this for “Other” as well as “Internet Explorer” if you’re provided the option.

5. Hit apply and restart Internet Explorer.

That’s it – look, ma, no more obnoxious messages. Now, sometimes, we can’t necessarily avoid screens that look like these.
This is a script that has gone bad and the browser is telling us that it’s malfunctioned. The question is: do we want a broken program to run against your computer or not? I’d recommend you always answer NO to a question like this. A professional website would probably try to take care of this relatively quickly as to avoid customer complaints.
R

Peter says:

Commented posted on: December 18, 2008

Hi Russell.
Re.Script/errors
I would just like to say after many months searching websites,I find your's.I like the fact your instuctions are straightforward,& not the gobbledegook, other sites offer as so called help.
Keep up the good work.
Regards P.Miller.
Merry Christmas.

Russell Mickler, MCSE | CISSP says:

Commented posted on: December 18, 2008

Peter, hi! Thank you for the kind words and thanks for reading the blog! Hope to see you around some more!

R
http://www.micklerandassociates.com