# Help with Windoze
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 17, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742 "2000-08-17T16:45:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/1 "2000-08-17T16:45:54Z")
I’m trying to use the Windows Update feature, and when I click on the Product Update button, Internet Explorer locks up with a message that says “javascript location replace(”#aS001")" I can close IE with the Ctrl-Alt-Delete box, but I have to restart the computer before IE will run again.
I tried calling the Microsoft customer support line, and they have the audacity to charge me a fee to give me support for their crappy product! So I’m turning to my fellow Dopers. Does anyone here know what’s going on? What does this error mean, and how do I fix it? I’m running IE 5 on Windows 98.
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### Author:  [@Flyboyslc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyboyslc)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/2 "2000-08-17T17:15:15Z")
(soley to be a smart ass . . .)
Easy; get a Mac! 😃
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### Author:  [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/3 "2000-08-17T17:40:55Z")
That _would_ work, but I want a computer system with a future, not one that’s pinning its hopes on making a fashion statement. 😃
I figured out the problem after I posted. On a hunch, I turned off Norton Installation Monitor (or whatever that program is called). Windows Update worked fine. Twice in a row even :eek:
I’m still apalled that Microsoft charges fees for their tech support, however.
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### Author:  [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/4 "2000-08-17T17:41:27Z")
Assuming you can still use IE, why not take a look at Microsoft’s knowledge base at [http://support.microsoft.com](http://support.microsoft.com) ?
If it’s an issue they’re aware of, Microsoft will probably have a workaround for you.
It’s also possible that the javascript is corrupt or it just didn’t download correctly, in which case you’d be best of trying to update later.
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/5 "2000-08-17T18:23:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Diceman \*
> \*\*That _would_ work, but I want a computer system with a future, not one that’s pinning its hopes on making a fashion statement. 😃
>
> \*\*
OUCH!!! 😉
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### Author:  [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/6 "2000-08-17T18:33:52Z")
There are a great many third party sites that also have good FAQs and troubleshooting for W9x. Some of the “problems” we experience with Windows are “features” to the folks at Microsoft, and still others are simply unacknowledged.
[http://www.fixwindows.com/index.htm](http://www.fixwindows.com/index.htm)
[http://www.windowstrouble.com/index.html](http://www.windowstrouble.com/index.html)
[http://www.winmag.com/](http://www.winmag.com/) --their “tips” link is busted right now, but when it works it is a nice database of trouble.
[http://www.hints-tips.collina.net/](http://www.hints-tips.collina.net/)
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### Author:  [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)
#### Post date: [August 17, 2000, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/7 "2000-08-17T18:54:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> That would work, but I want a computer system with a future, not one that’s pinning its hopes on making a fashion statement.
Ah! My “fashion statement” is running just fine, thank you very much. I didn’t have so many problems when I was updating my OS. I didn’t need to write a message board for advice and support when I needed to update my OS. Fancy that!
And it runs all the latest applications just fine, and often faster, than my PC. So what’s your point here? 😉
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### Author:  [@Flyboyslc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyboyslc)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2000, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/8 "2000-08-18T02:18:30Z")
– That would work, but I want a computer system with a future, not one that’s pinning its hopes on making a fashion statement. –
And I seem to have seen new little IBM computers trying awfully hard to look like an iMac . . .peripherals and all . . .color, anyone? That fashion statement must be worth copying . . .(kinda like the desktop . . .:D)
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2000, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-windoze/29742/9 "2000-08-18T15:17:28Z")
You are probably using a real old version of IE, like, right?
You can get Netscape for free & use it when IE is crappy & vice versa.