I got my new computer last week, and just discovered that javascript isn’t working in Internet Explorer. That is, when I click on a link that opens a javascript application in a new window, nothing happens. For example, when I go to http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race5/ and click on “Amazing Race Insider” at the bottom, I get nothing – it’s just like clicking on a blank screen.
Here are a few caveats:
(1) I have a “custom” install of WindowsXP that my computer guy (from hereon known as “Jackass”) puts on all the machines he builds. It’s configured to run smoother and has a lot of the useless junk altered or removed, and indeed it does fly like the wind. Unfortunately, it also means that finding stuff is a problem; for example, he deleted the default defragmenter and replaced it with a third party program that he claims runs faster, but I think sucks. (And he says Norton Utilities is incompatible with this machine…which sucks!)
(2) I did run Spybot Search & Destroy and it did remove a few items associated with Explorer that SBS&D said were spyware-related. I don’t know if javascript worked beforehand, because I didn’t notice until afterwards. Telling Spybot to “restore” those items did not fix the problem. Installing the latest service packs & updates for IE did nothing, either.
(3) Javascript doesn’t work in Opera or Mozilla either, but I’ve always had that problem.
The only option we haven’t tried is doing a complete reinstall of IE. Unfortunately, Jackass’s phone battery died before we got that far, but I did manage to find the install program for IE at the Microsoft site. Thing is, it won’t work – it tells me a newer version of IE is already installed!! And trying to UNINSTALL IE by using Add/Remove Programs and Add/Remove Windows Components did nothing but delete the icons…IE is still on my system.
Jackass also keeps blaming the power supply, since he put in a really cheap Chinese-made P/S (long story) and he also keeps chiding me for daring to, you know, install or update new programs. To be honest, I haven’t had many problems at all with this system, and this is the ONLY glitch that remains. However, Jackass wants to “re-load” the O/S from scratch, which I’d rather not do. After all…there’s a way to fix it, right? Can you guys help me out here?