# Weird browser error message - NOT spyware issue

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 29, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716 "2004-04-29T18:19:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716/1 "2004-04-29T18:19:07Z")

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I keep getting these runtime errors in IE (IE6+). They’re usually javascript-caused, far as I can tell. They come up in a small dialog box whose title bar reads “Error” and say something like:

* * *

A Runtime error has occurred.  
Do you wish to debug?

Line: 88  
Error: Object expected

* * *

Nothing happens, whether I click “Yes” or “No”.

Now on my previous computer I used to have, for some reason, Microsoft Visual Studio installed, and it did the same thing. Real pain in the ass. Though if you pressed “Yes”, it would open up Visual Studio.

But this computer doesn’t have it installed. And I really hate these error messages, since the webpages still function. But I can’t figure out what program is causing these, and how to stop it from happening.

Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716/2 "2004-04-29T18:24:07Z")

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In IE, click Tools \> Internet Options \> Advanced Tab. Be sure “Disable Script Debugging” is checked. Click OK.

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**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716/3 "2004-04-29T18:30:53Z")

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> [@Q.E.D.](#):
>
> In IE, click Tools \> Internet Options \> Advanced Tab. Be sure “Disable Script Debugging” is checked. Click OK.

Wow. Fast! Seems to work. Thanks

Quick question(s). This only started happening recently, and I know I didn’t change the setting. Can these settings be affected (for whatever reason) by installing other software?

Also - what’s the purpose of this setting, if clicking “Yes” does nothing.

Thanks again, though

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [April 29, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-browser-error-message-not-spyware-issue/242716/4 "2004-04-29T18:39:31Z")

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> [@rexnervous](#):
>
> Quick question(s). This only started happening recently, and I know I didn’t change the setting. Can these settings be affected (for whatever reason) by installing other software?
> 
> Also - what’s the purpose of this setting, if clicking “Yes” does nothing.

Sure, all sorts of things can change settings like that: “helpful” browser extensions, ISP software installs, browser updates and patches, etc. A website could even do it with some javascript, if the wemaster wanted it to, depending on your browser’s security settings.

If you don’t have a Java debugger installed, clicking Yes won’t do anything. This feature is there primarily for developers to do cross-platform debugging and such on code they’re working on. It’s basically useless to the average web surfer.