Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?

September 09, 2004 @ 9:46 am

Anybody else notice ALOT of Javascript errors on a lot of major pages recently?

I'm using the Google bar with the popup blocker enabled, but I still think it seems odd that so many pages are failing. Today the Passport Login page fails with a script error. While I was working on the PayPal integration stuff I posted about a few days ago everytime I went to the payment screen there's a pop up window error. On Amazon several pages are erroring too. My bank too has them all over the place.

None of these errors prevent the page from loading but they do show the Script Error Dialog. Is it just me or are all these major pages really not prepared to deal with even a light weight popup blocker like Google's?

The Google bar is a pretty common add-on so I would expect that large sites would be more or less aware of any problems with popup blocking and now with XP SP2 IE has built in support for blocking as well (can't try that actually because I'm runing 2003 Server on my machine).

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re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Mike Yeager September 09, 2004 @ 10:38 am

I haven't had any problems lately. I'm using the XP SP2 popup blocker. Did you know that you can temporarily override the javascript restrictions by <ctrl> clicking the link?

Mike

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Rick Strahl September 09, 2004 @ 10:58 am

Mike, it's never a problem going on after the error, but it's quite frequent that there are errors. In most cases it's not a problem. Didn't know that Ctrl click does this either though :-}

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Dan Grigsby September 09, 2004 @ 2:49 pm

Most people don't experience the same intrusiveness of the error, because most people don't have a script debugger (e.g. VS.Net) installed. Google actually asks permission to turn off "Display a notification about every script error" and turn on "Disable Script Debugging" during the install.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Rick Strahl September 09, 2004 @ 6:14 pm

Well, that's one way to get around the problem <g>... I guess my point is that in this day and age where everybody's at risk I find it odd that MAJOR sites that you and I probably access frequently would have anything in them to cause errors like this to occur. They are non-fatal (dismiss the dialog) but it's highly unprofessional. I realize it's not easy to figure out everybody's browser config, but the google bar and XP2's popup blocker are common enough that one has to consider it.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Dan Grigsby September 10, 2004 @ 6:32 am

Most of those errors happen when they try to access the non-existing pop-up that the toolbar killed. You're right, though, they should just use a try/catch. But like I said, most people don't see the error.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Steve September 20, 2004 @ 12:20 pm

Hi, I just thought I'd add my two cents here.

I found this forum through google by typing in "javascript error sp2".

The topic is EXACTLY what I have been experiencing since I installed SP2.

I found that if I hit refresh on the page, I get no script errors.

Something definitely isn't right.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Nicole September 29, 2004 @ 5:24 pm

I see this question is old, but in case anyone is still watching... I've run into errors from pop-up windows I've created on a website. These are fairly essential for people to be able to view and I needed to create them to save space and avoid confusion... Where can I go to find out how to fix the problem?

Thanks in advance for anyone out there listening

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Adam J October 06, 2004 @ 11:12 am

The same is happening here, but specificly after I installed SP2. I run a wireless ISP and have webmail available to our customers. The webmail uses javascripts to open emails and such. All of these fail now. I have always had the google bar, this has never been a problem. And, I have disabled the pop up blocker in IE. Any advise?

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Anthony October 21, 2004 @ 5:48 pm

I'm getting "javascript:OpenWin" errors whenever I click on a link contained in a Hotmail message. What can I do to correct this? Help!

Thanks for any fixes/workarounds anyone can offer.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Sara January 08, 2005 @ 10:08 am

I am having the same problems, ever since I installed SP2. I have tried all the tricks that everyone has mentioned, I have turned off the pop-up blocker, I have disable the firewall...nothing works! I get an error everytime I try to access a Javascript pop-up link on a website! It is getting very irritating...many times these are areas that I want or need to have access to. I'm at a total loss! HELP!!!!!

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Tom L January 19, 2005 @ 12:24 am

I am having a similar problem, every javascript link or button i press nothing happens. the hand with the finger is pointing on it, however it doesnt work. i tried pretty much everything, i enabled all kinds of stuff and disabled the sp2 pop up blocker.... however, nothings working. any help will be very helpful thanks.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by JFPA January 31, 2005 @ 5:21 am

I uninstalled every Java installation reference. Rebooted, and reinstalled Java, and windows script 5.6 - now everything works

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Hayk April 05, 2005 @ 6:37 am

I always have problems when I want to place a flash or javascript file to my sites.

Does anybody know a script chich can prevent the SP2 popup blocker from functioning?

Thank You

hayksa83@yahoo.co.uk

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Andrew April 06, 2005 @ 6:41 pm

I basically couldn't loa any js pages at all even basic js calcs woudln't work (using XP SP2) then is took some of JFPA's advice and downloaded windows script 5.6 from MS - installed and restarted.

Now I can at least Ctl CLick and force the JS screen to work - hooray!

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Jason April 08, 2005 @ 7:22 pm

Same problem here - How annoying.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Angie April 11, 2005 @ 7:47 am

Has anyone enlisted Microsoft's help (stop laughing)? We're at our wits end here and our customer's are piling up. If I find out anything, I'll pass it on.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Caleb May 24, 2005 @ 10:10 am

I know this topic is a little old, but I have the same problems as everyone else here. The most annoying being an inability to open popup windows by clicking on a link. Sometimes refreshing the page helps, sometimes not. I don't use popup blockers. I NEED to be able to use popup windows. Anyone know anything?

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Caleb May 24, 2005 @ 10:31 am

Nevermind, found the answer.

This worked for me: http://absentee.blogspot.com/2005/05/javascript-popups-haloscan-sp2.html

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Xtine June 09, 2005 @ 12:21 pm

Had the same problem...couldn't surf major sites with js popup windows (like Saks, Porsche, Asprey, etc.) until a few days ago. All of a sudden, all the javascript windows are working fine! Since today! Did Microsoft tweak something? Since installing SP2, it's been an issue...and now no longer? Any word on the street? (And THANK YOU Caleb for your JS bugfix, I'll use it if the problem comes back.)

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Angie June 10, 2005 @ 9:41 am

Caleb, Can you tell me what your other settings are? The ones you indicated were already set and still not working.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Jill June 23, 2005 @ 6:56 pm

My problem isn't with popups. I have 2 javascript..uh...includes? on html pages. The things they display, I can see on every computer except mine. And it has XP and SP2. I tried Caleb thing, but that didn't do it. I've added my site to "trusted sites". The man at the computer repair shop thought it was because I have a Compaq. And ideas on this one?

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Caleb June 28, 2005 @ 10:03 am

Angie,
This is the first I've been back since. Unfortunately, in the last few days it's started doing it again. At mypoints I even get directed to the "You must allow popups" page, which I never got before. All the settings that I changed at the above link remain the same. The only thing I've done different since then is a Norton update. Coincidence? Not sure, still researching.

For now, when there is a javascript popup link or button, I just have to let the page fully load, refresh the page, let it fully load, and then use the link.

Talk about your Grr.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Caleb July 13, 2005 @ 6:25 am

Ok, I temporarily disabled the plugins from Norton Internet Security 2005 on my browser using the plugins manager. I then uninstalled the google toolbar. Then reenabled the Norton toolbars, then reinstalled the google toolbar.

I double-checked that all the scripting, java, security and popup settings were still as they should be.

Now it all works. I am once again able to use popup windows from javascript links and buttons without refreshing the page first.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by francis foo July 14, 2005 @ 12:47 am

ok, i got some pop up problems... not the code but the problems is from the windows/Norton Internet Security.

when you had check and very sure that your code is working, try to check on the user internet security setting. i found out the my other IE cannot show out the pop up the reason is the Norton Internet Security.

event you have the google toolbar blocker, the first who will block the pop up is the Norton Internet Security! just enable the pop up and some others then it will works.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Krisztina August 06, 2005 @ 8:59 am

I'm glad I'm not the only one experiencing this challenge. I'm developing and maintaining web pages (on a small scale.) Just as the previous person mentioned - the more we market the CTRL-Click secret to the everyday user, the better all of our lives will be.

However, with that being said, I noticed in some source code, the CSInit and using Arrays along with CSILoad doesn't have the same problems - Also noticed the /*URL*/ code included in the development of the pages.

It's disconcerting that the companies and programmers who program the pop-up blockers take the shortcuts they do to block them hard. Another challenge out there is the fact that people have Google, Yahoo and AOL bars which each have their own popup block included in addition to the IE blocker --- not to mention the Norton Security issue also mentioned. People are getting pop-up happy and it's getting to be a real pain to search the internet and use functionalities out there.

Still searching for the ultimate solution, but I don't see it getting any better unless we somehow launch a world-wide advertising campaign to tell people if windows aren't opening to use the CTRL-Click option to go about their business.

how to enable Popup blocker
by bina August 07, 2005 @ 10:34 pm

Plz tell me how to add url in window allow popup blocker or enable popup blocker.
Is that possible or not tell me.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Brian S August 31, 2005 @ 8:59 am

It started with my inability to clear out my Junk mail in Hotmail. Now, i can't read any of my emails. And after two weeks, i've still not received a response from Microsoft. And it had been like two months before i even sent them feedback. Somehow, i just knew they were to big to notice the individual.
Anyway, it seems like there's nothing i can do to get the javascript on the Hotmail page to work. I've had to manually hack the links to read my emails. And i know it's something about this machine, but lacked direction until i found this page. So, thank you, and i'm still digging.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Loggitt September 01, 2005 @ 1:09 pm

I had the same problem as Tom L. The solution was to turn off "Ad Blocking" in my Norton InterNet Security 2005. I remembered that I was investigating Norton and turned ad blocking on the other day to reduce the ads appearing on some sites. The main site that I look at that javascript stopped working on was TVGuide.com. Whenever you choose a JavaScript button on that site, the ads change in the background. It's all about profits these days, ya know! :)

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Bruce 7 September 25, 2005 @ 6:50 am

With all the security issues with pop-up these days why do web site designers still use them anyway. Why use java script at all. DHTML works great, HTML works great, less problems, less overhead. If anyone here is a we developer, drop the scripting althogher, create HTML/DHTML pages, give us a break and save everyone some headachs. We don't need a "TV experiance" on the web.

Thanks,
Joe User

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Rick Strahl September 25, 2005 @ 11:48 am

DHTML without scripting isn't going to do much. Web Pages without scripting are not going to give you much in terms of functionality. It's not only about flashy user experience, it's often about usability and things that just aren't possible otherwise. And it's only going to get worse with the rise of AJAX which won't even work without scripting.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by Teri J October 04, 2005 @ 1:40 pm

I have had much the same problems but I use the Mozilla Firefox and browser has a icons that allows you to temperarally use JS also have a program that allows you to always use the JS. Its not perfect but it does easy the frusration level. TJW

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by LKLJ October 09, 2005 @ 7:27 am

With all the security issues with pop-up these days why do web site designers still use them anyway....DITTO (per Bruce's comments) This is a very anoying time wasting issue that MS should fix asap.

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by StuBall November 22, 2005 @ 4:53 pm

If you use the google toolbar:

1. Disable the popup blocker through the tools menu.

2 Disable the autofill option in the tools menu.

I work at a educational company that uses online textbooks and with SP2 came the issue with the google toolbar. This will fix your issue. If not, then go to tools, options, advanced tab and deselect the enable third party browser plugins and restart. That should get you going. If not still, disable McAfee/Norton Internet security and third party security software. This will fix most.

when i click on edit hyperlink that link can't open
by anil March 13, 2006 @ 1:11 am

in web application on one page their is some hyper links edit activate activate link is working but edit can't work.

pls such solutions to me

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by ss April 19, 2006 @ 11:23 pm

I am facing this problem when I click on a buton to open the child window "the calee(server) is not available and disappeared.All connections are invalid.The call did not execute."

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by tangent October 30, 2006 @ 12:09 am

yes yes and yes - i agree, which is why we at

www.digitalcargo.biz

are proud to announce the launch, this week, of a new js.file that works with flash actionscript commands when embedded within a HTML file cross linked with the js.file to overide pop up commands and in doing so over rides all pop up blockers known to man kind.

the tailor made js.file is similar in many ways to

<script type="text/javascript" src="ieupdate.js"></script>

used to overide the recent problems caused for flash based sites in EXPLOROR due to the new IE update that adds an annoying white frame around flash and requires it to be clicked before it can be properly enabled...

re: Lots of JavaScript Errors on Commercial Sites recently due to popup blocking?
by cynic December 20, 2006 @ 3:03 pm

If javascript errors have been occurring after installing sp2, then it could be your security settings. In internet settings, select the security tab and select custom level. Select medium level security. Fixed the problem for me.