Troubleshooting Web Mail: JavaScript "Not Installed".
JavaScript Makes The Web Go ‘Round
I received a call for help with an e-mail problem. My client was getting errors when trying to access their webmail (online e-mail, such as Hotmail, Gmail, and Yahoo! Mail). Which had them quite upset, naturally, but was really no problem at all, and was quite easily fixed with a few clicks of the mouse.
My caller’s errors all referred to JavaScript – which is (short version) a programming language used extensively on the Internet; mostly to make Web pages dynamic and interactive with the viewer. Many websites rely on JavaScript to function, and Gmail and Hotmail do too.
My caller’s computer was suddenly saying that JavaScript was “not installed”, but in reality, all that had happened was it had been somehow inadvertently “disabled” (aka “turned off”), and needed to be switched on again.
Tip of the day: To fix this type of error, enable (or, re-enable) JavaScript in your Web browser.
1) Open Internet Explorer and in the upper right find the gray gear icon “Tools” menu. Click it, and then click on “Internet Options“
2) Now a new window will open. Click on the “Security” tab (top), as shown below.
3) Click the “Custom level…” button.
4) Use the slider to scroll down the list of options until you come to “Active scripting“, as shown below.
5) Click on the “Enable” (or “Prompt“, if you want to be able to choose when to allow JavaScript, and have the ability to deny it) ‘radio’ button, and then click on OK, twice.
6) Close Internet Explorer and then re-launch (aka “Open”) it again.
Now JavaScript (should be) is enabled and functioning and you can surf the Web and access Webmail as you had before. Problem solved!
[note: if you found that JavaScript was already enabled, please see Internet Explorer Runtime Error!!*. I have several other how to’s on repairing your browser as well, should you need further guidance. Enter “error”, or “repair” in my Search box.]
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More than three years in the making, Trillian is back with a slight name change and a slew of new features. The chat client now supports Google, MySpace IM, Skype, and Facebook, as well as AIM, ICQ, MSN, Yahoo, and IRC. It has both POP3 and IMAP e-mail checking.
Trillian now has deep hooks into Facebook and Twitter. It will automatically shorten URLs in your tweets, as well as allow direct messages, re-tweets, and replies. Twitter Trends can show up in your contact list, and you can get tweets to appear in Tooltip form. Facebook features include news feed integration, Facebook Inbox checking, and synchronized message updating in addition to Facebook IM.
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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Tech - for Everyone 
TP,
For security purposes I select the prompt option. Wouldn’t that be safer?
Best,
Bob
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Bob,
Absolutely it is safer.
However, in my own defense, as it were, the prompts don’t really tell you what the script you are about to allow will (or will not do), or allow for more granular control — like Firefox with the NoScript add-on is able to do. And so, the “average user” will just click allow, and get annoyed and having to do so allatime always.
It simply conditions them to just click “allow”.. like Pavlov’s dogs. This ‘conditioning’ goes on enough as it is.
And, this is why I recommend ZoneAlarm firewall for novices and Comodo’s for “power users”, for example.
My “level of advice” start out with the novice in mind (hence the “for Everyone” in the name), and my individual advice is determined by the “savvy-level” of the person I’m dealing with.
But your point is a good one, so I am going to alter the article a bit.
Thank you.
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TP,
The Pavlov’s dog analogy is very accurate. I also fall into that trap at times. Your “everyone” defense is well placed.
The Comodo firewall is a “serious” bit of software.
Thanks for the clarification.
Best,
Bob
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Bob,
I hope you will continue to (keep an eye on my articles and) contribute. Dialogue such as this helps every reader, I think. And I know it helps me be a better writer.
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