How to get rid of the anoying syntax error popup message when using Internet Explorer with Java so your mother-in-law will stop buggin’ you about it

Quite some time ago I encountered this error the first time, to be honest i can not even remember when it was. But I do know it was Windows 7 and Internet Explorer fully updated, together with the current Java runtime environment that gave me the problem, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Problem description:

  • Using Internet Explorer, Windows 7 and Java Runtime Environment – all updated to latest editions on completely clean installations
  • On all webpages loading Java the following error message appears twice (x2, two times, 2 times).
    Title: “Microsoft JScript compilation er…”.
    Error message: “Syntax error”.

Extra bonus information:

  • I have experienced this problem on Windows 7 with and without service packs, Internet Explorer 8 and 9
  • Usually the problem appears from “birth” with default settings
  • Settings in Internet Explorer for showing errors, debugging scripts, etc. are all set to default i.e. not to anoy the user
  • The error always comes two times and has absolutely no usefull information
  • The Java application works fine without any errors, the only error is the actual message about the error and yes it is realy anoying

So to continue… I trawled thru endless suggestions for how to fix this problem the first time I had the problem and I believe I was at page 3 in Google before I found something that finally worked. The solution is incredibly simple and apparently seems to have absolutely nothing to do with the problem or Java. But what realy anoyed me was that I later had this problem on my new IBM laptop, with everything completely fresh installed, and I could not remember the fix! and again it took me forever to find the solution. So this time I am writing a blog about it, so I can find the solution next time I forget it. I also assume the problem comes due to Java trying to use this setting but fails – I have no idea who has the actual problem, Windows, IE or Java, but it puzzles me the problem still exists this long after I first saw it.

Solution:

  • In Internet Explorer -> Tools -> Internet Options -> Connections -> LAN Settings
  • Clear the checkbox in “Automatically detect settings”

Thats it!

51 Responses to “How to get rid of the anoying syntax error popup message when using Internet Explorer with Java so your mother-in-law will stop buggin’ you about it”

  • Bruce:

    I have tried your correction solution and it did work! what else can I try? mine says An error has occurred in the script on this page.
    Line 1
    Char 1
    Error Syntax error
    Code 0
    It pops up every 30 seconds I’m going crazy!

Leave a Reply