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How to Disable Active Content in Internet Explorer

Article ID: 154036

Article Last Modified on 5/10/2007

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q154036
NoteThis article describes troubleshooting steps that may help you solve problems with Active Content in Internet Explorer. These troubleshooting steps disable Active Content in Internet Explorer and should be considered temporary measures until the underlying problem is resolved. If you disable scripting support in Internet Explorer, the functionality of many Web sites on the Internet will be affected.

SUMMARY

This article lists troubleshooting steps to help you troubleshoot problems with active content such as ActiveX scripts, ActiveX controls, and Java programs in Internet Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are unable to load a particular Web page using Internet Explorer, the problem may be caused by active content that the Web page contains. To determine if this is the case, perform the following steps.

After performing each step, check to see if you are able to successfully load the Web page. If you are not able to successfully load the Web page, you should contact the administrator of the Web site to report the problem and inquire about additional methods to access the Web page.
  1. Configure Internet Explorer so that it does not run Active scripts automatically:

    Internet Explorer 3.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Options, click the Security tab, and then click to clear the Run ActiveX Scripts check box under Active Content.
    2. Click OK.
    Internet Explorer 4.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, click Custom (for expert users), and then click Settings.
    2. Scroll down to the Scripting section, click Disable under Scripting of Java applets and Active scripting, click OK, and then click OK again.
    Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.01, 5.5, 6:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, and then click Custom Level.
    2. In the Settings box, scroll down to the Scripting section, and click Disable under Active scripting and Scripting of Java applets.
    3. Click OK, and then click OK again.

      NOTE      : In Internet Explorer, the term "Active scripting" or "ActiveX scripting" refers to both Microsoft JScript scripting and Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition. When you complete this procedure, you disable both types of scripts.
    If you are able to load the Web page after performing this step, the problem is being caused by Active scripting that the Web page contains. The script most likely is written incorrectly, or contains unsupported objects, properties, or elements.
  2. Configure Internet Explorer so that it does not automatically use items that show active content, such as vertical marquees or animations.

    Internet Explorer 3.x:
    1. Click Options on the View menu, click the Security tab, and then click to clear the Enable ActiveX Controls And Plug-Ins check box under Active Content.
    2. Click OK.
    Internet Explorer 4.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, click Custom, and then click Settings.
    2. Click Disable under Download unsigned Active X controls, Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting, Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe, Download signed ActiveX controls, Run ActiveX controls and plugins, click OK, and then click OK again.
    Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.01, 5.5, 6:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, and then click Custom Level.
    2. In the Settings box, click Disable under Download signed ActiveX controls, Download unsigned ActiveX controls, Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe, Run ActiveX controls and plugins, and Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting.
    3. Click OK, and then click OK again.
    If you are able to load the Web page after performing this step, the problem is being caused by active content that the Web page contains.
  3. Verify that Internet Explorer's internal Java Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler is disabled:

    Internet Explorer 3.x:
    1. On the View menu click Options, click the Advanced tab, and then click to clear the Enable Java JIT Compiler check box.
    2. Click OK.
    Internet Explorer 4.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Internet Options, click the Advanced tab, and then click to clearthe Java JIT compiler enabled check box under Java VM.
    2. Click OK.
    Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.01, 5.5, 6:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Advanced tab, and then click to clear the JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled (requires restart) check box under Java VM.
    2. Click OK.
    If the problem is caused by a Java program that the Web page contains and the problem still occurs when the Java JIT Compiler is disabled, the Internet Explorer status bar should display a message that provides additional information about the problem. If the message indicates that a particular class is not found, the appropriate class file may not exist on the server that contains the Web page, or the server may be too busy.
  4. Configure Internet Explorer so that it does not run Java programs automatically.

    Internet Explorer 3.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Options, click the Security tab, and then click to clear the Enable Java Programs check box under Active Content.
    2. Click OK.
    Internet Explorer 4.x:
    1. On the View menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, click Custom, and then click Settings.
    2. Click Disable Java under Java Permissions in the Security Settings dialog box, click OK, and then click OK again.
    Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.01, 5.5, 6:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click the Internet Web content zone, and then click Custom Level.
    2. In the Settings box, click Disable Java under Java Permissions, click OK and then click OK again.
    If you are able to load the Web page after performing this step, the problem is being caused by one or more Java programs that the Web page contains.

Customizing Safety Levels for Active Content

While most active content contained in Web pages is safe, some Web pages contain active content that can potentially cause security problems on your computer. For example, an ActiveX control that runs automatically when you load a particular Web page might damage your data or cause your computer to become infected with a virus. Internet Explorer uses safety levels for active content to help prevent this situation from occurring.

The following safety levels for active content are available in Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer 3.x:
  • High (recommended for all users) You are protected from all security problems. Potentially unsafe Content is avoided, and you are notified.
  • Medium (recommended for experts and developers) You are warned of all security problems. You can choose whether or not to view potentially unsafe content.
  • None (not recommended) You are not protected from any security problems. Use this setting only if you are sure all sites you visit are safe.
To modify the safety level for active content, follow these steps:
  1. On the View menu, click Options, click the Security tab, and then click Safety Level under Active Content.
  2. Click the safety level you want to use, and then click OK.
Internet Explorer 4.x:
  • High (most secure) Exclude content that could damage your computer.
  • Medium (more secure) Warn before running potentially damaging content.
  • Low Do not warn before running potentially damaging content.
  • Custom (for expert users) Base security on settings you choose.
To modify the safety level for active content, follow these steps:
  1. On the View menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab.
  2. Click Zone and the security level for the zone you want to use, and then click OK.
Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.01, 5.5, 6:
  • High (most secure) Exclude content that could damage your computer.
  • Medium (more secure) Warn before running potentially damaging content.
  • Medium-Low (Same as Medium) No warning before running potentially damaging content.
  • Low Minimal safeguard and warning before running potentially damaging content.
  • Custom Level (for expert users) Base security on settings you choose.
To modify the safety level for active content, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then click the Security tab.
  2. In the Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings box, select a zone.
  3. In the Security level for this zone box, move the slider to setting you prefer, or click Custom Level to customize your settings.
  4. Click OK until you return to Internet Explorer.
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

174360 How to Use Security Zones in Internet Explorer


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