I'd just like to add one more possible cause, which is probably quite uncommon. If you try to operate on an element in the web page using javascript in the header (or generally before the element in the code), this script is executed before the element is loaded, so it will give an error about a reference to an undefined element. I used Chrome to find this, I'm not sure if it also occurs in other browsers.
The solution would be to execute the code only when you know the page is fully loaded, i.e. using an onload event in the body tag.
That falls into the general catagory of "the page was improperly coded" as mentioned in the article. This is just one of thousands of ways the page could be coded improperly.
16-Apr-2011
Jim de Graff
April 19, 2011 6:18 AM
One more thing to try when you get a page with errors is to load the same page in a different browser. I have noticed several non Microsoft sites that lose some functionality unless rendered in Internet Explorer (there are no actual error messages but some operations just do not work) and Microsoft sites that throw errors in browsers other than IE (I suspect but cannot prove that this is deliberate).
John E Reese
April 19, 2011 11:22 AM
Other reason for error on page is a host file. I use Mike Burgess's host file to block ads, billing sites, and other bad web pages. Then I get errors on web page I know my Host file is working. It is nice block for your computers for most end users do not know about feature.
Harry Harper
April 19, 2011 3:20 PM
What I don't understand is why a page being viewed on IE might give the "error on page" message with the continue running scirpts - yes or no - button but the exact same page on Chrome or Firefox does not. Drives me absolute nuts. So much so, I avoid IE altogether unless something's not right on a site I open in C or F.
GREG JACKSON
April 21, 2011 3:03 PM
Response/addition to Jim de Graff:
I use the IE Tab in Firefox 4 for sites that are otherwise hard to work with. It works great. Also, since installing FF4 (w/ excellent results), Microsoft is sending " important updates to install" IE9 (still in beta) 24/7, with relentless pursuit. FF4 has increased search/download dramatically-I think Microsoft is aware of this simplicity and speed which have seem to elude them. I'm just saying....
IE9 is no longer in Beta. It's been release.
22-Apr-2011
Wendy Forsyth
April 30, 2011 12:51 AM
Response to Harry Harper
Tried with IE clearing browser history/cache, even disabled all add-ons but STILL kept getting broken, unreliable websites and exclamtion/error on all website pages. But using Mozilla the 'error on page' doesn't occur. I don't understand this. I've always used IE and until recently had no issues with any websites- until one site only caused issues but responded well to Mozilla. Now, SINCE loading Mozilla, when I use IE instead it's really unhappy. Great mystery......
Eric Brightwell
June 3, 2011 3:58 AM
I have found that if you use a browser with an effective Ad Blocker, such as Flashpeak Slimbrowser, then this stops attempts at downloading files you do not need into the page, and there is less risk of the "error" problem.
Rita
April 13, 2012 8:58 AM
Thanks! Your answer was wonderful. I had already discovered that hitting refresh then allowed me to display web pages, but didn't know why. And I have now quit SKYPE after logging on, and will open it only if I need it.
Simon W
June 26, 2012 11:46 PM
Do you mean "add-ons can sometimes comprise a web page and make it syntactically incorrect.", or "add-ons can sometimes compromise a web page and make it syntactically incorrect."?
Comments
Read the article that everyone's commenting on.
April 16, 2011 8:16 AM
I'd just like to add one more possible cause, which is probably quite uncommon. If you try to operate on an element in the web page using javascript in the header (or generally before the element in the code), this script is executed before the element is loaded, so it will give an error about a reference to an undefined element. I used Chrome to find this, I'm not sure if it also occurs in other browsers.
The solution would be to execute the code only when you know the page is fully loaded, i.e. using an onload event in the body tag.
16-Apr-2011
April 19, 2011 6:18 AM
One more thing to try when you get a page with errors is to load the same page in a different browser. I have noticed several non Microsoft sites that lose some functionality unless rendered in Internet Explorer (there are no actual error messages but some operations just do not work) and Microsoft sites that throw errors in browsers other than IE (I suspect but cannot prove that this is deliberate).
April 19, 2011 11:22 AM
Other reason for error on page is a host file. I use Mike Burgess's host file to block ads, billing sites, and other bad web pages. Then I get errors on web page I know my Host file is working. It is nice block for your computers for most end users do not know about feature.
April 19, 2011 3:20 PM
What I don't understand is why a page being viewed on IE might give the "error on page" message with the continue running scirpts - yes or no - button but the exact same page on Chrome or Firefox does not. Drives me absolute nuts. So much so, I avoid IE altogether unless something's not right on a site I open in C or F.
April 21, 2011 3:03 PM
Response/addition to Jim de Graff:
I use the IE Tab in Firefox 4 for sites that are otherwise hard to work with. It works great. Also, since installing FF4 (w/ excellent results), Microsoft is sending " important updates to install" IE9 (still in beta) 24/7, with relentless pursuit. FF4 has increased search/download dramatically-I think Microsoft is aware of this simplicity and speed which have seem to elude them. I'm just saying....
22-Apr-2011
April 30, 2011 12:51 AM
Response to Harry Harper
Tried with IE clearing browser history/cache, even disabled all add-ons but STILL kept getting broken, unreliable websites and exclamtion/error on all website pages. But using Mozilla the 'error on page' doesn't occur. I don't understand this. I've always used IE and until recently had no issues with any websites- until one site only caused issues but responded well to Mozilla. Now, SINCE loading Mozilla, when I use IE instead it's really unhappy. Great mystery......
June 3, 2011 3:58 AM
I have found that if you use a browser with an effective Ad Blocker, such as Flashpeak Slimbrowser, then this stops attempts at downloading files you do not need into the page, and there is less risk of the "error" problem.
April 13, 2012 8:58 AM
Thanks! Your answer was wonderful. I had already discovered that hitting refresh then allowed me to display web pages, but didn't know why. And I have now quit SKYPE after logging on, and will open it only if I need it.
June 26, 2012 11:46 PM
Do you mean "add-ons can sometimes comprise a web page and make it syntactically incorrect.", or "add-ons can sometimes compromise a web page and make it syntactically incorrect."?
June 27, 2012 3:31 AM
@Simon
Thanks, it's fixed now.
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