JavaScript has been designed to enhance the browsing experience when using the Internet. It is a programming language and follows the syntax of C, although it isn’t to be confused with Java, a completely different language.

Most web browsers support JavaScript. If you have one which doesn’t, you should definitely consider an upgrade! Internet Explorer offers full support and other companies such as Mozilla implement it too.

Unfortunately, JavaScript can lead to a troublesome browsing experience and poor site usability if used in the wrong way. Many websites will have trouble functioning if the browser is unable to compile JavaScript. This should become less of a problem as developers pay closer attention to accessibility standards, but it’s still there.

So what are symptoms of JavaScript problems? The most obvious is, of course, applets and programs that fail to load. If you are receiving errors and parts of the site are refusing to function correctly, it’s probably down to the JavaScript or the permissions designated to it.

Go to your Internet Options (Usually under Tools from the top toolbar). Then go to Advanced Settings and ensure that the scripting boxes are checked. You should also see an option for Java applets. Make sure this is checked. If the option isn’t there, head on over to Sun’s website and download the latest JavaScript support bundle. Installing it will iron out many JavaScript problems including the biggest problem of sites refusing to operate altogether!

JavaScript can be switched off to prevent pop-ups and dynamically generated adverts. This is one of the biggest reasons why people run in to problems. Of course, it’s nice to block out the bad things. But JavaScript provides some important functionality which has nothing to do with pop-ups. If you are one who likes to get rid of the ads, consider a professional pop-up blocker. Disabling scripting isn’t the best way to go about the problem.

You might also notice that some pages load with errors. How can you tell? Well, usually you’ll see a little exclamation mark in the bottom left of the browser and an “Errors on Page” annotation.

Sometimes it’s quite possible to use the site for its purpose with these errors still on the page. They’re usually down to poor code or technical errors. It’s not the greatest display of web development, but you don’t need to worry unless it’s affecting your browsing experience.

You’ll also find that JavaScript entries can clog up a system’s registry with log files. While relatively harmless, this can contribute towards a reduced system performance and programs can take longer to start. Be sure to stay ahead of the game and clean your registry regularly. There are error blocking software packages on the Net, but even with these, the logs are still building up behind the scenes.

Many forms are coded with JavaScript to validate your inputted information and verify that it meets the requirements. For example, if a password has to be between 6 to 12 letters with numbers and letters, JavaScript will take care of this on the client side. Therefore, if you access a website and the forms are not working, it could be down to the validation stage that occurs after you’ve submitted it.

Even if the data you submit is correct, the form won’t process unless it can verify via the scripting. As you can imagine, this is capable of inflicting serious woes on your browsing experience. Forms and registrations play an important role on the web.

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The use of ActiveX controls are essential for Microsoft Internet Explorer to operate effectively. Without them, certain parts of a web page may not function in the way that the designer intended.

ActiveX is an umbrella term for a loose set of Microsoft technologies. They cover a wide variety of purposes, but the most common includes the ability of OLE to integrate with Microsoft’s popular browser. ActiveX controls are responsible for translating data in to a visual representation on the screen. For example, you might use an ActiveX control to access an embedded spreadsheet. Another popular use comes in the form of an integrated FTP window.

For all of its technology advances, ActiveX is actually quite unstable if left to work on all websites. Malicious users have found a way to target browsers with weak security, and they’ll go as far as to distribute spyware through the misleading certificates of the control.

Many ActiveX errors are triggered by browsers that have had their security settings tampered with. If the security levels aren’t adjusted to accept ActiveX controls, the additional content won’t function and you’ll be left with an error. This is a very common problem and thankfully it’s easy to fix.

Presuming that you’re running Microsoft Internet Explorer, follow these simple steps;

• Select Tools > Internet Options from the top toolbar.
• Navigate your way to the Security tab and notice the different levels. Set the security bar to Medium.
• Click on the Custom Level tab. Ensure that the following boxes are checked; “Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins”, “Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting”, and “Scripting”.
• Save and apply your changes.
• Relaunch Microsoft Internet Explorer

This should ensure that ActiveX controls display properly in your browser.

It’s possible that you may still receive an “ActiveX disabled” error. If this is the case, it’s likely that the problem stems from an anti-virus program. Many of these come with settings which disable scripting from the browser, and they will override the existing Internet Options. If you are still having difficulty getting ActiveX to display, ensure that scripting is enabled on your anti-Virus program. There’s an easy way to test whether this is the source of the problem.

Try disabling your anti-Virus protection and refresh the page. If the ActiveX control displays, you know for sure that it’s the anti-Virus suite that is causing the clash. Of course, these programs can be configured very differently. We’d recommend that you check the support site for your software and locate the correct configuration settings. Alternatively, find a “Restore Default Settings” option in the suite and click this. Be careful though, this will return ALL settings to the default values.

Don’t rule out the possibility that an ActiveX control is simply not coded correctly. They aren’t the simplest plug-ins to work with and if a developer uploads code with a slight fault, the entire control will return an error. It may seem as if your browser is to blame, but it’s actually the fault of the coder. Check for a test ActiveX control from Microsoft if you’re unsure.

It’s unlikely, but ActiveX errors can also be triggered by a deep routed problem with the system video card and its drivers. You will typically see a lot more problems than mere ActiveX errors alone if this is the case, but it shouldn’t be ruled out completely. It’s a good idea to keep your video drivers up to date as a matter of good habit. You can upgrade them from the system settings.

If this still doesn’t fix the Active X control, it’s worth visiting the DirectX website and downloading the latest components for your machine. Once again, it’s highly unlikely that a graphics card fault will be the real source of the problem. If it is, you’ll typically notice the performance setbacks in everything that your system does.

ActiveX isn’t the most stable of technologies and its controls can be easily affected by the settings of a browser of the configuration of an anti-Virus package. Be sure to check that scripting is enabled, and if this doesn’t do the trick, consider upgrading your video drivers and obtain the latest DirectX software.

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Hewlett-Packard is widely recognised as the number one provider of printers, scanners and imaging equipment. The California-based company ships a huge stock of these items every year, and there’s a good chance that if you go out to buy a printer, you’ll be coming home with an HP product.

Given the lofty stature of HP, you shouldn’t encounter too many compatibility problems when it comes to finding the right printer or scanner for your system. The installation doesn’t always run smoothly, however, and we’re going to look at some of the most problems and how to overcome them.

First of all, it’s important to note that all HP printers come with software. It’s not possible to simply “plug ‘n play” as you might do with other hardware devices. Every HP printer, scanner or imaging device will come with a CD. On this CD, you’ll find an installation program and the drivers required to use the hardware.

It’s also important to follow the instructions explicitly and install the software BEFORE you connect the device. To do this, insert the CD and run through the installation procedure. It will copy files to your local drive before telling you when to connect the device. Most printers and scanners use a USB port these days. Once your device is connected, follow the remaining instructions and you’ll usually be asked to restart your system. This validates the new drivers and it will ensure that your hardware is detected in the future.

So what are the most common problems with the installation of a HP device? First and foremost, we have driver issues.

HP can’t release software which is customised for each user’s system configuration, and it’s possible that the printer or scanner drivers may clash. Driver issues are typically marked by a device which fails to connect. If Windows springs up a message that it cannot recognise the hardware device, it’s likely that you’re suffering from either outdated drivers or the wrong driver altogether.

Log on to the HP website and search out your device. It’s here that you’ll be able to download the very latest drivers and patches. Test the different software and attempt to connect to the device with different configurations. If you have a working driver, you’ll be able to connect to the hardware and Windows will detect it automatically.

Sometimes Window will recognise the hardware, but won’t be able to retain the connection. This is another example of a driver incompatibility issue.

Of course, it’s important to check - before purchasing a printer, that the device is compatible with your system. You’ll also need to download different software if you’re working on a Linux platform. The standard Windows package will not work on Linux, and vice versa.

Another common problem stems from wireless printer connectivity. If you’re installing a printer to work on a network, you’ll need to ensure that the computers can connect to it.

If this isn’t happening, try pinging the printer adapter. To do this, you can open up the command shell (c:\windows\system\CMD.exe) and type the following:

ping 192.168.173.1.

If no signal is returned, the printer is failing to connect with your local system. This could be for a number of reasons. You might want to try moving the printer closer to the computer, or checking that radio interference isn’t playing a role. As a last resort, consider replacing the network and printer adapters.

If you’re sure that the printer is installed, yet it fails to print, check that the device isn’t configured to work offline.

Go to Start, then Settings and finally Printers. It’s here that you’ll be able to see if the device is set to work online. It’s also possible that documents may be jammed in a queue. Restart the jobs and wait for the printer to respond.

If your printer shows no sign of connectivity at all, usually displayed by an orange or red light, you could be suffering from a connectivity issue with the hardware itself. It’s possible that the USB cable is faulty and replacing it could fix the problem.

HP provides extensive support for their products so do make sure to check the help archives on their official website. Printers and scanners can be notoriously fiddly to install and it’s likely that if you have a problem, somebody else has experienced it too.

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“Cannot Connect to ACE Runtime”

“MACE SERVICE could not connect to the ACE Runtime.”

Have you been receiving this error when loading up Windows XP or trying to access the Internet?

ACE Runtime is a service that is required in order to access the Internet and exchange data. Most ACE Runtime problems stem from a collision with either an anti-Virus program or a manual firewall which happens to be impeding its ability to access the Net.

Bizarrely enough, you’re most likely to encounter the errors if you are running a copy of Windows Media Center Edition and using an ATI graphics card. Quite why this is, we can’t begin to speculate. Part of the fault has to lay with ATI for designing a card which requires a firewall to be specifically opened to get rid of errors.

When you load your operating system, you’ll be told that the MACE Service (Managed Access to Catalyst Environment) can’t connect to the ACE Runtime. This will restrict your Internet access, so it’s necessary to manually correct the firewall in order to heal the breach.

Alternatively, you can search out the latest ATI drivers and attempt to patch over the problem by upgrading to the latest software. This should fix the problem, depending on the model of the hardware that you are using.

If a driver upgrade doesn’t do the trick, you’ll have no choice but to replace the ATI or open up your Windows Firewall by making exclusions so that the MACE Service can connect to your ACE Runtime.

To do this, you will need to navigate to the Windows Firewall settings. Once you’re there, locate the MACE folder which holds all of the MACE settings.

You should then add the MACE folder to the specific exclusion list of your Windows Firewall. It isn’t a particularly ideal solution because every exception that you add is an opening to a hacker, but it should at least allow the ACE Runtime to connect. This will, in turn, get rid of the errors and grant you Internet access.

Of course, it’s important to note that the same rule applies to other anti-Virus suites, not just the Windows Firewall. Many of these suites come with firewalls and exclusion lists of their own. You should apply the exception to whichever anti-Virus suite you have in operation on your system.

On certain occasions, you may find that the error is triggered by a virus rather than a hardware problem. If your system is inundated with spyware, viruses and malware, it’s quite possible that your ACE Runtime mechanism could be affected. But we should point out that it’s highly unlikely that you won’t have seen signs elsewhere. There are no viruses which specifically target the ACE Runtime service, although some are known to affect it indirectly.

Run a system scan to stay clear of any malicious files and hacking threats, and always use anti-Virus protection when browsing the Internet.

The problem with ATI and ACE Runtime is heavily documented. If you are using an ATI card, you can expect to receive an ACE Runtime error, no matter how new your system is. Keep your drivers upgraded and as a last resort, add an exception to your firewall to fix the problem.

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