If the Microsoft JScript Compilation Error Expected ‘;’ dialog box has popped up on your screen, don’t just cross your fingers and hope it goes away. It won’t. Even if you can perform the Java task you’re trying to complete, that nagging box is likely to pop up several more times during the process, requiring you to click the OK button every time it does.
How do you get it to go away? The only way I know how is to purge Java from your system and then reinstall it. Here’s how you do it in Windows XP:
- Print these instructions before you start.
- Run your browser and go to java.sun.com/products/archive/j2se/6u7/index.html
- Under JRE 6u7, click Download JRE.
- Select your platform, click the box to pledge your agreement to the terms of use, and click Continue, as shown below.
- Click the link jre-6u7-windows-i586-p.exe. Don’t click the Windows Offline Installation checkbox; click the actual link for the file. (See below.)
- Click the Save button, as shown below, and save the file to a folder on your computer so you can find it later. (Don’t run the file. Just save it so you can run it later.)
- Close any and all browser windows (yes, this one included).
- Click Start, Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
- Click anything that says Java on it (like Sun Java or Java JRE) and click Remove. (You may have to do this two or more times to remove any Java updates.)
- Change to the folder in which you saved the file jre-6u7-windows-i586-p.exe, double-click the file, and follow the installation instructions.
- Save any documents you currently have open and exit all programs.
- Click Start, Turn Off Computer, and then click the Restart button.
You can delete the jre-6u7-windows-i586-p.exe later to keep it from cluttering your hard drive.
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for posting the steps to resolve this problem!
If there are other IT support folks out there wondering more about why this JScript error happens, there is currently an open bug in the Sun JRE [since JRE 1.6.0_10] that is related to Proxy PAC files.
See http://bugs.sun.com/view_bug.do?bug_id=6780968 for more details
Great Job, easy to follow instructions. Keep up the Good Work.
I’m Getting the same message “Microsoft JScript Compiiation error”
Will These instructions work for Vista Home Premium, Service Pack 1?
There is a link…Upgrade Windows Vista…
I bought this Laptop about 8 weeks ago and just received a disk for Windows 7. Should I upgrade Vista or Load Windows 7?
Thanks for any help!
Hi, Jack–
I would think the instructions would work on Vista, as well.
I haven’t done much with Windows 7, but I’ve read good things about it.
Before upgrading to Windows 7, download and run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to make sure your PC can run it.
Joe,
Thanks for the advice. Have a Great Weekend and Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the help…..I finally got rid of the problem (expected ‘.’) I was having….once again THANK YOU!
joe
Thank you very much for your help. I also encountered the same problem today. By following your instructions which are very clear and detailed, I got the problem fixed and the error message disappeared. I am relieved. Thank you. Can I delete the folder that saves the file jre-6u7-windows-i586-p.exe Now?
Hi, Amy–
Yes, you can delete the installation file and folder. Glad it helped!
Thank you!
I keep getting the Microsoft JScript compilation error expected and want to get rid of it. Have Vista. How can I get this done. Do I really need Java?? I am now going to unistall the program and hope to hear from you as to proceed from there. Thank you in advance for helping. Greetings LILI
I have Vista and keep getting the Microsoct JScript Compilation error expected an want to get rid of it. How do I proceed. As of now, I am going to uninstall Java . Do I really need Java? Please let me know how to proceed. Thank you in advance.Lili
1st make sure your Java is up to date.
Then do the following, which seem to resolve for me:
a. Open Internet explorer.
b. Click on Tools.
c. Select Internet Options.
d. Click on Advanced Tab.
e. Check the option ‘Disable script debugging’.
f. Click OK.
g. Close Internet explorer and reopen.
You may get a prompt after reopening IE asking you to debug, say no, and make sure to check the box to not remind you again.
Good luck!
I feel lucky to have found such a wealth of info.
Michael,
Thank you. This only happened on one website and their techs didn’t know why it was happening or how to fix it.
Should I avoid any upgrades of JAVA or from SUN?
could you please walk me through removing microsoftjscript compilation error from Windows 7?
Thank you
Jan
I am encountering this same problem! I followed the above steps and I am STILL getting this message. I have Windows 7…PLEASE HELP!!!
Sorry for the much delayed response.
Should be the same steps for Windows 7. If you’re still having trouble, try following the steps, but after step 10 (after you remove any and all existing versions of Java), restart Windows and then install the new version of Java.
Thanks! That fixed the problem. Funny that the only website in which I encountered the problem was on Match.com.
It prevented me from updating my profile from my home computer. Now I’m all set. Thanks!
I am getting this message every time I attempt to open WMP
via an video or music on my computer….NOT through IE or when online.
Microsoft JScript compilation error: Line: 111 Column: 9
Expected ‘}’
It then asks to close the program….I removed all Java related
data thru control panel etc……help
Greg
Hi Greg,
I just downloaded an update and i reicived this error message.
I went to the Sun website and it has changed since you posted this help column.Could you please update this help column?
Thank you.
David
I had the same problem (I was trying to connect to TopCoder Arena).
Following WJ’s comment which implies a connection to the proxy setting (i am using a proxy script in my browser), I changed the java network setting to use direct connection instead of browser settings and it seems to solve the problem.
The java settings are found on the control panel.
under General tab there is the “Network Settings” button which open a menu where I changed from “Use browser settings” to “Direct connection”.
This is not an error in the JRE, but in the proxy PAC file you’re getting from the network.
The real fix should be done by the proxy administrator, who would need to look for a missing semicolon on the proxy PAC file.
If you’re installing the very dated version of the JRE suggested on this page, you’re just opening up your system to a bunch of security threats[1]. Always install the latest JRE from http://www.java.com
There are definitely chimpanzees writing and following this advice and it’s only fitting that the “anti-spam word” I got when posting this was “laugh”
[1] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/public-vuln-to-advisory-mapping-093627.html