Hi

I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I click on
some links in messages the open up IE but it displays "Invalid Syntax
Error".

The closest MS KB article I could find covering this is at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=834489 - but it seems to refer to URLs
with @ in the address. None of the links I'm clicking on have this,
although they do have & in some of them (they are often links to a
discussion on a vBulletin board - for example
http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...2&goto=newpost

Any suggestions welcome!

Thanks

Alan

Alan J Robertson wrote:
Hi

I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Bad form to reply to one's own post and all, but even though it seemed like
it was referring to a different URL structure I tried the Registry fix given
on the MSKB anyway and it seemed to do the trick (only tried a couple of
links so far but fingers crossed).

Alan

Alan J Robertson wrote:
Alan J Robertson wrote:
Hi

I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Bad form to reply to one's own post and all, but even though it
seemed like it was referring to a different URL structure I tried the
Registry fix given on the MSKB anyway and it seemed to do the trick
(only tried a couple of links so far but fingers crossed).

Hmm - sadly not fixed 100% - still getting the problem with the occasional
link, although much reduced frequency. Weirdly the link causing problems
was http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking - not even an ampersand in the URL!

Alan

"Alan J Robertson"
wrote in message
Alan J Robertson wrote:
Alan J Robertson wrote:
Hi

I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Bad form to reply to one's own post and all, but even though it
seemed like it was referring to a different URL structure I tried the
Registry fix given on the MSKB anyway and it seemed to do the trick
(only tried a couple of links so far but fingers crossed).

Hmm - sadly not fixed 100% - still getting the problem with the
occasional link, although much reduced frequency. Weirdly the link
causing problems was http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking - not even
an ampersand in the URL!
Alan

Go to Tools | Internet Options | Advanced.
Check the box to Disable script debugging.
Uncheck the box to Display a notification about every script error.

1. You might want to refresh your scripting engine:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ist/webdev.asp
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 2000 and XP
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Sometimes there's a corrupt file in the cache and one must go to Tools |
Internet Options and click Delete Files.

2a. StartRunRegsvr32 vbscript.dll

2b. StartRunRegsvr32 jscript.dll

(WinXP users who have problems with 2a and 2b, see
http://www.mvps.org/archive/inetexplorer/answers_9.htm)

3. Re-register all DLLs listed in http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281679

4. See also
Error Message When You Browse the Web: An Error Has Occurred in the Script
on This Page
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306831
Scripting Errors When You View Web Pages in Internet Explorer after
Installing Office 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=822521

5a. IE ToolsInternet OptionsAdvancedBrowsingEnable third-party browser
extensions (uncheck & reboot).

5b. Find the hijacker that caused 5a to be checked (or if none were checked,
check for hijackware anyway):

Dealing with Hijackware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

How to Troubleshoot Script Errors in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308260

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
"Anyone who prefers security over freedom deserves neither."

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE wrote:
"Alan J Robertson"
wrote in message
Alan J Robertson wrote:
Alan J Robertson wrote:
Hi

I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Bad form to reply to one's own post and all, but even though it
seemed like it was referring to a different URL structure I tried
the Registry fix given on the MSKB anyway and it seemed to do the
trick (only tried a couple of links so far but fingers crossed).

Hmm - sadly not fixed 100% - still getting the problem with the
occasional link, although much reduced frequency. Weirdly the link
causing problems was http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking - not even
an ampersand in the URL!
Alan

Go to Tools | Internet Options | Advanced.
Check the box to Disable script debugging.
Uncheck the box to Display a notification about every script error.

1. You might want to refresh your scripting engine:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ist/webdev.asp
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows 2000 and XP
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Sometimes there's a corrupt file in the cache and one must go to
Tools | Internet Options and click Delete Files.

2a. StartRunRegsvr32 vbscript.dll

2b. StartRunRegsvr32 jscript.dll

(WinXP users who have problems with 2a and 2b, see
http://www.mvps.org/archive/inetexplorer/answers_9.htm)

3. Re-register all DLLs listed in
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=281679

(snip)

Thanks for that reply, Frank - I hadn't read anywhere else about this being
a scripting problem - I thought it was an issue with OE not passing the URL
correctly to IE (initially instigated as part of security measures re. spoof
websites). When it hasn't actually got as far as loading the URL (in fact
the address bar is blank) then how does scripting come into play?

Cheers

Alan

PS no 3rd party extensions installed, and have previously reregistered the
IE DLLs.

"Alan J Robertson" wrote in message

....
I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Weirdly the link causing problems was
http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking


Try tacking a trailing slash (/) on that.
Here is the first thing that comes back when you leave it off.


example
HTTP/1.1 302 Moved Temporarily
Server: Netscape-Enterprise/4.1
Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2006 05:50:32 GMT
Location: http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking/
Content-length: 0
Content-type: text/html
Connection: close
/example


Another thing to check is the HTTP version that you are using.
The server might be returning "Invalid Syntax Error" if you were
trying to use HTTP 1.0 protocol. Etc.


Tracing the transaction would be the best way to discover
what is really happening and what the symptom really means.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---

Robert Aldwinckle wrote:
"Alan J Robertson"
wrote in message
...
I'm having trouble with URL links in OE (6.00.2900.2180) - when I
click on some links in messages the open up IE but it displays
"Invalid Syntax Error".

Weirdly the link causing problems was
http://track.dhlgroup.co.uk/tracking


Try tacking a trailing slash (/) on that.
Here is the first thing that comes back when you leave it off.


Hi Robert

Thanks for your reply - the thing is that it was sent to me by e-mail like
that (without the trailing slash). My whole problem is with clicking links
in OE not with browsing in IE itself. Indeed if I copy and paste the URL
without the trailing slash it seems to open fine.

I tried clicking that same link today (from your own message in fact) and it
opened fine! I can't find any rhyme or reason for why some links work and
others don't. At least the registry changes I made seem to have greatly
reduced the frequency. With troublesome links I can always copy and paste
but for ease-of-use it'd be nicer if they just worked straight off!

Another thing to check is the HTTP version that you are using.
The server might be returning "Invalid Syntax Error" if you were
trying to use HTTP 1.0 protocol. Etc.

The "Invalid Syntax Error" is being genereated locally by IE (I guess due to
OE passing a malformed URL) rather than from the server. Copying and
pasting the links always work.

Cheers

Alan

Alan J Robertson wrote:
At least the registry changes I made
seem to have greatly reduced the frequency. With troublesome links I
can always copy and paste but for ease-of-use it'd be nicer if they
just worked straight off!

Sigh. It seems that the problem is still happening. The full error message
is below - as you'll note it refers to opening the "s:" homepage?! - I'm
guessing this is to do with the URL being passed from OE to IE.

BEGINS
The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for might have been removed or had its name
changed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

Open the s: home page, and then look for links to the information you want.

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is
spelled correctly.

If you still cannot open the page, click the Internet Explorer
Search button to look for similar sites.

Internet Explorer
ENDS
(for URL
http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/...8&goto=newpost)

"Alan J Robertson" wrote in message

....
Sigh. It seems that the problem is still happening. The full error message
is below - as you'll note it refers to opening the "s:" homepage?! - I'm
guessing this is to do with the URL being passed from OE to IE.

BEGINS
The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for might have been removed or had its name
changed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

Open the s: home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
....


Q: Are you still using the option
Show friendly HTTP error messages
(an unfortunate default in Options, Advanced tab, Browsing section)

If so, uncheck that. Then you will see what error messages your server
(or your proxy) is really sending.

Again, taking a trace would be the best diagnostic for this symptom.


FYI in the hypothesised case, the s: would normally be replaced by the
domain name of the page being requested. That is just intended to help
users with a standard troubleshooting technique (e.g. especially for
HTTP 404 error codes) of backing up the path of a URL, trying to find
something which is accessible (such as an index page, search page, etc.)
Typically when you enter a domain name with just the root path specified
or no path specified you would get the default page of the site
(aka its Home page.)


HTH

Robert
---

Robert Aldwinckle wrote:
Hi Robert

Q: Are you still using the option
Show friendly HTTP error messages
(an unfortunate default in Options, Advanced tab, Browsing section)

If so, uncheck that. Then you will see what error messages your
server (or your proxy) is really sending.

OK, I have done - will wait for the problem to next occur (it's quite
unpredictable)

Again, taking a trace would be the best diagnostic for this symptom.


FYI in the hypothesised case, the s: would normally be replaced by
the domain name of the page being requested. That is just intended to
help users with a standard troubleshooting technique (e.g. especially for
HTTP 404 error codes) of backing up the path of a URL, trying to find
something which is accessible (such as an index page, search page,
etc.) Typically when you enter a domain name with just the root path
specified or no path specified you would get the default page of the site
(aka its Home page.)

Yep, I know that - what I'm thinking is that OE is for some reason passing
the URL to IE as being "s:" or suchlike for some reason.

Alan