IE7 error message

mathman

Recently I have been getting an error message while using Internet Explorer, as follows:

"stack overflow at line: 96"

It appears to be benign, but I would like to know what it means. What stack is overflowing?
What needs to be adjusted to avoid this message?

alxm

The processor's stack. It's like a little scratch pad in memory that is used to store function call parameters, local variables and the return addresses for calls.

If it overflows, it's almost always due to a program bug. E.g. if a recursive function (one that calls itself) does so an uncontrolled number of times, it'll end up filling the stack with return addresses. It can't be fixed without fixing the software.

Best thing to do is to upgrade to Firefox, Opera or Chrome, if you can.

DaveC426913

What verison of IE are you running? I am finding web developers are abandoning backward compatibility of browsers much faster nowadays. I used IE6 until most websites just wouldn't support it any longer and got errors like this.

No need to go to a different browser. Upgrade IE.


Ever done a Rubik's cube? The steps start off easy on the top and middle rows, but by the time you're working on the last row, the steps to change one cubie become ridiculously long - they become great sequences of repetitive steps strung together. That sequence is just like the stack in a progam.

Ever started the 47-step sequence to flip a single cubie, gotten half way through and forgotten where you were cuz you can only keep 46 steps in your head at once? Stack overflow.

mathman

It appears the problem was not as serious as I thought. I was told to get new versions of shockwave and flash video. Since then the problem has not recurred.

In passing, I have no idea why it got fixed this way.

Gnosis

Upgrading to IE7 will depend upon which operating system they are running. Some are still running Windows 2000 (as is one of my PC's due to applications that don't run properly on my XP PC). FYI, I tried installing IE7 on my Windows 2000 PC a couple months ago (to see what would happen) and it won't allow the install of IE7 due to incorrect operating system.

Per Microsoft's website (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/926874), upgrading to IE7 is only possible if you're using the following Operating Systems:

System requirements

Internet Explorer 7 runs on any of the following operating systems:
• Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

CRGreathouse

I like Firefox myself, but Internet Explorer 8 (now in Beta 2) looks pretty nice. If you want to keep IE, I'd recommend trying it, beta notwithstanding.

mathman

To answer questions:

I am runnning IE7 with Windoes XP - also I have automatic updating, so I have the latest version of both. In practice I use Avant (which runs on top of IE7) rather than IE7. I also use Firefox. When IE7 first came out there were problems, so I will wait until IE8 is passed all beta testing and has been around a while.

As for my original problem, I was told (in some other forum) that the problem may have originated at the web site I was looking at (Washington Post) and not my computer at all.

DaveC426913

No point. By that time most websites won't support it anymore because they'll be supporting IE9.

CRGreathouse

IE 8 is so much better than IE 7 that I recommend upgrading now even if there are bugs (and I haven't found any, other than those also in IE 7). If you can't, or won't, then I recommend ditching IE entirely.

Gnosis

While there are some newer features available in IE8, it doesn't run noticeably better or worse than IE7 on my PC. I've never had any issues with IE7 nor am I experiencing any issues with IE8 installed.

mathman

Recently (after it got into release) I tried IE8 and found it had a serious bug that was not present in IE7. It occurs when trying to access either of the following web sites.

http://www.newscientist.com/section/science-news or http://www.lohud.com/

The basic problem is that a few seconds after the web page comes up I get a message indicating that there is an error and IE has to close.

I got IE7 restored and things work OK.

Gnosis

As I stated, I have IE8 installed. I just now went to both of the websites that you stated IE8 gave you an error message on, but they worked perfectly for me. It appears it's something else on your computer causing the issue. Just thought you'd like to know.

mathman

You may be right. I tried IE8 again and got a peculiar result. The lohud site worked fine but the newscientist still gave me the error message. Even more peculiar, the lohud site has a companion www.app.com which didn't work!