IE8 Refuses to run Javascript from Local Hard Drive

"if the computer is subject to corporate security policies, you may consider setting up a virtual machine (e.g. with Virtual Box or MS Virtual PC) to test your java scripts.

Microsoft offers a variety of pre-activated virtual hard drives (they work with VirtualBox and VPC) with either Vista or XP and IE6, 7 and 8. Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Images are free and the current set is valid until April 1, 2010."

"Trying editing the settings for DCOM

Go to Run and type dcomcnfg, under component services right click on my computer and go properties. Then go to Default properties and Enable COM internet Services on this computer. also check and make sure Default Authentication Level is set to connect and Impersonation level is set to Identify."

"If you go to Internet Options / Security Tab / Internet / Custom button, then scroll down to the Miscellaneous section, you will find several entries that control the JavaScript engine in IE8.

You might compare them on your computer with these on a computer on which this works.

If with this you don't find the problem, you can also do the same with
gpedit.msc / Local computer policy / Computer Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components / Internet Explorer.
You can here right-click on ""Internet Explorer"" and Export all the settings to a text file, which will help in comparing them between the two computers."

"I suspect this won't help, but have you checked the registry key for allowing local scripts to run?

HKCU \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main \ FeatureControl \ FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN

In the right-pane, create a new REG_DWORD named iexplore.exe and set it to 0

Values:

0 - Allows a Web page to run active content in your computer
1 - Disallows a Web page from running active content in your computer

This document contains some other related registry keys you may want to look at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537183(VS.85).aspx#registry"