Google Toolbar breaks JavaScript Looper Controls under Internet Explorer

Sept 19, 2005  Updated: 11 am PDT 9/20/2005

 . Recently many users have reported that IE does not allow them to
   stop, start, control loops such as this
       MM5 Sea-level Pressure Loop 
   (though this behavior was by no means consistent for me).  However,
   the following, independent link to the same JavaScript looper provides
   consistent results for bug testing: 
       http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/map/images/ens/ensmean_nhbg_animation.html.
   

 . This bug is limited to IE and is traceable to "Third Party
   Browser Extensions" with the Google Toolbar.

 . I saw this behavior at home and was able to isolate the problem by
   turning on and off third party browser extensions on a system that
   had the Google Toolbar already installed.  Also, I was able to
   break the loop controls on an otherwise working IE at my office by
   simply installing the Google Toolbar.  The CDC link mentioned above
   and in 4) below was used to perform this test.  Note that in some
   instances the bug did not manifest itself or did not disappear
   until "Ctrl-F5" was run to clear the browser's cache.

 . To fix the bug you need to turn off the Google Toolbar: go to Tools
   -- Internet Options -- Advanced tab -- and uncheck "Enable
   third-party browser extensions (requires restart)".  Simply close
   all browsers and reopen, to get the loops to work again.

 . Another solution which has WORKED FOR EVERYONE is to switch to
   Firefox
   But, please note that I have not tested the Firefox version of the
   Google Toolbar.

 . You can try the following before switching to Firefox, but most
   users reporting this bug did not find this helpful in the least:

   1) There are 4 frames displayed by the URL.  The frame that has
      the problem is either the lower left quadrant (containing all of
      the loop controls) or the lower right quadrant (the images).
      It's worth trying a right click in those frames and
      choosing "Refresh".  Or a click and then a Ctrl-F5.  Both of
      these should wipe out Microsofts cache of the file -- a file
      which I feel somehow got truncated.
   2) You can be sure you machine is up-to-date with Windows Update
      and that you've run your virus scan software -- never hurts.
   3) You can try rebooting your computer (the poor-man's solution),
      but this has not been successful for some.
   4) You should see if the problem exists with this loop 
      http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/map/images/ens/ensmean_nhbg_animation.html
      Problems with this independent, simpler version of the looper
      guarantee that the problem is with Microsoft's Internet
      Explorer.