Scripts giving you problems? Check your add-ins

Q: I use Firefox as my browser with Windows 8.1 and Outlook with Hotmail. Every time I log in to my Hotmail account, I get this message: “A script on this page may be busy, or it may have stopped responding. You can stop the script now, open the script in the debugger, or let the script continue.”

If I do anything other than select “stop script,” my computer locks up. I have run Malwarebytes and Windows Defender. Am I stuck with this until Microsoft replaces Outlook or have I missed something? Will Windows 10 fix this?

— Mark Farrell

A:The culprit is almost certainly an add-in. And judging from Internet chatter, I’d recommend checking to see if you’re running either Skype extensions or the Ask toolbar.

If you have Skype extensions installed, you can disable it by going to the “Windows Control Panel” and selecting “Programs and Features.” If you have the Ask toolbar installed, you can remove it within Firefox by going to the “Tools” menu, selecting “Add-ons” and then clicking on “Extensions.”

Q:I have one specific person whose email attachments I cannot open.

I forwarded her email to another person who readily opened the attachment on his computer. Whenever it comes to me the attachment just will not open. Aarrggh.

A dialog box pops up saying: “Cannot create file: services.pdf. Right click the folder you want to create the file in, and then click Properties on the short cut menu to check your permission for the folder.”

I’m running Outlook 2013 on Windows 7 Home Premium.

— Bob, Renton

A: Are you getting PDF attachments from others? Do you have Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader installed?

That’s the usual troubleshooting drill.

First, find out if the problem is with the type of attachments or with the person sending them.

Alternatively, according to Microsoft, the problem may be that your temporary Internet files folder is set to a server on which you do not have sufficient permissions. You can try the solutions that you will find at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/305982.

Q: I signed up for the free Malwarebytes service, but it expired after six months. Can you suggest another effective and free anti-malware program?

Also, you said in a column a while ago that Comcast offers free protection with Norton for broadband customers. When I called last week to inquire, I was told that Comcast no longer “supports” a free Norton security suite for its subscribers.

— Michael Winkelhorst

A: You’re in luck on both counts. Yes, there is a free version of Malwarebytes Antimalware. And yes, Comcast still offers the Norton Internet Security Suite to subscribers free. To get more information about the latter, go to www.xfinity.com/resources/internet-security.html.

As for Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, what’s going on is that when you download the free version you’re offered a limited-time subscription to the Pro version. It’s the Pro version that is expiring.

When the message appears notifying you that the trial has expired, simply click on it and it should open a dialogue box offering you three options: purchase a license, activate using an existing license or end the trial. Click on the last option and you should be in business.