IE Script & Runtime Error

I began this post on the malware forum, ran the scans and it was determined that I may have a software problem.

Recently I began getting the error message below everytime I access IE from within Outlook. The message I receive is:
Internet Explorer Script Error
"An error has occurred running a script on this page"
Line 2
Char 7
Error- Invalid character
URL - (whatever url I am visiting)
Do you want to continue running scripts on this page?

It's important to note that if I launch IE directly from my desktop I do not have this problem - only when I access the Internet from within Outlook (not Outlook Express)
This happened with IE ver 6 so I upgraded to the IE7 Beta version and still have the same trouble.

I have already tried uninstalling IE and reinstalling and still have the same problem regardless of which version I use.
I've gone to Internet options and checked disable script debugging (Internet and "other"), cleared "enable 3rd party browser extensions and updated Microsoft scripting.
When I did this the above error went away but then I got a similar "runtime error" and it asks me if I want to debug so I changed back to the original configuration and have the script error again.

My service packs and updates are current and I've updated Java Virtual Machine.

Aside from this I don't know what else to do.

I'm running XP Pro.

Can anyone tell me why this is happening?

Thanks - Justjim

 

Thanks for your advice.
The Office version I am using is MS Office Pro 2000. All service packs are up to date.

I also went to the link you advised before I posted the message and I am set up correctly but the error is still there.

Any last suggestions from anyone? What I really can't understand is why it works fine from IE on the desktop but not from within Outlook.

 

I use Windows firewall and a combination virus and pop up blocker offered by my provider Cox Communications. This is an integrated "free" version of McAfee bundled in the Cox software. I had and used this for a long time before the problem surfaced.

I also run, Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware, Bazooka, Windows Defender, HiJackThis, Pandfa Active Scan, Bitdefender and just about all the other free scans available. I've also tried disabling most of these to see if it solves the problem but it does not.

Hope this helps.