I have gone into internet options/security/custom level/
and active scripting is enabled so its not that, I am on
windows 2000 and my laptop with XP not problem viewing
the scripts but desktop no go, I have been through all of
the microsoft help/support/ trip to no avail. Anybody got
any ideas?

Hmm..... may be a corrupted version of jscript.dll

To test try the address line version of the command to view source. In the
address bar enter the following command

view-source:url

eg.view-source:http://www.somewebsite.com/index.htm

If it does work then check your registry entry for your HTML and DHTML
editing programs... From IE choose the Tools/Internet Options menu. Choose
the Programs tab and check the values you have for the HTML and DHTML
editors (default should be notepad).

Let me know how you go.