using setInterval to check for a file I am waiting for

using setInterval to check for a file I am waiting for

I am try to make a timer that periodically checks to see if a file has been written.  Once the file exists I will read it and format output.  This is what I am trying, but it seems to have created an infinite loop and I never get to success:

  1. <!DOCTYPE html>

    <html>
    <head>
        <title>timer</title>
        <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.min.js"></script>
        <script>
            $(document).ready(function(){
                var myVar=setInterval(function(){myTimer()},1000);
                    function myTimer()
                    {
                        var d=new Date();
                        var t=d.toLocaleTimeString();
                        $('#test-timer').html('<p>' + t +'</p>');
                    }
                $('#time').click(function (){
                    $.ajax({
                        url:'result.xml',
                        cache:false,
                        error: function(){
                            var timer = setInterval(function(){$('#test-timer').html("still looking")},2000)
                        }, //end error function
                        success: function(){$('#test-timer').html("I found it!")}
                    })
                }); //end click
            }); //end ready
        </script>
    </head>

    <body>
    <section>
        <h1>Show me the money</h1>
        <div id="test-timer">
           
        </div>
        <br><button id="time">Start timing!</button>
    </section>


    </body>
    </html>








































The first function is irrelevant as I was just checking how setInterval worked. If this approach is not a good way to accomplish what i am trying for I am open to alternatives. Thanks for any assistance.