WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GRAPHICS IN IE
SOURCES
http://support.microsoft.com/kbid=283807
Presentation by Bill Wilkinson on Sept 2, 2006 http://urlsnip.com/731117
SYMPTOMS & SIGNS
Failure of graphics (pictures) to show on Web Page or Outlook Express (a red X, or a placeholder instead)
Examples of questions addressed in my column:
Q. (E-mail) When I forward jokes that have pictures in them, many of the recipients report they get the printed message but only get the squares with a small red x in the square rather than the picture(s) I forwarded. Why does this happen, and what can I do to make it work
Q. (E-mail message). I use Internet Explorer as my browser. Why do I get red Xs where there should be pictures Why does this happen
Q. Why the red X,s at Web site
Q. Recently, I downloaded a gaming site. When I try to bring it up, all I see is a red x in a corner of the screen. One of our fellow computer club members said that it is due to Java not running
ETIOLOGY
1. Image type not supported by IE
2. Show Pictures check box not selected or Toggle Images.exe Web accessory (if installed) was used to disable images
3. PC or network configured to block image based on script, Active X control, cookie, Java applet e.g. Symantec product
4. IE cannot determine the character set (also called code page or encoding) that is used by the Web page, or a file or registry key required to display the Web page with the appropriate character set may be missing or damaged.
STEP BY STEP DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC PLAN
1. Right click red X> Properties> check location address under Image Properties> address will end with the extension
IE can handle these: .art, .wmf, .emf, .png, .mov, .xbm, .avi, .mpg, .gif, .jpg, .mpeg and .bmp
2. Open IE
3. Activate Toggle Images.exe if you have it (If the Links toolbar is not visible, right-click a blank area of the toolbar and verify that there is a check next to Links. If the Toggle Images.exe link is not visible on the Links toolbar, click the arrow with two angle brackets on the far right-side of the Links toolbar.)
4. Verify that Show Pictures has not been turned off in Internet Explorer: Tools menu> Internet Options> Advanced tab> verify that the Show Pictures check box is selected under Multimedia> Click OK
5. Make sure scripting, ActiveX controls, cookies, and Java applets are enabled in Internet Explorer. To do so, follow these steps: > Tools menu> Internet Options> Security tab> click Default Level (if it is available) for the zone which contains the Web page (for example, Internet)> If using Internet Explorer 6, click the Privacy tab> click Default (if available).
6. IE> View menu> Encoding. If a check does not appear next to Auto-Select, click Auto-Select.
IE> View menu, point to Encoding, and then click the appropriate language for the Web page that you are trying to view e.g. if the Web page is in English (United States), click Western European (ISO) or Western European (Windows). If the required language is not available on the View menu, follow these steps to add it: IE> Tools menu> click Internet Options> Click Languages, and then click Add>Click the appropriate language, and then click OK.
7. If using a third-party Internet security, firewall, or cookie blocking program, contact manufacturer of the program for information about how to enable scripting, ActiveX controls, cookies, Java applets, advertisements, and HTTP referral information. Symantec has information on changing that at: http://tinyurl.com/3sk1
May need a Java interpreter (virtual machine). http://tinyurl.com/fb9cs
Language invented by Sun Microsystems.
The interpreter converts Java into a form of code that Windows can understand
The Java programs may be integral parts of the site you're viewing or could be ads.
8. May have to resort to checking the Registry (maybe try System Restore)
9. Using a custom HOSTS file
Custom HOSTS files block ads, along with spyware, parasites and other unwelcome guests.
When Internet Explorer tries to download an ad, it first goes to the HOSTS file for the ad's Internet Protocol number (its address). If it isn't there, it goes to a domain name server on the Internet.
Many people keep ads from appearing in their browsers by monitoring their HOSTS file.
Such a file directs ad requests to your computer, which has the IP number of 127.0.0.1. That kills the requests, and the ads never make it onto your browser.
Sometimes, that leaves empty white boxes and a red Xs.
Example re doubleclick
10. Use another browser e.g. Firefox, Netscape
Outlook Express
If you cannot see pictures: Tools> Options> click Security and uncheck do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus. ; ask sender to: Tools> Options> and on Send tab HTML settings should be selected Send Pictures with Message
Make certain you are set up to send pictures:
Tools> Options> Send tab> click HTML settings and check Send pictures with message .
When forwarding messages: Format menu> click on Send Pictures with Message . Also try forwarding the e-mail with the pictures as an attachment i.e. right click the e-mail and select Forward as an attachment.
If you receive message with link to a graphic on the Web, the link is bad, server could be down or ad site blocked by a custom HOSTS file.
Last resort: get another email program e.g. Gmail, Eudora, Thunderbird