|
||||
 | ||||
|
| Basic Troubleshooting |
 Email This
 Print ThisView My Personal Library |
|
What To Do When... Article Last Reviewed October 2009 |
|
 You See A Red X |
|
Refresh the Web page. When pages don’t load correctly, they may have incorrect layouts (with text or pictures in the wrong places) and may even be missing important items. Clicking the Refresh button reloads the page, giving your browser a second chance to get it right. This is the fastest and easiest troubleshooting step, so always start here. In IE (Internet Explorer), the Refresh button sits directly to the right of the Address Bar by default. Right-click. If the software that you’re using to view the email or Web page is blocking the image, the software likely has an option that will let you unblock the picture. To find that option, right-click the red X icon and then look for Display Image, Show Picture, or similar text in the context menu that appears near your cursor. This trick is helpful when you encounter one or two images that aren’t displaying, but because it affects only the image that you’ve selected, it doesn’t remedy situations in which all of the images you encounter fail to display. Look up. Many email clients and Internet browsers have built-in security features that block potentially harmful content, including pictures and Active X controls. Of course, these features can also block perfectly harmless images and content, so the software developers usually create alerts that give you the option to display the blocked content. In the case of Microsoft programs, such as IE, Outlook, and Windows Mail, the software displays a long, horizontal bar near the top of the email or Web page that explains what the software is blocking, and why. That yellow alert bar is inconspicuous, so look again to make sure it isn’t there. If you’ve turned up your PC’s audio, you may hear a soft “click” when the alert bar appears. Depending on the situation, clicking that bar prompts the software to display the blocked image or triggers a context menu that gives you the option to display the image. It’s worth noting that this yellow alert bar also appears when you attempt to download other types of files from Web sites. If you click a download link and find yourself waiting for the Save As window to appear, look up to see if that alert bar is holding up your download. Check your browser settings. Some Internet browsers have a feature that, when enabled, blocks all images from displaying. This feature protects your PC from images that carry viruses or have inappropriate content, but it also protects you from images that don’t--making for some very boring Web surfing. If no pictures display, regardless of the Web site you visit, your browser’s settings may be to blame. To determine whether you accidentally enabled this setting in IE, click Tools, Options, and then click the Advanced tab when the Internet Options window appears. In the Settings section, scroll down to the Multimedia category and check the Show Pictures box. Click the OK button. The Web page images won’t appear until you click the Refresh button at the top of the browser window.
Check your security software. Although security software usually warns users when it blocks suspicious content, it’s not uncommon to find that your software firewall is silently blocking certain Web sites or portions of Web sites. Keep in mind that if your security software is blocking an image, it’s because it has identified the image or Web site as suspicious. If you’re willing to take the risk, you can determine whether the security software is to blame by either adding the Web site’s address to the software’s list of approved Web sites (often known as a white list) or by temporarily turning off your Internet security software.
|
Home Copyright & Legal Notice Privacy Policy Site Map Contact Us