Graphics not loading online

Question

Hi, My Inspiron 6000 is having trouble loading graphics/images online. The problem started a few days ago.  As an example, it won't load the main picture on cnn.com. A lot of times it also won't load menu bars (like the ones at the top of a site with links to other pages on the site). Another example is if I am on an online shopping website that has different categories of products, such as clothes. If I was to choose one category of clothing that I would like to look at, for example, shoes, when it goes to the site with all of the small thumbnail pictures of shoes, it won't load the thumbnails. If I click on the picture to go to a site with more info. about a certain pair of shoes and a larger picture of the shoes, it won't load the larger picture on that site either.  I ran virus and spyware programs, but they didn't come up with anything. If anyone has an idea what's wrong with my computer and what I can do to fix it, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Bruin73 · Answer

What type of internet connection do you have? Also, how long do you wait for the pictures to download? Before anything else, go to a site such as speakeasy speedtest and see what your upstream and downstream speeds are. (if you are using a cable modem try this at different times of the day and night; on a cable plant, the bandwidth is dynamically allocated, i.e. you are sharing the bandwidth with your neighbors. During the mid/late evening everyone is on the internet downloading all sorts of stuff and your bandwidth is eaten up.)

Does a white box with a red x appear where the picture should be or does your browser continually try to download the pic? Do you have Window's Update on? You might be missing the latest flash media plug-ins.

Sounds like a web server problem on their end or a connection prob. on your end.

Message Edited by Bruin73 on 10-11-2005 05:39 PM

Message Edited by Bruin73 on 10-11-2005 05:40 PM

Bruin73 · Answer

those are nice strong downstream and upstream speeds. (2.8 Mbps and 1Mbps). Upload speeds (ie. sending an attachment in your email to someone else, etc -- You sending data to another computer) are always slower than download speeds (You downloading music, etc. from a website, etc.) a good speed range for "broadband" connections are between 1 - 6Mbps. You are fine on that end.

Hmmm...... Try connecting to another network (Non University network) and see if your problem persists. If it doesn't, its a school network problem or a web server problem (this is my strong suspicion rather than your computer). Does this happen on ALL sites including your home page?

Windows Update can be found here: http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Once you are on the site it will examine your computer and list the needed updates. It will then ask you if you want to download them........Download them and install them (again automatic). Go through this process 2-3 times. Make sure you have Service Pack 2 installed before you finish the update process. Then after this, go to the "Control Panel" (in "My Computer"), and click on the heart shaped icon labeled "Security Center". Near the bottom of the window, click on the "Automatic Updates" link and seled the "Automatic (Recommended)" option. Now your computer will automatically download and install the updates for you -- Hence, "Automatic Update". Also make sure that you have Anti Virus Software and a good Firewall installed-- ESPECIALLY if you are on an open school network with alot of Computer Science undergrads eager to hack your computer.

HTH,

Ted

One more thing, If you are using INternet Explorer, go to the tools pull down menu and scroll down to the "Multimedia" section. Make sure there is a check mark in the "show pictures" box. I dont have any idea why this would not be enabled, but it was just a thought.

Message Edited by Bruin73 on 10-11-2005 11:04 PM

isu320SP · Answer

I'm connected to the internet through a network at college. I have the picture problem whether I'm on the school's wireless network or when I'm connected with an ethernet cord. I wait until the page is fully loaded and the pictures still won't show. I did the speakeasy speed test and my download speed is 2812kbps and the upload speed was 1205kbps. Unfortunately, I don't really know what either of those numbers actually mean or if they're in the correct range or not. When I go to a site, I don't get the box with the red X; the picture just doesn't show. The page seems to fully load (the small windows icon in the upper right corner quits moving and the bottom left corner shows the word 'done') just without the pictures. I'm not sure if my Windows Update is on, could you tell me how to check? Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it!

volcano11 · Answer

If you are running McAfee Security Center, see the following post: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=159216 Steve

pax20 · Answer

The same thing is happening to me. my inernet servise is through my cable co. Sometimes the pictures will show and sometimes they wont. It doesnt matter what time of day, it always does this. When I'm at work I dont have this problem at all. When at home and I first log on the pics will show but if I refresh the page only some or none of them will show.

pax20 · Answer

Thank you so much!! Problem fixed!

isu320SP · Answer

Thanks for everyone's help. I took my computer to the solution center at school and they decided there was something wrong with the firewall protection on the anti-virus software. They're still working on it, so hopefully they'll figure it out! Thanks again, I appreciate it!

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Graphics not loading online

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