That little red "x" instead of jpg or gif on webpage

[Bob H]

For a reason unknown to me, when I visit some webpages, instead of seeing
some of the jpg or gif images that make up parts of a webpage I see the
image box and a little red "x". Previously I have had no issues when I went
to these pages, all the images would be visible. I have not intentionally
changed any security settings, and dropping my firewall or Microsoft
Antispyware does not seem to make a difference. I even dropped my security
settings, but nothing. I have tried right clicking and then selecting "show
picture" but with no positive results.

For example, on the CNET.com page I see only the "Today's Video's" box, all
other images and banners are boxes with the little red "x" in the corner.
Previously I have had no issues with the page. On the Yahoo page the
"yahoo" banner across the top and three others are empty boxes, all others
appear.

Any suggestions? Empty boxes rather than the image is a bit irritating when
trying to read reviews etc. on a page such as CNET.com.

thanks in advance..Bob

 

[Jim]

For a reason unknown to me, when I visit some webpages, instead of seeing
some of the jpg or gif images that make up parts of a webpage I see the
image box and a little red "x". Previously I have had no issues when I
went to these pages, all the images would be visible. I have not
intentionally changed any security settings, and dropping my firewall or
Microsoft Antispyware does not seem to make a difference. I even dropped
my security settings, but nothing. I have tried right clicking and then
selecting "show picture" but with no positive results.

For example, on the CNET.com page I see only the "Today's Video's" box,
all other images and banners are boxes with the little red "x" in the
corner. Previously I have had no issues with the page. On the Yahoo page
the "yahoo" banner across the top and three others are empty boxes, all
others appear.

Any suggestions? Empty boxes rather than the image is a bit irritating
when trying to read reviews etc. on a page such as CNET.com.

thanks in advance..Bob

Possibilities:
1. The link to the image is broken, and this is their fault. I have lost
count of the number of times that I have done this.
2. Your computer or its connection is too slow to load the image in a
reasonable amount of time.
Jim

 

[Sr. Bocadillo]

Possibilities:
1. The link to the image is broken, and this is their fault. I have lost
count of the number of times that I have done this.
2. Your computer or its connection is too slow to load the image in a
reasonable amount of time.
Jim

Also (depending on version of XP your using (SP2))

These could be blocked by Internet Explorer. have a look in Tools > Internet
Options, Privacy tab, click on 'Sites' and have a look in there.
or
They could be blocked by your HOSTS file. This is normally hidden and can be
found in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc it can viewed and edited with
Notepad.

 

[Tip]

Also (depending on version of XP your using (SP2))

These could be blocked by Internet Explorer. have a look in Tools >
Internet Options, Privacy tab, click on 'Sites' and have a look in there.
or
They could be blocked by your HOSTS file. This is normally hidden and can
be found in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc it can viewed and edited with
Notepad.

I had that same problem months ago. I think AdAware or Spybot put something
in my Hosts file and the images were then blocked. The C/Net site was just
about unreadable also. I think I emptied out that Host file and everything
has been fine since.

Good luck,

 

[Bob H]

I just emptied the host file, something did not know I could do and .....
problem solved.

thank you very much..Bob

 

[Alan Thompson]

I just emptied the host file, something did not know I could do and .....
problem solved.

How *do* you empty the host file?

Alan

 

[Bob H]

This may not be the "correct" way, but I entered the file highlighted
everything and deleted. Actually I removed them to another folder I
created, just in case.

 

[Alan Thompson]

This may not be the "correct" way, but I entered the file highlighted
everything and deleted. Actually I removed them to another folder I
created, just in case.

I guess I wasn't clear.How do you *find* the host file,a necessary precursor
to emptying it?

Alan

 

[Bob H]

Ahhh sorry about that,

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

 

[j walker]

This problem with the red x started on my computer about a week ago.

I haven't seen the entire posting on the subject so being cautious I
moved the contents of the c/winnt/system32/drivers/etc/ folder to
another folder and tried a web page.

No change.

Should moving all the files solved the problem.

walker

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE]

This problem with the red x started on my computer about a week ago.

I haven't seen the entire posting on the subject so being cautious I
moved the contents of the c/winnt/system32/drivers/etc/ folder to
another folder and tried a web page.

No change.

Should moving all the files solved the problem.

walker

From http://www.fjsmjs.com/IE/redx.htm

Most of the contents of this page are from Don Varnau and Mike Burgess

There are many possible causes and solutions.
Try the quick, easy fix first. Clear the IE cache from IE> Tools> Internet
Options> General> Delete files and Delete offline content. Reset the TIF
folder size to about 50MB (Settings button) and clear it occasionally.

Also, go to Start | Run and type
regsvr32 /i mshtml
and press OK.

Next...
283807 - Pictures Are Not Displayed on Web Sites in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283807
Note: Repairing IE instead of reinstalling may work
194177 - Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool (Windows
95,98,98SE,ME,NT4-SP1,SP2,2000-SP1,SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177
318378 - How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378

221134 - Some Images, Contents, or Controls May Not Be Displayed When
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221134
- - - - -
Additional information from Mike Burgess:

Are you using a Firewall or "filtering software"?

Several of these are known to cause problems:
1) Zone Alarm Pro [Private Header Info - enabled?]
Reset "Ad Blocking" and "Cookie Control" to "medium"
"Mobile Code Control" = Off

2) Symantec (ISS\NIS)[Enable Browser Privacy - enabled]
Active Content - "Allow All Script To Execute"
Problem: some sites cannot detect the 128 bit encryption
Solution: Completely remove and reinstall NIS.
[more info]
Web Pages Display a Red "X" Instead of a Graphic
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316545 [Norton Products]

3) Any "ad blocking" software that blocks "http_referrer"
or contains entries that are blocking access to the desired site.

4) HOSTS file that contains entries that are blocking access to the desired
site.

5) Cookie blocking software that are blocking "required" Cookies.

6) Pop-up blockers that are stripping header\url info.

7) WebWasher Standard Filter/URL Filter

8) Make sure the following registry entry is not corrupt:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings]
"User Agent"="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Win32)"

Note: "Win32" = Windows 98\ME
Other versions = (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0

To check your "User Agent":
Paste the below into the Address Bar and view the output:

javascript:navigator.userAgent

[Example WinME output]
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; Win 9x 4.90)
- - - - -
Other possibilities at http://www.colba.net/~hlebo49/ieimage.htm
and
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/51.html

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[j walker]

Thanks for the post. It is going to a while to work through this.

So far, clearing the TIF and running regsvr32 /i mshtml didn't solve
it.

This problem with the red x started on my computer about a week ago.

I haven't seen the entire posting on the subject so being cautious I
moved the contents of the c/winnt/system32/drivers/etc/ folder to
another folder and tried a web page.

No change.

Should moving all the files solved the problem.

walker

From http://www.fjsmjs.com/IE/redx.htm

Most of the contents of this page are from Don Varnau and Mike Burgess

There are many possible causes and solutions.
Try the quick, easy fix first. Clear the IE cache from IE> Tools> Internet
Options> General> Delete files and Delete offline content. Reset the TIF
folder size to about 50MB (Settings button) and clear it occasionally.

Also, go to Start | Run and type
regsvr32 /i mshtml
and press OK.

Next...
283807 - Pictures Are Not Displayed on Web Sites in Internet Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283807
Note: Repairing IE instead of reinstalling may work
194177 - Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool (Windows
95,98,98SE,ME,NT4-SP1,SP2,2000-SP1,SP2)
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177
318378 - How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in
Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378

221134 - Some Images, Contents, or Controls May Not Be Displayed When
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=221134
- - - - -
Additional information from Mike Burgess:

Are you using a Firewall or "filtering software"?

Several of these are known to cause problems:
1) Zone Alarm Pro [Private Header Info - enabled?]
Reset "Ad Blocking" and "Cookie Control" to "medium"
"Mobile Code Control" = Off

2) Symantec (ISS\NIS)[Enable Browser Privacy - enabled]
Active Content - "Allow All Script To Execute"
Problem: some sites cannot detect the 128 bit encryption
Solution: Completely remove and reinstall NIS.
[more info]
Web Pages Display a Red "X" Instead of a Graphic
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316545 [Norton Products]

3) Any "ad blocking" software that blocks "http_referrer"
or contains entries that are blocking access to the desired site.

4) HOSTS file that contains entries that are blocking access to the desired
site.

5) Cookie blocking software that are blocking "required" Cookies.

6) Pop-up blockers that are stripping header\url info.

7) WebWasher Standard Filter/URL Filter

8) Make sure the following registry entry is not corrupt:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet
Settings]
"User Agent"="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Win32)"

Note: "Win32" = Windows 98\ME
Other versions = (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0

To check your "User Agent":
Paste the below into the Address Bar and view the output:

javascript:navigator.userAgent

[Example WinME output]
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; Win 9x 4.90)
- - - - -
Other possibilities at http://www.colba.net/~hlebo49/ieimage.htm
and
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/51.html