Computer assistance? Those red x things!

[Tarheel Tink]

Is there a way to fix the dreaded red xs that occur sometimes when I visit a webpage?

While I have a computer person reading this- what scheduled maintenance tasks are recommended and how freqently? I have Windows 98.

My computer does a scan disk once a week, defragments once a month, disk cleanup once a month, virus scan once a week, update Windows monthly, and update virus software monthly. Is there some important task I am missing?
Thanks!

 

[Dan Murphy]

The red x's generally come from links where the site of the link is down, or, where the site may not permit linking.

As for your maintenance schedule, I would check Windows updates weekly, if not set to automatically do it, and virus updates MUCH more frequently than monthly, again, as often as your provider makes updates. I know Norton does routine updates every Wednesday, plus as needed for crisis times. Panda does daily updates.

 

[Lurieh]

I'll step in with a bit more information. The red x's represent an image that is not loading from the site that you are visiting. This is usually caused by the image no longer existing. Maybe the site owner deleted the picture, or the picture has been renamed. Sometimes it is a html coding problem, but unless all the pictures from the entire site are showing red x's, than it's most likely a missing picture.

In short, there is nothing you can do to rid yourself of the red x's. It is a problem on the site owner's end.

The one reoccurring task that I make sure to do is a manual inspection of saved files on my hard drive. I clean out old Word files, old emails, old pictures, programs that I don't use, and anything else that I think is just taking up space. With the advent of huge hard drives, it is easy to let stuff just build up.

 

[CWIPPERMAN]

Just another thought to keep in mind. If you have web-blocking software installed on your computer you may need to adjust your settings. On the computers I use at work, they have "websense" which is mainly used to block porn and gambling. They have the settings adjusted also to block "free" web hosts. Since many folks host their images on "geocities" or other "free" web hosts, the images that some folks use in their signatures on this forum don't show up for me.

It is possible that you may have the settings of any firewall software, or pop-up blocking software set a little high. Also, make sure that javascripting is enabled on your computer. That is something else that may be causeing problems. To check for javascript, go to "Tools", "Internet Options", and then "Advanced". Make sure the box that says "enable java scripting" is checked. You may have to restart your computer for this to take effect.

I would tend to lean toward the firewall/web blocking software being the problem.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Thanks everyone! Apparently the javascript was not enabled- once I changed it, Voila! Now I can visit the AAA Disney Travel site!

Thanks also for the advise on maintenance- I will increase the frequency of my updates.

I TOLD everyone that all my questions in life can be answered on the Disboards!