Please help! Browser settings gone wacky.

[kitakaze]

I just posted this in the GS&P and I'd really appreciate some advice:

Hmmm... That's not working for me either. When I click on it I get an HTTP 403 error. It must be a problem on my end. I'm currently having that problem with my computer where something seems to have messed up my browser settings and the fonts on the page and when I post are all messed up and certain icons are now displayed as numerals or letters. I've been trying to fix it for the past several days but no luck as I'm not much of a wiz. I've had the problem and fixed it before sometime back and I know it has something to do with a font size that the browser can't display but I simply can't remember what the exact solution was. Maybe I'll run it by the tech section but if anyone knows this problem I'd be dearly grateful to hear about it as it's a major headache.

All I can add is that a week ago I first noticed I was unable to sign out of hotmail (I can now), my wife switched our IP service and we were delivered a new modem. It was after I hooked it up that everything went wacky. I'm really quite out of ideas but I would think the modem switch would have nothing to do with the problem.

Please help if you can.:blush:

[RayG]

Which browser you using kitakaze?

RayG

[Soapy Sam]

If you use an email client like Outlook Express to access POP3 mail, you would (I think) have needed to change the settings in the client. Not necessary if you use webmail like hotmail.

No idea why your browser settings are screwed though. Why not download another (Opera / Firefox whatever) and try that? If it works, reinstall your favourite.

[kitakaze]

Ray and Soapy, thanks for your replies. I use Internet Explorer and hotmail for e-mail. I know it's not ideal but it's what I've been using to date. Firefox is better, isn't it? I also forgot to mention that I rarely get pop ups of any kind unless I go to angelfire sites or the like. I can change the font sizes of the web page sort of back to normal but as soon as I leave and return to the page it back to wacky. One thing I noticed that icons that were being displayed in a small font, such as hide, enlarge, and close being displayed as 0, 2, and r are now in a bolder, larger font. Very annoying. Thanks again.

[RayG]

I'd take Soapy's advice and download either Firefox or Opera. Give one of those a try and see if your problems persist.

Since you're using IE, there's a possibility you've gotten some spyware/malware on your system.

RayG

[kitakaze]

You're probably right, Ray. The only reason I haven't gone the spyware cleaning route is that I remember that the solution last time didn't involve such a measure. I've had many spyware annoyances before and made subsequent sweeps with a couple recommended downloads. Lately I try to be very careful about avoiding it and it seemed this wasn't case this time. I'll try using Firefox and see what happens. Cheers.

[William Parcher]

I know you are going to try Firefox, but I'm wondering what you already have. Are you using a fully-updated IE7?

[Hokulele]

Two things I would try in Internet Options (in IE, go to the Tools menu and pick Internet Options).

1) Click the Fonts button on the General tab and make sure the Language script is set to Latin Based. (BTW, what on earth is Canadian Syllabic?)

2) Click the Accessibility button and clear all of the check-boxes.

This is assuming you are still using IE 6.x, and not 7. The options may be the same in IE 7, I just haven't upgraded as one of the programs I use for work does not embed well in IE 7, Firefox, or Opera.

[kitakaze]

WP, I'm on IE 6.x.

Hokulele, yeah, what the shmeg is Canadian Syllabic!? HA UR U EH?

I'll give accessibility a go.

Thanks.

ETA: I haven't tried Firefox yet as I've been gouging my eyes with the wikipedia 9/11 conspiracy theories page. Ouch.

[William Parcher]

You might try installing IE7 before going to Firefox.

I'm quite happy with its pop-up blocker, security features and tabbed browsing. If you do install it, immediately update it. It should retain all of your Favorites.

Download IE7 here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx).

[scribble]

You might try installing IE7 before going to Firefox.


That would be a bad idea. Despite your warm, happy feelings about IE7, it's still far less secure than Firefox. In addition, it will always be a large problem, as it's so tightly integrated to the OS kernel -- a ridiculous and foolish design decision by Microsoft.

But don't take my word for it.

http://secunia.com/product/12434/
vs.
http://secunia.com/product/12366/

Also, the average time taken to release a patch for a serious vulnerability is consistently lower for FireFox than Microsoft.

Honestly, recommending IE in any circumstance is just cruel.

That said, I don't personally use either one -- I don't run Windows or any other Microsoft product. I don't like FireFox either, but there is absolutely no denying it is the more secure, better maintained product.

(I use Konqueror. It's not available for Windows.)

[Hokulele]

(I use Konqueror. It's not available for Windows.)


But does it support Canadian Syllabic? :D