Browser woes

[hilltop]

Hey all,

Julie suggested I put this thread up after I asked her if anyone else was having a similar problem.


Whenever I'm logged into the board, my browser treats each page very erratically. Here's a few examples . . . (all of these problems are intermitent and started about a month ago).

Only shows a few threads in a forum. After refresh all appear (refresh doesn't always work.

Open thread and posts are narrowed to a single half page column

Posts are scrambled in their order or select ones are missing, text floats in white space with no avatar attached

Post a reply to thread and get a "linked to unspecified thread" error message.

PM's open normally but page doesn't display the text of the message.

I'm using a G5 iMac running OS 10.4.4 and the latest version of Apple's safari browser. I've tried logging in with Explorer but get the same result.

[good times]

I would suspect that your problem is computer related rather than browser related because both browsers exibit the same problem. Some spyware can cause these types of problems on widows computers. That being said, I hope some more knowledgable people will post here as I know exactly zero about Imacs.

[hilltop]

Thanks good times.

A friend of mine suggested spyware as well but my system is autoscanned for the known mac viruses and my virus defs are updated regularly. I manually scan to be extra sure. So far I haven't run into any nastiness.

Doesn't mean it didn't happen tho. I just haven't seen it with the tools I'm using.

[just1gurl]

Originally Posted by good times

I would suspect that your problem is computer related rather than browser related because both browsers exibit the same problem. Some spyware can cause these types of problems on widows computers. That being said, I hope some more knowledgable people will post here as I know exactly zero about Imacs.

gosh, as if widows didn't have enough problems.

[Spoomonkey]

Originally Posted by just1gurl

gosh, as if widows didn't have enough problems.

Yeah... They have to take care of the kids all by themselves

(Ba-da-bump!)

Spoomonkey

[Paphian]

Originally Posted by hilltop

Thanks good times.

A friend of mine suggested spyware as well but my system is autoscanned for the known mac viruses and my virus defs are updated regularly. I manually scan to be extra sure. So far I haven't run into any nastiness.

Doesn't mean it didn't happen tho. I just haven't seen it with the tools I'm using.

hilltop,

In the event that spyware might be involved, I'd suggest trying a dedicated spyware/adware scanner (assuming they exist for the Mac) rather than depending on just your anti-virus software to handle that chore. Many anti-virus programs really don't address the spyware/adware issue very well.

Another possibility is incompatibility between the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) used on this site and your browser. I get slightly different appearance using IE and Firefox, and that's not at all uncommon. Even thought there's supposed to be a standard for handling CSS, not all browsers handle it alike. I don't know if Julie's got custom CSS for the various types of browsers that may hit this site, but I know that many sites do exactly that to attempt to make things look the same from browser to browser.

The final possibility that comes to mind is that you've got some kind of problem with your connection. Cable modems and DSL modems do fail, and it's entirely possible for there to be line glitches even when your connection equipment is functioning normally that can cause chunks of the page not to make it to you, causing really odd results. Went through that myself a few months ago, and a call to my ISP (who called Verizon and reported line problems on my DSL line) sorted it right out. This might well be the most likely possibility, as it appears the onset of the problem was sudden and it affects more than one browser in a similar fashion.

HTH!

[WesternSwing]

All the problems I've had were cured using Mozilla's Firefox browser. It's now my default browser. And since it is easy to completely erase all your tracks compared to IE and others it is better for a shared computer.

Mr. WS

[hilltop]

Thanks you guys!!

SB is the only site I'm having trouble with so I'm thinking it's the flavor of my browser.

Pahian thanks for the tip! I'll look into Mac specific software for dealing with spyware.

The sad part of all this is I used to handle all of the Macs in a large design dept (300 + machines) I could take em apart (hardware and software) and put em back together in my sleep . . . now - I'm a relic . . damn Unix

[sexyshelby]

My suggestion is to get rid of the Mac...


Sorry, no help from me. But couldn't resist. I HATE Macs.

~SS

[Paphian]

Originally Posted by hilltop

Pahian thanks for the tip! I'll look into Mac specific software for dealing with spyware.

The sad part of all this is I used to handle all of the Macs in a large design dept (300 + machines) I could take em apart (hardware and software) and put em back together in my sleep . . . now - I'm a relic . . damn Unix

You're most welcome.

I'd forgotten that Macs are *nix based now. Frankly, if I could find the time to make sure that the one or two programs I have which are Windoze-only would run under one of the Linux distros using Wine, I'd switch to Linux-only in a heartbeat. The learning curve is actually fairly shallow for day-to-day things, and the presence of Linux distros like Ubuntu (only one CD to burn to get it up and running, and extremely user-friendly) make it pretty much a no-brainer.

[hilltop]

Originally Posted by Paphian

You're most welcome.

I'd forgotten that Macs are *nix based now. Frankly, if I could find the time to make sure that the one or two programs I have which are Windoze-only would run under one of the Linux distros using Wine, I'd switch to Linux-only in a heartbeat. The learning curve is actually fairly shallow for day-to-day things, and the presence of Linux distros like Ubuntu (only one CD to burn to get it up and running, and extremely user-friendly) make it pretty much a no-brainer.

Paphian, you're right. Unix really is the way to go. You know how it goes tho. If you're into computers and commit the cardinal sin of not keeping up to date you're done!

Originally Posted by sexyshelby

My suggestion is to get rid of the Mac...

Sorry, no help from me. But couldn't resist. I HATE Macs.
~SS

Hey SS - that's OK, I'm used to it. At the firm I worked for the entire PC support network was VERY commited to finding a way to get rid of the Macs and replace them with PCs. They never could tho. The Macs were just so much better at doing what they did.

We used to tell the PC guys -
" The Macs make the money . . . the PCs just count it"

For myself, Apple has treated me pretty well. I made enough using Macs to pretty much retire at the age of 40 so I'm pretty loyal.

Bottom line - they're all just tools. If it works for what you're doing then it's the right one!

[warkman]

This may be a Mac issue. I use one and have had exactly the same problems described, however, only sporadically. And it only happens to me on this forum. I'm using Safari. And it happens mostly if I start scrolling down before the page is fully loaded. I have a high speed connection and I'm still impatient.
I'd say keep your Mac in response to the above. I started with a Kaypro II of all things, then a 12mhz AT running DOS 3.0, Then a series of Macs, then a 3ghz pc running Windows XP, then another Mac running 10.4.4. I've had the least trouble with the Mac. Well, the first version of system X was a nightmare. Actually, DOS seemed pretty reliable, but not very user friendly. But you're right, whatever does what you need it to do........

[good times]

Originally Posted by hilltop

now - I'm a relic . . damn Unix

Naw, if you were really a relic you would know Unix like the back of your hand.

Now, I'm a relic, the first personal computer I ever laid hands on was the original Apple kit. I think the only computers I've never used are the Apple products from the original Mac on (I never owned an Altair either). I can still remember when Unix was the "only" good operating system. Anybody need a working Timex Sinclair computer, with the hard to find 4k ram module? I have three and I don't think I really need them all. Just kidding, I won't give them up, I never could throw anything away.

[hilltop]

Originally Posted by good times

Naw, if you were really a relic you would know Unix like the back of your hand.

You're absolutely right GT.

Hang on to those ol' Sinclairs (Lord, I haven't heard that name in AGES!) They'll probably be worth a fortune someday

Of course I thought the same thing keeping my collection of toaster Macs, PB 180's IIci's etc.

You know what's worth bucks with the collecters? Gimmes and freebies from the trade shows!! I could get maybe 30 bucks for one of my toaster types but an Apple pin from an '85 trade show is going for $400.00.
Go figure .

[Paphian]

Originally Posted by hilltop

Paphian, you're right. Unix really is the way to go. You know how it goes tho. If you're into computers and commit the cardinal sin of not keeping up to date you're done!

It's not so bad, Hilltop. Even ol' farts like me can catch up. Installed my first Linux workstation and server at work recently and I'm sold. It's definitely better, overall. MAC users being ble to run Apple's version of it on newer Macs have a real bonus.

Originally Posted by hilltop

Bottom line - they're all just tools. If it works for what you're doing then it's the right one!

'Xactly! Any other approach is a "religious issue."