I recently had to reformat the hard drive on my Dell Inspiron 8100
running Windows XP Pro.  Now - in some very few cases - I get a small
box containing a red X where the graphics should appear.  In once
case, it is in a company site where I have to take an exam on line. 
When I pull up the question - only in some cases - I get the red X in
the small box.  It this case there were some graphics where I was
required to drag and drop some images.  Nothing would appear except
for the small red X in the box.  I went to another PC and got through
the exam with no problem.  Hopefully, this will be an easy fix.  I
have heard suggestions ranging from flash to Java.  Please help.  It
only appears in some programs but always in those programs where it
does appear.  Both sites, I believe, are secure web sites. i.e. https

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 31 Mar 2003 16:33 PST

My guess is that your computer is not configured to run programs that
use Java applets. Could you please give the URL (web address) of one
or two pages where this problem occurs and explain where the Xs show
up?  That would be very helpful in diagnosing the problem.  Thanks.

Howdy cas1212!

The first step is to see if you can identify the type
of file is being replaced by the red Xs, and then see
if the type of file (gif, jpg, etc.) is just one type.

To do this, go to a page that has a red X, do a click
the right mouse button on the red X, and then click
the left button on the Properties menu option.

A box will appear, and it will have something like:

somefile.gif or otherfile.jpg

It is the last letters (.jpg, .gif, etc. that is the
extender) that will determine if it is always one type
of file that is the problem.

This might be of great help in addressing your problem.

Looking Forward, denco

When I right click on it and go to properties, it says file type is unknown.

To make it easier on you, you might want to post a few
of the URLs (web page addresses, such as www.google.com)
where you are encountering these problems, and then be
very specific in describing the location of the images
that are showing as red Xs.  As in the second image down
on the page with the phrase "Now is the time..." next
to it.

This will allow someone to then look at the source code
of the page to determine if all of these files are of a
common type.  If you want to do this (for fun?) you can
go to one of the web pages in question, to a right click
on a blank spot of the page, and then left click on the
View Source.  The HTML, etc. source code for the page
should appear in a text editor window, and you can then
scroll around to find the file that was supposed to
appear on the page.

I checked source and as near as I can tell it says <javascript> if
that means anything.

Trying to look at source, it appears they are applets, whatever that
means, and have something to do with javascript.  However, I am not
enough of a computer guy to know if those two terms - javascript and
applets - mean anything or if they somehow contribute to my problem.

Howdy case1212!  Thanks for your patience with this
diagnostic process.  You are doing great!

Indeed, Javascript applets means alot.  The first step
is for you to check your browser settings.

Inside of Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu along
the top, then click on Internet Options.  Click on the
Security tab along the top, then click on the Custom
Level button at the bottom.  Scroll down and see what
following are set for:

- Java Permissions
- Scripting of Java applets

If the latter is set to Disable, select Enable or Prompt
If you set it to Prompt, the system will do just that; it
prompt you before running a Java applet.  Click on OK,
then Apply at the next screen, then OK.  You might have
to quit out of IE and then restart it (you should not have
to disconnect from the Internet though) before the changes
take place.  Try one of the problems sites and see if that
clears the red Xs.

If Java Permissions is set to Disable Java, then select
High Safety and try that as well.  You can step down the
security to Medium (the default setting) but I would not
go any lower than that, as that might expose you to a
poorly written or maliciously written Java applet.

Looking Forward, denco

To Denco-ga:

Thanks for the imput.  The enable box was checked on the Java
Permissions settings.  I changed it and checked the prompt box, quit
IE and then went back in and still have the same problem.  This one
site is "https" and has to do with running credit bureaus on
customers.  The other site I hae a problem with is a Toyota (I'm with
Toyota) site that is also an "https."

Thanks,

Dell had me downlaod a Java program and that solved my problem.