Users of IE 7 that experience freezing of the browser window when viewing Flash content can follow the quick and easy directions below to likely resolve your configuration problem. A version of Adobe Flash Player is pre-installed with most popular Internet browsers. Adobe recently bought out the original developers of Flash technology, then called Macromedia. Sometimes problems with a Flash Player that's already installed can prevent you from properly upgrading to the latest player, though most problems now stem from changes Microsoft has made to the Internet Explorer browser.
In 2006, Microsoft released updates to Internet Explorer that changes how it handles active content such as that viewed in Adobe Flash Player, Authorware Player, Shockwave Player, and Adobe Reader, as well as Sun Java, Apple QuickTime, RealNetworks RealPlayer, and other ActiveX controls.These changes were required by Microsoft losing a patent battle with Eolas that affects the ActiveX functionality of IE. Microsoft has also gone to extremes to increase security in it's browser by configuring additional default security settings to keep a user from viewing interactive content. Your administrator may have also set these to be too critical of Web site content.
- Know that this site has implemented Flash, QuickTime and all other media in a standard and effective way that does indeed work in Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox and Safari browsers. Recent non-standard changes to Internet Explorer have caused end users and Web developers many problems as you can see from our not-so-short support list that continues below and this site has taken all the steps it can to alleviate the problems Windows Internet Explorer 7 users are experiencing. If none of these support tips provide a solution for you, consider just using our TEXT or HTML versions, using another browser or contact us to have photos mailed to you, don't let Microsoft ruin your day.
- Security level: Your Internet Explorer security level may be set to High or a custom level which does not allow viewing of ActiveX controls (Flash and QuickTime for example). To view your Security level, from within Internet Explorer, choose Tools > Internet Options, and in the Security tab, choose Internet. Though your browser security settings should be chosen by you or your system administrator, the Medium: Default Level will allow you to view Flash content. For any Custom Level, ensure that both "Download Signed ActiveX controls" and "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" are not disabled. (Enable or Prompt will work)
- System Requirements: Check the Flash System Requirements to make sure your processor and operating system are supported.
- Update your video drivers: This step is especially important if you experience a when installing or using Flash Player. Right-click on your Desktop and choose Properties > Settings > Advanced > Adapter to view your video card manufacturer's name. Refer to the manufacturer's website to download drivers or for assistance with installing the latest drivers. Search the Internet for their name if you don't know their Web site address.
- Repair the browser: The next most common cause of problems is an error with the browser. Often a browser upgrade or changes to the browser may require a browser repair and reinstallation of Flash Player. To repair Internet Explorer: Choose Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. Choose the browser from the list of programs, click Change/Remove, and choose the Repair option. Restart after repairing the browser, and follow the steps below to reinstall Flash Player again. If Internet Explorer does not appear on the Add/Remove list, Repair is not an option, and you should move on to the next step.
- If none of the above work for you, in the next few steps we will remove the Flash Player completely and reinstall it to ensure old Flash versions aren't causing problems. This is the common recommended fix provided by Adobe but relies on the above items to be successful. Navigate your hard drive and go to the c:\windows\system32\macromed folder. Then delete the contents of the "Flash" folder.
- Next, download and run the Flash uninstaller. Read Uninistaller Details....
- After uninstalling Flash, shut down (not sleep) your computer, count to 10 and start it back up.
- Then finally download and install the latest version of Flash.
- Repair Registry: If the uninstall/reinstall steps above don't correct the problem, there is a way to fix the Registry to allow for a successful and correct installation of the Flash Player. This is a fairly complicated set of instructions for a complicated problem and probably too much for most users. Read about and download SubInACL from Microsoft on the Adobe site.
- If All else fails download a new browser: In many cases the items above will fix the problem which affects a large portion of users due to a change by Microsoft in the way their Internet Explorer browser activates interactive content. Note: Other browsers do not have this problem, try Firefox if you're tired of constantly having problems with Internet Explorer and are scared of security issues that may compromise your personal information and computer functionality. Many, many IE users have already switched and it's essentially the same thing but with a different name, almost the same buttons, just a style difference, don't be scared, you can always remove it or just not use it.
Internet Explorer 7 users might also find less problems and an increase in browsing/loading speed by turning off the Phishing Filter (IE 7 on Vista, XP & Windows Server 2003) when viewing our site:
- Start Internet Explorer 7.
- On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Disable Phishing Filter in the Settings list.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
- Restart Internet Explorer 7.
In another technical aspect not related to Flash, consider the following as an example: the general rating of compliance with a common technology used to "design" a modern Web site called CSS that has been out for many years. In this fact-finding investigation, Internet Explorer 6 ranked seriously low on compatibility and with IE 7 it is no different (though Microsoft said it would be but clearly lied to us all). Most browser developers try their best to include all functionality of CSS guidelines but none have conquered them all, yet IE's ratings below show a serious lack of effort to adhere to world guidelines (Web does not equal Microsoft, a council of really smart people called the World Wide Web Consortium, W3C, develop most Web standards).
- IE 6: 52%
- IE 7: 54%
- Firefox 1.5: 93%
- Opera 8.5: 93%
- Opera 9: 96%
- Safari 2: (no data but estimated in the upper 90's)
Data Source: webdevout.net - More Test Result Details...
This note about CSS is included to show you how much you're missing on the Web when using Internet Explorer. Microsoft's financial gain/loss agenda directly conflicts with adhering to standards since they would lose significant sales by not being proprietarily different. The Web has rules/standards and Microsoft too often does not embrace them but continually tries to make the Web work only for Microsoft users, thus making everyone else do things "wrong" in order for them to work "right" on Internet Exporer. Fact. If you're thinking to yourself: "I don't have these problems with other sites" then those sites aren't using these technologies or are hacked to work with Internet Explorer. If you were in a car with a serious axel problem and you are being bumped around when driving up the street, would you say it was just a pothole or would the thought even cross your mind that your car needs serious repair or was manufactured wrong?
USAGE, SUPPORT & LIABILITY POLICY: Use these methods at your own risk. Wells Cargo, The heirs of Louise Wells and/or Dean Flory are not responsible for any adverse effect these support items might cause on your operating system, application, plug-in or computer. These are general support fixes found on the Internet and we assume no responsibility for any negative result you may have whether you complete them properly or not. Please direct all further support queries about your browser or operating system to those companies. If you are having major problems and are not able to view even the TEXT version of Wells Cargo, please call us (though if you're reading this you should be able to) and we will mail you printed materials.
