Windows 7: Strange problem loading images on many websites

Hi all,

I am having a strange problem loading certain websites from my new computer. I'm sure there is a relatively straight forward solution to my problem, but I am too ignorant to solve it myself. I have done plenty of google searching, but so far have not uncovered any solutions. My PC specs are in my profile.

Very often when I search for an item on Ebay, or load a certain (legal) movie streaming website, the websites take a long time to load, and the thumbnail images do not load properly. i.e sometimes a few load, while the rest do not (e.g. just say "Item Image"). This problem occurs with both IE and Firefox. It is not the "Load Images Automatically" option in Firefox, as that has always been selected.

My computer has both a Wireless and LAN connection to my router. Usually only one of the connections is enabled. I have found a work-around that fixes the problem for a short while. If I try load the certain movie streaming website, and I am having problems, I disable the network connection (e.g LAN) and enable the other one (e.g. wireless). The website often loads then. If not, I re-enable it the way it was, and it usually works then. I can then access the site properly, although all the images still do not load - usually about 3/4 do.

I am using a VPN to access the movie streaming site. However, I also access this site from two laptops in the house, both through the VPN, and they have no trouble at all loading the website correctly.



I hope I have explained the situation adequately. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Some questions:

• Are your other laptops both running Windows 7?
• Do you have the same software and codecs installed on all of your computers?
• Have you compared the settings on the working machines with the faulty one (e.g. NIC settings, Services, AV, firewall, Device Manager, etc.)?
• Are you using fixed IP addressing or DHCP on all of your computers?
• Can you install another network interface card (NIC) in your machine?

Thanks for the quick reply.

• One of the laptops is running Windows 7, the other XP
• Yes. Although the problem is never with any playback of movies, only with loading pages with lots of thumbnail images
• Yes, for the most part. The machine with the problem is only a few months old, and I have not changed anything from the default settings. All machines have AVG installed.
• DHCP on all computers. I put the DNS address in manually for all computers/network connections - for the VPN
• Not sure what you mean here. Could I? Probably. Do I have another NIC? No I don't.

Thanks again

Edit: I by-passed the VPN, by setting DNS settings to automatic. Still same problem with ebay, though now I cannot access the movie site (geo-locked). So it seems problem is not with VPN.

Anyone have any ideas on this?

Even as I type this post, the little icons for Bold, Italics, Insert Link etc on this website are not loading properly. If I disable and re-enable network adaptor(s) is usually fixes the problem (eventually).

Could it be a hardware issue? i.e. router issues? Issues with quality ofinternet connection? How do I best test this?
I'm considering buying a new router, but don't want to spend the money if it is not the problem.

Thanks for your help,

Adrian

only gif images? only jpg images?
It works good on another house computer I assume (connected to same router)? Put sick computer temporary to that cable to see it's a router problem. If not possible use his LAN port on router.

If think that as the problem is with wireless and wired it's not a router problem (if other computers do work fine)
Is it a laptop?

Putting DNS setting to automatic doesn't bypass the VPN. It only tells Windows 7 to use another DNS-server. Routing table determines if it uses VPN (ip address, subnetmask, default gateway). Why not shutdown VPN-client software totally as a test?

https://www.google.nl/search?hl=nl&q...EsHN0QX3yICYBg

All images displayed? Only first few images? Only jpg images? only gif images? Or does it show a random number of pictures fine (reload page)?

Have you tried running FF in "Safe Mode"?
Firefox - Start Firefox in "Safe Mode"

Have you tried uninstalling and then reinstalling FF?