Win XP Pro, current Firefox, using Excite as home page & email

I've got a couple email friends who can't seem to open pictures
contained in emails I forward to them. I have no problem opening
them, but they can't. One guy reports he just get little red X's
in the little picture box.

Is that likely something on my end or theirs?

One guy has Mac Leopard on 1 machine and XP on another,
not sure what he uses for email. If that makes a diff, I'll ask him.

Appreciate any ideas!

Is there anything you need to know to be able to offer specific advice?
Let me know if there is and I'll find out from them.

Their end.
Open Outlook Express
Click on Tools -> Options -> Security
Untick "Block Images"

On your end
Zip the images up first, then send them
To avoid asking others to change their security settings.

And it would also be helpful if those friends told you what happened when they attempted to open the pictures. Also, how were the pictures sent> as an attachment? inserted in the email?

Actually, I've had that happen from time to time also.

When I try to open those kinds of pictures which as I recall
are all included in the body of the email nothing happens.

As I understand the same thing is happening to those guys
on stuff that I send them that open for me with the email but when
I forward it they don't get the picture but a small box with
the red X in it which won't respond to anything.

Neither I nor they use Outlook. I have used Excite for years
and I know at least one of them uses Yahoo on his PC.

<--Tried to download a picture but was unable to
<--Busy downloading picture

Can be:

broken link
Invalid link
you are offline
slow link (timing out)
Flash content (Flash requires updating)
Security settings (similar to as discussed earlier)
Javascript (either not enabled or requires updating)
Temp or Internet cache full (clear out all temp files)
Security banner, not allowing pictures until user allows
Firewall settings (ie disable web bugs, will disable all pics)
3rd party blocking programs (there are many programs that block pics)

Or, you might just have to refresh the page

I can't think of any more at the moment, but you get the picture

several picture formats can have viruses in them, like jpg, jpeg, animated gifs to name a few.

many email readers will or can be configured to not display graphics OR
the users AV product can disable access if necessary.

the literal error message matters -- get it recorded abd follow-up here

picture not showing up on e-mails everyone has been telling me its codec issue ----i dont know of a free download to fix this--can anyone help?---its all because of this new windows vista

Hi stroupey

I'm not sure if you should do a new post or not (as macx never decided to reply back with what (or if) fixed it)

Most email programs have security settings, that can disable loading pictures in your email (not exactly Vista at fault)

I would suggest you read this thread (here) in full, again. And confirm every suggestion made.

stroupey, your problem sounds different and agree you should start a new thread. However, I can safely say that the display of a Red X as a picture place holder instead of the picture has nothing to do with "codecs."

To you and macx: A Red X can appear for different reasons:
1) a link to an image has changed,
2) a link to an image has been removed, or
3) your email client or browser is unable to display that type of image.

I find the most common in forwarded mail is due to #3. Attempts to fix this:
1. Change the setting which would allow a user to turn the display of graphics- if this is OFF, it would cause the X's to appear. The setting can be changed in Tools> Options.
2. Occasionally, you may be able to place your mouse cursor over the obstructed image and right-click your mouse. If available, select the Show Picture link to see if the image reappears.

Both kimsland and jobeard referred to this. Also keep in mind that when a Forwarded message is either received or sent, it is subject to the email settings of BOTH the sender AND the recipient. Since email formats and settings differ in each email program, it is not unusual to receive an email, originally sent with images, finding the Red X instead.