Can't see images or avatars.

Becky · 30th October 2003, 21:42

Since about a week ago when I couldn't access the forum, I haven't been able to see images or avatars uploaded to the hhplace servers

All I can see is little white boxes with a tiny red cross in the middle of it. When I copy the link and open a new web page then I get " you are forbidden to access these servers" or words to that effect!!

What's going on!!!??

:(

jo · 30th October 2003, 21:57

See this: http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?t=2254

which also points to: http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?t=2219 and http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?t=2213 and http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/viewtopic.php?t=823 .

Becky · 30th October 2003, 22:18

Well, those links are as clear as mud!!

All I know is that who ever has been messing about with the servers, has totally made a mess of my viewing pleasure!!

Not a happy bunny

jo · 30th October 2003, 22:55

It was a very necessary move to block hotlinking to the images site from places other than this forum.

In order for you to see those images, with the new server settings, the image server needs to know that you are accessing the image as a part of reading a thread on this forum, rather than a link posted somewhere else.

In order to do that, your browser sends some information called a "Referrer" to the image server. Make sure, in your web browser options, that you have not turned that setting off.

No referrer = No images.

Firefox · 30th October 2003, 23:23

One way you can improve things is check your security settings as Jo says. Here is how you do it:

On the tools...internet options menu (if using internet explorer) you should find a a security tab. Click on the trusted sites icon and then the button saying "sites" next to the trusted sites. "add" http://hhplace.org and http://65.160.96.70/hhplace/ to the list, and make sure the security setting for the trusted sites zone is set to "low" on the preceeding box. (click on the custom level button and set the pulldown menu to low)

This should enable all the necessary referrers and cookies to be sent.

If you are using mozilla, netscape or another browser, no doubt people familiar with your browser can give you instructions.

Ionic · 31st October 2003, 02:01

The same thing happened to me Becky and I cured it by permitting the 'Referrer' commands on my cookie/pop up manager which I had blocked for privacy reasons. Try Firefox's suggestions first because I am using a fairly obscure utility that won't apply to you.

The site which stores the images has to know they are being called for from here - hhplace.org - and not elsewhere. This restriction began on Monday.

Hope you get your images back soon :P

/I

JeffM · 31st October 2003, 10:12

Hi Becky
I was wondering if you had any success with FireFox's/ Ionic's instructions.
I have followed them but with out any success at all.
In fact I was not allowed to submit the http prefix but had to use https.
When I clicked "add" it then made my hhplace.org into *hhplace.org so maybe this is the problem for me.
I should add that I have made no changes to my security levels at any time on my computer so how it could have changed by itself I dont know.

To any body I still need some help on this.

Thanks in advance
Jeff

Becky · 31st October 2003, 20:12

Thanks for the info / advice Firefox and Jo, but I think I'll leave my settings as they are - default.

If Microsoft had wanted me to view images via this 'referrer' toggle then it would already be set to yes.

I don't understand why it was done, but obviously it was for a good reason. All I know is that I can view images on other forums except this one.

Disappointing, but there you go :(

jo · 1st November 2003, 01:16

>> I don't understand why it was done, but obviously it was for a good reason. <<

The reason is explained in the other posts, linked to, above. In short, people have been uplading images to http://65.160.96.70/hhplace/ and then posting the links to those images in many different forums. The person who owns the image server at http://65.160.96.70/hhplace/ set it up so that people could upload images and paste the links into threads in this forum http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/ and only this forum.

The amount of images downloaded from the image server has now exceeded the monthly allowance, and the owner is forced to either pay more money for a greater allowance, or deny access to the freeloaders on the other forums. The latter option was chosen, and the images are only sent if your web-browser now identifies, in its request, that you are looking at a thread on this site http://www.hhplace.org/hhboard/ when the image is requested. That information is called a referrer. Sending a referrer is a commonplace thing on the internet, and not something to get worried about. Until your web-browser sends the referrer information with the image request you won't see any images.

>> If Microsoft had wanted me to view images via this 'referrer' toggle then it would already be set to yes. <<

I would not trust what Microsoft says any further than I could throw a copy of a Windows XP CDROM. In fact, very much less than that.

Becky · 1st November 2003, 01:43

Thanks for taking the time to explain all that Jo, it's made things 110% clearer - honest.

Found the comment about Microsoft funny :lol:

Becks.