Also is anyone having trouble sometimes loading and getting an abort error? Yes, and I have sent 4 emails to the Webmaster and Garden Web Members eddress. As of tonight, it seems to be much better. Every page has loaded fine whereas I was having as much as 50% fail to load before. The script that highlights the keywords in the actual post is just too much IMO. In fact, I think that may have been a big part of the problem, as I also do not see those any more. And good riddance. Personally, I don't mind the adds, except the ones that waltz across the screen. I just picked my first crop of dates from my young palms this last 3 weeks. As they mature and produce more crop, I may even advertise here myself (I'm sold out so no, this isn't an add in disguise either : ) As a Registered Microsoft Developer, Solutions Provider, and Cert. NT, I have to disagree with the idea that Microsoft makes the best anything, ESPECIALLY Outlook and it's related products. What's the best hamburger you ever ate??? > > > > What, not McDonalds? They sell the most. I'd rather be gardening Arthur the Date Palm (and computer geeeeekeeee) Guy

I thought I was messing up my profile since every time I go into it...my favorite forums is set at Terrariums and Urban Gardening. Marti, There is a fix to the pop ups, albeit a bit technical. This was posted on a different Gardenweb forum and I have sadly not made a note of the original poster, but I thank him or her! It works beautifully for me, but only when I am logged in. This will work on Windows systems for all browsers; IE, FireFox and Netscape. The Windows operating system provides a system-level method to block specific IP addresses before they even get to the browser. To effect this solution you need to edit a Windows system file called hosts. This file is located in the directory: Windows XP: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 2K: C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC Windows 98: C:\WINDOWS Open the file in Notepad. Cut the following from this post and paste it to the end of the file. 127.0.0.1 amch.questionmarket.com 127.0.0.1 a820.g.akamai.net 127.0.0.1 iv.doubleclick.net 127.0.0.1 i.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 m.2mdn.net 127.0.0.1 tste.ivillage.com 127.0.0.1 img-cdn.mediaplex.com 127.0.0.1 ads.vmirror.com 127.0.0.1 cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com 127.0.0.1 ads.pointroll.com Edit each entry so that there is a tab between the IP address 127.0.0.1 and the URLs. Save the file and you're finished. Close and re-open your browser and all the ads will be gone. Unfortunately, iVillage may in the future buy ads from a new source. In this event the new ad source will have to be added to the list. The IE solution. Most of the ads are placed using Java$cript. You can remove the more offensive ads in IE with the browser settings. You can't however remove them all. To improve GW using IE do the following: From the menu select Tools -> Internet Options -> Security and click on Custom Level. Scroll down to the end of the list and you'll see an entry for Scripting. Disable all the sub-entries. Now select the tab labeled Privacy. In the bottom of the box that appears check on the option to block pop-ups. I recommend you also click on the button Advanced and select the option to block Third-party Cookies. NOTE: By disabling Scripting you will also effect the way other websites behave. You may need to get used to switching scripting on and off as desired. That's why this is the least desirable of these various options. The FireFox solution This is an excellent choice -- it's the fastest performing of the options listed here: FireFox is superior to IE in every possible way. FireFox provides the added advantage of blocking all Spyware, an evil that IE brought into this world. * download and install Firefox 1.5 * in the FireFox address bar type about:config * scroll down the list to the entry xpinstall.enabled * right click on the entry and select toggle from the menu * toggle as needed to set the value to true * go to the Firefox website and follow links to extensions * find the extension adblock and install it * remember to toggle xpinstall.enabled back to false * in Firefox select Tools -> Adblock -> Preferences * use the New Filter field to add the following items: http://amch.questionmarket.com http://a820.g.akamai.net http://iv.doubleclick.net http://i.ivillage.com http://m.2mdn.net http://tste.ivillage.com http://img-cdn.mediaplex.com http://ads.vmirror.com http://cmhtml.ivillage.overture.com http://ads.pointroll.com * enable Adblock The trick with Adblock is to block the domain rather than the specific ad. If you click on Adblock to disable an ad. Select Tools -> Adblock -> Preferences from the menu and then edit the new entry; remove anything that follows after .com or .net. This will block everyting from that source. The Netscape solution. With Netscape you can shut down all the iVillage ads using the browser preference settings. From the menu select: Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Cookies Allow cookies for the originating website only Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Images Accept Images that come from the originating server only Edit -> Preferences -> Privacy and Security -> Images Block unrequested popup windows -- turn this on Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced Enable native object scripting -- turn this off Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Scripts & Plug-ins Enable Java$cript for Navigator -- turn this off NOTE: GW will now be ad free, however disabling Java$cript will effect how other websites behave. You may have to get used to switching this setting back and forth. Therefore I suggest the Universal option above is more appropriate. NOTE: You MAC users out there: Sorry I don't have more info for you except to say that FireFox and adblock are available for the MAC. There's no sense in further complaing, iVillage IS an ad. We need to let them be who they are and stop them on our end. Take care all.

Sue, If you are deleting your cookies every time that you close your IE that could be contributing to the delay in loading. GW is now so graphic/ad laden that the cookies would have to reload each time. It is similar to FF with ABP. If you watch the progress bar you can see all the "content' attempting to load and being blocked before the page actually appears. DLM, Originally there were numerous reports of concerns with the SP3 upgrade. Through time this has appeared to have been resolved. I just upgraded two systems to XP SP3 for individuals without any concern. You just have to be patient as the installer does its job. As always backup what is important to you before taking the task in hand. DA

fwiw - I am having same problems for over a month. I posted on the "suggestions forum": safari problems/suggestions forum my last post there: UPDATE: I was okay for a day or two - but it's back to "400 Bad Request". mary4b's message prompted me to contact them again. I was willing to change browsers in order to access the site - not ideal, tho. It's a pain to claer cache (w safari) everytime I want access. What's most frustrating is when I follow a link from google and can't get in. if anyone else is having this issue, here's the email I received you can send the requested info to: Tamara.Amey@nbcuni.com "Hi there, You are receiving this email because you have reported problems accessing GardenWeb. We are still trying to isolate and solve this issue, but need more information from you. Please provide the following: 1. A screenshot of the page you receive when accessing the site. 2. The type of computer you are using. 3. The type and version of the browser you are using. 4. Anything else you feel might be helpful. If you wrote in to report this for a friend, please forward this email to them. Any questions, please feel free to contact me! Best wishes, Tamara Amey GardenWeb Community Manager" hopefully this will be rectified.