Do browsers ping servers "automatically"?

      • I have noticed that if a page seems to stop loading before it’s done, if I single or double-click often the page will “continue” to load. I don’t hit on a link, and double seems to do it more than single-clicking does. Am I imagining this? When I click, is the browser actually doing (sending) something to the server?
    • Also, related: in the little network icon (next to the clock) do the two flashing screens actually represent transmissions from each computer, or are they just flashed randomly? (I dunno if net services [AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy] show this, as I have an ISP) - MC

I don’t have an answer to your first question, but if you’re accessing the Internet through a dialup connection then yes, those flashing lights go on whenever data is being transmitted through your Internet connection. If you have an external modem, you can see its “RD” and “SD” lights flash at the same time.