# Microsoft IE 6 encoding option keeps changing and i can't view graphics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 14, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114 "2003-08-14T12:12:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![WiglyWorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/848f3c/32.png) [@WiglyWorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WiglyWorm)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114/1 "2003-08-14T12:12:35Z")

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Alright, I’m sorry but the Microsoft IE tech support is not very good at all, i can either pay them or visit a msg board full of ppl asking for help and no one replying… so i thought i’d come here.

I’m using microsoft IE 6 service pack 1 and SBC Yahoo DSL, and for some reason the encoding seems to love being “western european (ISO)”, wich for one reason or another won’t display graphics. When i switch to “Western European (windows)” or “User Defined” the graphics pop up, but if i refresh or visit another page the encoding option resets itself to “(ISO)”. I’ve repaired IE using add/remove programs and that did nothing, and i don’t have the option to un-install.

Does anyone have a fix for me?

BTW, i’m running win 98  
TY,  
WiglyWorm

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114/2 "2003-08-14T13:58:11Z")

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First clear the cache by going to **Tools|Internet Options** , clicking **Delete Files** , and checking **Delete all offline content**.

Also go to the **Advanced** tab, scroll down to the **Multimedia** heading and make sure that **Show pictures** is checked.

Are you running any pop-up blockers or web filtering software?

Microsoft has a [hotfix](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;817177), but it only applies to problems with viewing images that were saved from Adobe Photoshop 7.0 on Macintosh OS 10. This probably won’t help if you’re experiencing the problem on every site you visit.

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**Author:** ![WiglyWorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/848f3c/32.png) [@WiglyWorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WiglyWorm)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114/3 "2003-08-14T16:02:10Z")

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\>\>\>First clear the cache by going to Tools|Internet Options, clicking Delete Files, and checking Delete all offline content.

done

\>\>\>Also go to the Advanced tab, scroll down to the Multimedia heading and make sure that Show pictures is checked.

done

\>\>\>Are you running any pop-up blockers or web filtering software?  
no  
still nothing. my encoding options switches… interestingly enough straight dope has "western european (windows) selected (even without auto selct on) where as (fr example) [www.americasarmy.com](http://www.americasarmy.com) where i’ve been trying to download has western eropean (iso) selected.

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**Author:** ![WiglyWorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/848f3c/32.png) [@WiglyWorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WiglyWorm)\
**Post date:** [August 15, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/microsoft-ie-6-encoding-option-keeps-changing-and-i-cant-view-graphics/195114/4 "2003-08-15T05:22:22Z")

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just bumping this 'cuz i’m really hoping for an answer