Someone please explain this to me...regarding images and broswers
 

When I veiw gfy in IE7 most of the sigs look something like this

http://www.justjace.com/ie.jpg

when I view gfy in firefox most of the sigs images just aren't there, like this

http://www.justjace.com/firefox.jpg

does ANYONE have a clue as to what is doing that?

it isn't just GFY either, there are TONS of sites that I can't see images on

so, to add more to this

I went to one of my sites where I know images are supposed to be, I did a view source and it gave me this:

<table width="188" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>

NOW, there is syupposed to be a image in that TD, it is almost like something before the page hits my browser is cancelling code out

this is a fresh format, brand new install of both firefox and IE

So it seems IE7 isnt loading images correctly? OR you have some setting on the New and Improved IE that is not loading images that are not from the same domain. Maybe IE is in the business of antihotlinking now? I dont know.

why would it be doing some with the exact same images in firefox? it doesn't show them at all

I just went to the same sites on my desktop and they work fine

is there some core level image processing function in windows xp thing that is used for everything?

this laptop is beginning to be more trouble than it is worth

In Firefox you can shut images from a different domain off, maybe you did that?
"Tools"
"Options"
Content Tab
uncheck the box "Load images for the originating website only"

why would it be giving me the exact same image as jumbled code in IE then?

I am seeing images in firefox and IE, and I am seeing the SAME images getting messed up in firefox and IE

for instance, I go to gfy and click a thread in IE and half of the sigs are jumbled code....I then do the same in firefox, and the EXACT SAME images are missing

I was hoping it would have been something silly like the Load images for the originating website only thing. I don't know. Sorry :( I have never had what you described happen, and I have worked on a lot of customers machines over the years.
If it is happening in both browsers, then the error/filtering is happening before the browsers can render it. Maybe a antivirus,antispyware,firewall filter is set too high? I'm guessing something along those lines.