Suspended animation

[Rik]

From time to time, certain animated avatars and smileys freeze on my machine, requiring a Ctrl+f5 to re-animate them. Most do not, however. The evil banana is a regular freezer for me, for example.

Has anyone got any ideas why some files would be affected and others not? I've examined the file and can't see anything about it which would explain it...

Puzzled of MK.

[john]

I've not noticed the problem myself Rik, is it affected by the type of browser you're using ? (I'm using IE 7)

[Rik]

No, John. I normally use FF, but have tried in IE6, IE7 and Opera. Evil B demonstrates his ability to hold a position in all of them... 

[cavillas]

Have you, somehow, upset Evil banana.  He is often negelcted and perhaps is fighting back.  It's ok on my machine.

[Rik]

Possibly when I re-shuffled the smileys, Alf, he became offended at his new position. I shall ask him. 

[Simon]

Are all the smileys hosted on the forum webspace, Rik?  If one or two of them are linked remotely, that might cause the issue.

[Rik]

No, they are all on the forum space, Simon. However, I'll maybe try re-loading the banana if others have had the problem too.

[Ted]

The evil-banana is omniscient Rik, re-shuffle at your own risk
Not an action i would undertake lightly

[Rik]

 

It's been a long day, Ted and I needed a laugh. Thank you. 

[psp83]

This can be caused by javascript. Have you updated your java lately?

[Rik]

Fairly recently, Paul, but I'll check. Certainly, I have updated since I first noticed the problem.

If you have time to explain, what's the interaction between the GIF file and Java?

[psp83]

I can't exactly remember why it does it but from what i can remember its the browser requesting some JS to run before the gif. Which then makes the gif stop.. It shouldn't happen but it does sometimes. mainly when JS has gone wrong or a script has not been coded correctly.

Also, it normally only happens when a link is clicked that requests/runs JS.

We've had this at work when coding JS for websites and its a pain to find the cause.

[Rik]

What's curious is that it only ever affects the one animated smiley. Computers! 

[john]

Computers!

Can't live with them, can't live without them 

[Gary]

Fairly recently, Paul, but I'll check. Certainly, I have updated since I first noticed the problem.

If you have time to explain, what's the interaction between the GIF file and Java?

What version of javascript are you running Rik? I have seen some people with IE7 which changes their javascript re-install one off the Microsoft website to one that was older, from IE6 days

[Rik]

Not sure without looking, Gary, but I checked for updates last night and it said I had the current version.

[Gary]

1.6.03 that will be, I get the same thing with evil banana as well Rik, now and then it freezes just noticed it 

[Gary]

  testing, working now, after clearing cache.

[Rik]

If they all did it, Gary, I could make more sense of it, but it seems to be just that one. I've had a look at the GIF, frame by frame, and I can't see anything there to explain it, so... 

Clearing the cache always works - but why? 

[Gary]

So how long till that banana stops being jigglingly evil I wonder? Maybe we should see how long it goes before we have to clear the cache  I hate things like this 

[Rik]

It may not even be a time issues, Gary, but the number of times it's pulled from the cache, say... Like you, it annoys me, because I can't explain it.

[Gary]

Snap, and it will perplex me now till I can find out why, and never try googling evil banana with preferences set to "do not filter my results" 

[Rik]

 

47,000 pages later...

[Gary]

47,000 pages later...

Watch out Rik, if Sue sees......

[Rik]

Sue sees everything, she's a woman.  

[Gary]

So true, so so true 

[Rik]

I've uploaded a new version of the file to see if that will cure the problem.

[MoHux]

While you're talking about Java 

I noticed the other day when uninstalling something else, that I have,  jre 1.6.0 - jre 1.6.0_01 - 02 and jre 1.6.0_03 all listed as installed.

Can I uninstall 0 - 01 and 02 do you know?? 

[Rik]

I have the same sort of thing, Mo. It ought to be OK to remove the older versions, but as I'm not sure, I've never done it. Hopefully, Paul can give you a better answer.

[Simon]

I would have thought it perfectly safe to uninstall older versions, given that on a new Windows installation, the only version installed would be the latest.  If it does cause any problems, just reinstall the latest version again. 

[Lance]

I've removed these older versions before without problems. Although that said, if it breaks something, don't blame me!!!

[MoHux]

Yes, thats why I asked of course Lance.  Depends if they are upgrades of 1.6.0 or complete versions dunnit. 

[Lance]

I suppose the worst that could happen is that you need to reinstall the latest version.

It is possible for more than one version of Java to exist on a machine. At work, we have a system which won't work properly with the newest version, and one system which needs the newest, and so have both installed on our machines!

[Gary]

I only have the latest version, but if you have an application that needs an older version you can keep it, if you get low on disk space remove them  http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/5000070400.xml

[psp83]

You should only have one version of Java installed and listed in add and remove programs, If your noticing more than one and you remove older versions, this might remove parts of the new version aswell..

Firefox had this problem when you installed new versions, it would create a new add and remove program entry insted of updating the one there.

Your best bet would be to remove all of them and update to the newest version.. this way, any conficts that are there will be removed aswell.

[Rik]

Thanks, Paul.

[Gary]

You should only have one version of Java installed and listed in add and remove programs, If your noticing more than one and you remove older versions, this might remove parts of the new version aswell..

Firefox had this problem when you installed new versions, it would create a new add and remove program entry insted of updating the one there.

Your best bet would be to remove all of them and update to the newest version.. this way, any conficts that are there will be removed aswell.

That is not what is said on the java.com page? http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/5000070400.xml

[Rik]

Why do they have to make life so difficult. Any new Java ought to be backwards compatible.

[Ann]

None of this java talk is important Rik.. what we need to know is if the banana is dancing for you 

[Rik]

No.  But if I clear my cache, he's back into action like Kenny Logan. 

[Gary]

Why do they have to make life so difficult. Any new Java ought to be backwards compatible.

Well I'll buy you your very own dancing Banana Rik and paint it red 

[Rik]

Thanks, Gary. I'm still puzzled why that smiley is the only one affected, though, and I've uploaded a different version of the file, now, so that's one more thing eliminated... 

[Gary]

My banana seems to be ok now, god this sounds like a carry on film, maybe its something else causing issue? Opera has been known to have problems if it takes its plugins from windows and from a plugin file in its own database could that effect your banana Rik? How is Sue taking your Banana issue

[Rik]

TBH, Gary, I'm plain out of ideas - it has been seen by other members, it does affect all three of my machines, running FF, IE6, IE7 and Opera. I think, maybe, it's a case of 'live with it'. Or remove the EB from the popup. 

Sue has referred the issue to my shrink.

[Gary]

Think Justina is doing the same with me Rik, seems like she has a long list now 

[Gary]

Offcom are pure evil    I had to do it Rik I had to 

[Rik]

It's dancing, Gary - start the stopwatch and we'll see how long it lasts...

[Gary]

Will do 

[Gary]

Still dancing for me Rik

[Rik]

Now frozen here... 

[Gary]

Odd still working here Rik 

[Rik]

I think the effort involved to find the cause (and solution) probably outweigh the benefits of a dancing banana.

[Gary]

stopped for me now  kill the Banana Rik

[Rik]

As we have multiple animated smileys, Gary, it has to be something to do with that file - but what it is defeats me, I've examined it frame by frame, and can't see anything wrong.

[Gary]

  it bugs me that it stops working, most odd maybe a vote on do we keep evil b 

[Ann]

We keep it!  The two bananas are my favourites...

[Ray]

Well it works ok for me I vote we keep it as well.   

[Rik]

I'm not sure I can handle another poll this year. 

[Ray]

I'm not sure I can handle another poll this year. 

I wouldn't bother, Rik, they stopped working here now. 

[Rik]

Though I would bet that every other animated smiley is OK for you, Ray?

[Ray]

Though I would bet that every other animated smiley is OK for you, Ray?

Yes they are, Rik.

[Rik]

Mine too. It's something about that specific file, but I just can't work out what. 

[Ann]

Well it works here at work and it works at home.. so it has to be something yous all have on your computers that I don't have...

[psp83]

try this one:-

http://www.uposted.co.uk/pics/gifs/evil-banana.gif

[Ray]

Well the little s*d has just started working here again and I haven't done anything to cause it. 

[Rik]

Thanks, Paul. That's a different file to the other two I have, so I'll upload it and see how we go.

Ann, the banana works for much of the time here, but then freezes while all other animated smileys are still working - which is the puzzle. Maybe Paul's version of the file will fix it.

[Rik]

Well the little s*d has just started working here again and I haven't done anything to cause it. 

Our existing one is frozen here, Paul's is animated. Weird... 

[psp83]

I've re-animated my one and made it alittle quicker..
Lets see how its goes 

[Rik]

Quicker and smaller, Paul. This Sherlock stuff is great fun, isn't it.  8)

[Ann]

I know Rik.. I wandered off to make a coffee and have a chat and even pretended to do some w*rk and it was still dancing its little heart out.  It won't stop for me.

[psp83]

Well its my job, I do this stuff everyday at work. Mainly do PHP + MySQL + JS + CSS but abit of animation helps the day go by quicker 

[Rik]

I know Rik.. I wandered off to make a coffee and have a chat and even pretended to do some w*rk and it was still dancing its little heart out.  It won't stop for me.

I'd dance for you, Ann.   

[Rik]

Well its my job, I do this stuff everyday at work. Mainly do PHP + MySQL + JS + CSS but abit of animation helps the day go by quicker 

What software do you use for the animation, Paul? I've been using Image Ready and Animation Shop, though I didn't run the banana through either, I do confess, I just went out and stole a new one elsewhere. 

[psp83]

to re-animated the evil banana i used Macromedia Fireworks 8, but Adobe Fireworks CS3 will work fine aswell. I've got much more powerful animating programs here at work but i didnt see any point in using them for a small gif.

[Rik]

Well, if you can spare a copy then, Paul.   

[Rik]

Two hours on, my banana is still alive! 

[Lance]

Two hours on, my banana is still alive! 

I couldn't possibly comment!

[Simon]

[Rik]

You know I like to feed you the lines, Lance. 

[Gary]

I'm not sure I can handle another poll this year. 

Hurts your back all that dancing then Rik

[Gary]

You know I like to feed you the lines, Lance. 

Or is that to the lions 

[Rik]

Hurts your back all that dancing then Rik

Indeed. I'm not as limbo as I once was.   

[Gary]