Website Functionality Issues
If the features on our website suddenly begin behaving “differently” from what you've typically experienced, several things may be going on. Some of the possibilities are listed below:
Corrupted Cache
When you experience “strange” behavior with any website, one of the first things to try is to clear your browser's temporary file cache. Here are some links to websites that contain instructions for clearing your cache:
Incorrect Computer/Browser Settings
Several settings can dramatically alter the way StockCharts.com works on your computer. Correcting these settings will hopefully restore the website's functionality to normal on your browser.
For example, our website relies on JavaScript to perform much of its work. If you have disabled the JavaScript setting in your browser, our website will not work correctly.
Similarly, we rely on web cookies to control access to the member areas of the website. If you disable or unduly restrict our access to web cookies, our website will not work correctly.
In general, our website assumes that you are using the “Default” settings for your web browser (or something very close to the default settings). If you are seeing problems, check your browser settings and ensure no unusual settings are used.
This //wikiHow// article has detailed instructions on enabling cookies for popular browsers.
Does it Work with a Different Web Browser?
As a test, try using a different web browser and see if the problem happens with that browser. Here are links to some of the major alternative browsers that are available for free:
Mozilla Firefox - https://firefox.com
Google Chrome - https://google.com/chrome
Apple Safari - https://apple.com/safari
Opera - https://opera.com
If the problem occurs when using one browser but not when using the others, that would indicate that you should check the settings, plug-ins, and extensions of the browser that has the problem.
If the problem occurs on all browsers, it may be one of the issues listed below.
Internet Connection Problems
If your computer is having trouble connecting to our website, you may experience unexpected behaviors, such as incomplete page loads.
If this is the case, try checking our Twitter feed for problem reports. If you don't see anything reported, it is probably a temporary issue in your local Internet service area that should clear up soon. If it continues for several days, you may need to work with your ISP to resolve the issue.
For the more adventurous and technically savvy readers, one option is to switch your DNS server settings to point to a more reliable DNS provider. For more information, please see our article on using OpenDNS.
Our Servers Have Stopped Working
If our servers stop working, you will see some unusual behavior when you try to use our site. When there is a problem, we first post information about it on our Twitter feed.
Interference from Popup-Blocking Software
Is your popup-blocking software interfering with your use of StockCharts? Quite likely, the answer is yes. Popup-blocking software will prevent you from using many of our site's important features. Blockers will hinder your ability to use scan results, save or annotate favorites, or even access certain support pages. In order to get everything you want out of our site, you will need to configure any popup blockers you have to allow popups for the "stockcharts.com" domain.
Note: Older computers often have several programs that contain popup-blocking software, such as web browsers, browser toolbar add-ins, and Internet privacy filters. Ensure you configure all those programs to allow popups from “stockcharts.com.”
Interference from Browser Plug-Ins
If you have several plug-ins installed in your browser - e.g., toolbars, search boxes, etc. - then it is possible that one of them may be responsible for the problems you are seeing. For example, some plug-ins prevent legitimate pop-up boxes from appearing on your screen, and other plug-ins insert intrusive ads onto our pages.
If you see new, unexpected behavior from our website, try disabling your browser plug-ins (especially any new ones you have recently added). Alternatively, if you aren't sure how to disable your plug-ins, try a clean installation of a different web browser, such as Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome.
Interference from Security Programs
Security programs installed on your computer, such as Norton, McAfee, or Kaspersky, can also interfere with our website. To prevent problems, make sure that you add “StockCharts.com” to the “whitelist” area(s) of your security program(s).
Malware on Your Computer
Malware is relatively rare, but if your computer is infected with malware, this can cause strange behavior. For example, if you suddenly see lots of popup ads on our website, it is probably coming from some malware on your computer. (We deliberately do not include pop-up ads on our website.) Be sure to scan your computer regularly for malware to prevent this from occurring.
New Version of our Software
We are constantly improving our website. Most of the time, the changes we make are relatively small and constrained to a limited part of the site; however, occasionally, we need to make bigger changes that can seem “strange” at first. When these new features are first released, you may need some time to adjust to them and learn how to use them. When we make these kinds of changes, we will generally post articles about them in the ChartWatchers newsletter, so be sure to subscribe to keep up with all the improvements we make.
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