Quirky Reply and Forward behavior - Outlook 2003 vs AOL Smileys

[Mike C.]

I'm receiving email from an AOL user that likes to sprinkle her messages
with those little smiley faces. The source looks like this;

src="http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05fd0/04"></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

When I attempt to reply or forward the email, Outlook hourglasses for about
a minute before the reply or forward dialog comes up (less the smiley). This
does not happen on messages without the smiley. Is this behavior because the
AOL server isn't coughing up the image within a respectable amount of time?
Is there a setting in Outlook that I can adjust to tell it to give up on it
a little sooner? This is painful.

Thanks,

Mike C.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'm receiving email from an AOL user that likes to sprinkle her
messages with those little smiley faces. The source looks like this;

src="http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05fd0/04"></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>

When I attempt to reply or forward the email, Outlook hourglasses for
about a minute before the reply or forward dialog comes up (less the
smiley). This does not happen on messages without the smiley. Is this
behavior because the AOL server isn't coughing up the image within a
respectable amount of time?

That's my opinion.

Is there a setting in Outlook that I can
adjust to tell it to give up on it a little sooner? This is painful.

Turn off images. Tools>Options>Security>Change Automatic Download Settings

 

[Mike C.]

Thanks Brian for your suggestion.

Evidently the AOL server is back up because it all is working properly now.
At least I now know the cause and effect and way to overcome.

Mike C.