Some popup blockers and firewalls can cause the Active Searches page to load improperly. As a result, the Active Searches page will appear incomplete. This explains how you can work around the problem.

The problem

The Active Searches page needs to open new windows in order to conduct the searches for family trees. This is done using JavaScript coding. Some popup blockers and privacy monitors read this code and incorrectly assume it is a popup or a privacy concern.

Popular products that cause this problem are the Norton Internet Security and Firewall products. Other products might also be causing the problem.

The workaround for Norton products

The Active Searches page is unlikely to be the only page that you are experiencing this problem if you are using the Norton product or other products. For example, for some time the Norton Firewall Privacy Control restricts the viewing of videos on the MSNBC Web site.

The most common problem with the Norton Internet Security and Firewall is the settings for Privacy Control. If you do not have any special entries in Privacy Control, then it is safe to assume it would not make any difference to turn off the Privacy Control in order to permit your Internet browser to display the Active Searches page. To configure the Norton Internet Security (NIS) and Firewall to override Privacy Control:

1. Open the Firewall. 
2. If Privacy Control shows "On," then place your cursor over the "On" and click. To the right, a button will appear labeled "Turn Off." Click on that button. The Privacy Control should now indicate "Off."
3. Close the Firewall window.
4. Click here to return to the Active Searches page. A new window will open. 

If the Active Searches page still does not work

This might occur if you tried to use the Active Searches page before performing the configuration in the previous section. Temporary and History files need to be cleared out. This describes how to clear out these temporary files.

If you are using AOL

Open the Microsoft Internet Explorer while you are logged on to AOL. You will most likely find the icon on your desktop. Then follow the instructions for the Microsoft Internet Explorer shown below.

If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x or later

1. Close all browser windows except for one. 
2. Make sure the remaining browser window does not display the Active Searches page. 
3. On the browser toolbar menu, select Tools and then Internet Options. 
4. In the window that appears, select Delete Files under Temporary Internet Files. When prompted as to whether offline content should be deleted, check the box to delete all offline content. This might take a long time to delete these files. 
5. When the temporary Internet files have been deleted, stay in the same window. This time select Clear History under History. Again, this might take a while to clear history.
6. After clearing history, delete any cookie that might have been set by the Active Searches page. Click here for instructions on deleting a cookie. A new window will open for deleting the cookie. 
7. Click here to return to the Active Searches page. A new window will open. 

If you are using Netscape 4.x or later

1. Close all browser windows except for one. 
2. Make sure the remaining browser window does not display the Active Searches page. 
3. Choose Edit, and then click Preferences from the browser screen. 
4. Click the Navigator category. 
5. Click Clear History. This clears the history. 
6. Expand the Advanced category and then click Cache. 
7. Click Clear Disk Cache and then click OK on the dialog box that appears. 
8. Delete any cookie that might have been set by the Active Searches page. Click here for instructions on deleting a cookie. A new window will open for deleting the cookie. 
9. Click here to return to the Active Searches page. A new window will open. 

Return to FAQ Menu