Problem Checklist

If you are having trouble viewing, saving, copying, printing, or otherwise viewing or manipulating files you download; or if you are having problems seeing pages you view in your browser: the cause of your difficulties may be a permission assigned by the visitor who submitted them for publication.

• Learn more about permissions and their possible affect on your downloads at the section called Policies—Quality Assurance, Accuracy, And Access To Information. Read the section called About Computer Programs That Control Access To Published Information: click here.

registration

If you are unable to log in at Electricka's Email Center, the problem may be that you have failed to register. To register, click the text Enter Electricka's Email Center Now on the page called Electricka's Email Center and follow directions the page that opens.

Login

• To register and to log in automatically after you have registered, cookies and JavaScript must be enabled on your browser.
• After you have registered, if you log in to Electricka's Email Center using a computer that is not the one you used to log in last time, you may be asked to provide your email address and password again.

about Cookies

A cookie is a temporary note placed on your computer by an internet server. The Email Center automatically places a cookie on your computer when you enter the Center. This cookie:

• Makes login possible.
• Does no harm to your computer and takes up almost no space.
• Is removed from your computer as soon as it is not needed.

Your browser gives you the option to turn the cookies feature on or off. If OFF, cookies may not be placed on your computer until cookies are turned ON again.

Because login is essential, you must have cookies enabled on your browser before you can enter the Email Center; otherwise, you will not be able to enter the Email Center.

—note— turn cookies and javaScript on New browsers come with the cookies feature set to ON but you or someone else may have turned them OFF. If the cookies feature on your browser is set to OFF, set it to ON before you try to enter the Email Center or Electricka's Email Center. Consult your browser's HELP for more information.

Email and SPAM Blockers

SPAM blockers block your email from Electricka. If you use a SPAM blocker, you won't be able to activate your new Email Center membership or receive newsletters or other email notices you've signed up to automatically receive when they become available.

Problems with receiving email from Electricka's Email Center are rare and are usually easy to fix by adjusting settings. Here's how:

Like any other email sender, Electricka's Email Center uses a "from" email addresses to send you email when you register or when email is sent to you.

If you cannot receive email from Electricka's Email Center, the problem may be with the settings in your email program's SPAM blocker. If the email program on your computer or at your web email service is blocking email from Electricka's Email Center, you can easily remedy the situation by taking one of the following measures:

• Add the email address for Electricka's Email Center to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list." This will allow you to receive email specifically from Electricka's Email Center.
• Conversely, take the email address for Electricka's Email Center off your "black list."
• Add Electricka's domain name (i.e., web site name) to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list." This will allow you to receive all email sent from any of Electricka's email addresses.

—note— SPAM Blockers As described above, if you use a SPAM blocker be sure that the email address of Electricka's Email Center is on your list of accepted email addresses:   To receive email sent from Electricka's Email Center, place this email address on your list: EmailCenter@Electricka.com To receive email sent from any of Electricka's email addresses, place Electricka's domain name on your list: Electricka.com

registration

If you are unable to log in at Electricka's Forums, the problem may be that you have failed to register. To register, click the Register icon at the top of the page called Electricka's Forums and follow directions on the page that opens.

Login

• To register and to log in automatically after you have registered, cookies and JavaScript must be enabled on your browser.
• After you have registered, if you log in to Electricka's Forums using a computer that is not the one you used to log in last time, you may be asked to provide your email address and password again.

about Cookies

A cookie is a temporary note placed on your computer by an internet server. The Forums automatically places a cookie on your computer when you enter the Forums. This cookie:

• Makes login possible.
• Does no harm to your computer and takes up almost no space.
• Is removed from your computer as soon as it is not needed.

Your browser gives you the option to turn the cookies feature on or off. If OFF, cookies may not be placed on your computer until cookies are turned ON again.

Because login is essential, you must have cookies enabled on your browser before you can enter Electricka's Forums; otherwise, you will not be able to enter the Forums.

—note— turn cookies and javaScript on New browsers come with the cookies feature set to ON but you or someone else may have turned them OFF. If the cookies feature on your browser is set to OFF, set it to ON before you try to enter the Email Center or Electricka's Email Center. Consult your browser's HELP for more information.

Email, spam blockers, and Email Notices

SPAM blockers block your email from Electricka. If you use a SPAM blocker, you won't be able to activate your new Forums membership, receive notices when a member adds a new topic, comments on a topic, or sends you a private email.

Problems with receiving email from Electricka's Forums are rare and are usually easy to fix by adjusting settings. Here's how:

Like any other email sender, Electricka's Forums uses a "from" email addresses to send you email when you register at the Forums or when Forums email is sent to you.

If you cannot receive email from Electricka's Forums, the problem may be with the settings in your email program's SPAM blocker. If the email program on your computer or at your web email service is blocking email from Electricka's Forums, you can easily remedy the situation by taking one of the following measures:

• Add the email address for Electricka's Forums to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list." This will allow you to receive email specifically from Electricka's forums.
• Conversely, take the email address for Electricka's Forums off your "black list."
• Add Electricka's domain name (i.e., web site name) to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list." This will allow you to receive all email sent from any of Electricka's email addresses.

—note— SPAM Blockers As described above, if you use a SPAM blocker be sure that the email address of Electricka's Forums is on your list of accepted email addresses:   To receive email sent from Electricka's Forums, place this email address on your list: Forums@Electricka.com To receive email sent from any of Electricka's email addresses, place Electricka's domain name on your list: Electricka.com

About The Forums

more about Electricka's forums

Electricka's Forums has its own HELP facility. You can access this facility before or after you are registered to use the Forums. Visit the About Electricka's Forums page for additional HELP with registration and participation.

• Click the Forum image at the left to access Electricka's Forums.
• Click the text About Electricka's Forums under the Forums image at the left to learn more about Electricka's Forums.

spam blockers

Like any other email sender, the email you receive from Electricka bears a "from" email addresses. Since Electricka can send you email from numerous email addresses, her "from" email address will vary depending on the feature at Electricka's web site that generates the email. The information below applies generally  to email you receive from Electricka regardless of the "from" address it bears.

Email problems usually occur because of spam blockers that are not properly set. SPAM blockers block your email from Electricka. If you use a SPAM blocker, you won't be able to receive any of Electricka's email messages. Setting a spam blocker to receive email is easy. Here's how:

Like any other email sender, Electricka's email bears a "from" email addresses.

If you cannot receive Electricka's email, the problem may be with the settings in your email program's SPAM blocker. If the email program on your computer or at your web email service is blocking email from Electricka's Forums, you can easily remedy the situation by taking one of the following measures:

• Add the appropriate "from" email address email address for Electricka's Forums to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list."
• Conversely, remove the appropriate "from" email address from your "black list."
• Add Electricka's domain name (i.e., web site name) to your email program's Address Book, Safe Senders List, List of Allowed Receivers, or "white list." This will allow you to receive all email sent from any of Electricka's email addresses.

—note— SPAM Blockers As described above, if you use a SPAM blocker be sure that Electricka's "from" email addresses are on your list of accepted email addresses. Do this for all of Electricka's email addresses that send you email:   To receive email sent from a specific Electricka email address, place the appropriate "from" email address on your list. To receive email sent from any and all of Electricka's email addresses, place Electricka's domain name on your list. Electricka's domain name is Electricka.com.

Electricka's media files contain sound and video recordings that are designed to play when you select (click) text hyperlinks, images, sound players, or video players that you see in your browser. Different media recordings employ different file protocols when they play.

Some or all of Electricka's media files will not play if the browser or media players on your computer don't support the file protocol you select when you click; you will not be able to see or hear the selected recording when you want to.

Electricka's media recordings employ or have employed these file protocols:

• H.264 (for video. Alternatively may be designated as .mpg, .mp4. or MPEG4)
• .ogv (Ogg Theora for videos)
• .wmv (Windows Media Player for streaming compressed video and audio, i.e., multimedia)*
• .avi for DV quality movies.
• .wav for audio.
• .mp3 (ISO) and .wma (Microsoft) for compressed audio.*
• .ogg (Ogg Vorbis for sound)
• .swf for Adobe^© Flash Player movies.*
• .mov for movies (Apple^© QuickTime^© movie player for streaming compressed multimedia)*
• .flv or .swf (for Flash video)*

NOTE: Web file formats change rapidly. Starred protocols may no longer be used by Electricka.

What can you do if Electricka's sound or video features don't work with your browser of media players?

1. Electricka is designed primarily to work with the Internet Explorer browser, but also works with virtually all other compatible browsers on desktop PCs and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets:

• If you're having problems hearing or seeing sound or videos and you're not using Internet Explorer, try switching to a recent version of Internet Explorer.
• Note that some smart phones, smart televisions, e-readers, tablets and other Internet computer devices do not support Internet Explorer. In cases like these, this approach will not help unless you switch to another device.

2. Switching to Internet Explorer may not solve your problem; or you may prefer not to switch browsers; or your smart phone, smart television, ereader, tablet or other Internet device may not support Internet Explorer. In cases like these:

• Try downloading and installing a sound or video player that supports the file recording formats that Electricka employs:

If your browser or media player shows you the name of a file it's trying to play and it's giving you trouble, check the recording file type. You can tell its file type by inspecting the file extension in its file name. A file's extension is denoted by the three or four characters that follow the last period in it's name (.wmv, .avi., etc.)

Download a media player that supports the missing file type.

3. Some browsers do not allow sound or videos to play automatically when a new page opens. When you open a new Electricka page and the text on the page refers to "the music you are now hearing..." but there is no music or video, try clicking the picture of a loudspeaker you'll find in the box at the top of the page or the text next to it that reads "If you can't hear the music that's now playing, click here." The recording will play if your browser or media players support the new page's recording protocol.

4. Adobe^® Flash

Flash animations appear throughout Electricka's web site:

• Adobe^® Flash Player must be installed on (added-in) your browser for Flash animations (movies) to appear on your screen and play correctly.
• Add the latest version of Flash to your browser, if you have not already done so. Note that some smart phones, smart televisions, ereaders, tablets and other Internet computer devices do not support Flash. In cases like these, you're out of luck unless you switch to another device.
• Flash is free. Just visit the Adobe web site for downloading and installing directions. There you'll find a list of Internet devices that support Flash.
   
  • Visit the Adobe web site and download the latest Flash version now: click here.

• If you are a heavy Internet user, sometimes there's just not enough communications capacity to handle the large amount of data that passes between your browser and your network provider. If your current network provider offers a faster browsing service option for your current network connection speed, think about changing to it. If your service provider doesn't offer a faster browsing service, think about upgrading to a faster network connection speed.
• If the delays you experience fluctuate in a regular fashion at certain times of the day or at certain days of the week, the fluctuations may be due to heavy network traffic between your network provider and the rest of the Internet. Think about using the Internet at a different time or a different day; or consider switching to another network provider.
• If you're using a slow modem (below 56 kbps), try upgrading to a higher speed model.
• No  matter how fast the rated speed of your modem, a "bad" (error prone) dial up connection or faulty full period telephone line can cause transmission throughput rates to deteriorate due to noise or line hits. Use your modem software, network vendor software, or operating system software to determine actual throughput rates while sending/receiving, and if they consistently fall far below the rated modem speed, contact your telephone company.
• If you're using a high speed network connection like DSL, cable modem, or ISDN, check to see if the modem or network interface provides an error indicator such as a flashing LED; check to see if the vendor has software for your computer that will detect errors. Report your problem to your network vendor.

• Music or video can take a very long time to reach your browser, especially if the music or video is designed to play a long time or if it reaches you over a telephone line. A page containing music or video may appear on your screen long before the music or video that it contains starts to play. Delay can be especially exasperating if you're reading a page and waiting to hear or see something that the page is talking about. Here's what to do:
  • You may want to try waiting for the music or video to finish downloading before you start reading.
  • Visit another page and return. The next time you open the page, you won't have to send the music or video again because they'll already be on your computer.
  • There are only two cures for this problem: 1) patience, or 2) a high speed network connection.
• If a page takes a long time to appear after you ask to see it, check to see if it contains animations or a complex page layout such as expand/contract. If pages with animations or complex layouts consistently take much longer to appear than pages with no animations or simple layouts, you may need a faster computer.
• It takes time for your network provider to deliver large amounts of information to your door. If you consistently experience long delays when you download a large file, such as a file containing a significant amount of data, a major computer program, or a video or audio program that plays for more than a minute after being received on a telephone line, you may want to consider upgrading your network connection speed. (You probably won't have this problem if you subscribe to a high speed network service.)

Often a page can seem to take too long to appear the first time you try to open it, but the next time you try to open it it's fine. For technical reasons, there may be nothing wrong with the page, network service, or your computer. Be patient; try to open a page more than once before you decide that there's a problem.

If you still have problems after taking the above steps, there may be an error in the page itself. Let us know about it.

Case #1

Excessive delays might well be explained by:

• Random factors such as network congestion or a temporary server work overload.
• Random factors such as a temporary network or server outage.

Your best solution is to accept the delay and try again in a few seconds, minutes, or hours, depending on the probable cause of the delay.

The page will probably download fast enough on subsequent visits.

Case #2

In Electricka's domain, busy visitors accustomed to rapid service can easily grow impatient in situations where they are rapidly searching through many pages at a site, one after the other, or surfing rapidly from site to site. Under some circumstances, waiting for a page load can be like waiting for an elevator in a skyscraper during rush hour. Visitors are tempted to "punch the button" over and over even when they know that punching can't help.

In such cases, it pays to cultivate an enlightened patience. Try to remember that a page can take a long time to open simply because it contains a lot of "stuff" that has to be transferred to your computer before it's ready to display.

Case #3

On the other hand, sometimes a given page can take so long to appear it's a good bet there's a systemic problem gumming up the works, especially if abnormal delays occur to the same page repeatedly after several attempts to access it.

If this happens to you, here are three suggestions that may help you decide whether there's a systemic problem:

Suggestion#1

• Be patient the first time you try to visit a page that opens slowly; wait until the page finishes downloading and opens fully.
• Next, refresh the page. It should open much faster.

Suggestion #2

• After visiting a "slow" page for the first time, visit another page, one that experience tells you should open promptly. It can be another ETAF page or a page at another site that you have visited on a previous occasion.
• Next, visit the slow page again and see if it opens faster this time.

Suggestion #3

• Compare the time it takes to open a "slow" page with the time it takes to open a page that you are confident should open promptly. The times should be approximately the same.
• Any significant difference between the time it takes to open the two pages may be legitimate if the slower page holds much more content. Other possible legitimate causes for significant differences in time delay may be due to animation, special effects, audio, or video on the slow page. Each of these features loads a page with a great deal of extra content, much as the rush hour passengers in our example load and slow the skyscraper elevator.

If the "slow" page seems to behave properly after taking the above steps, there may not have been a "real" problem at all!

For information about the donation process using PayPal, visit the Help The Arts page.

If you're having a problem reaching the PayPal or Google web site from Electricka's web site to make a purchase, chances are the problem does not lie with Electricka. The same is true with making purchases through Amazon, Cafepress, or other affiliates.

PayPal, Google, or the affiliate you are using are your first lines of defense for all purchase or payment problems you may experience.

Once you click on the link on Electricka's page that takes you to a PayPal, Google, or affiliate web site, a page at the payment or purchase web site will open. Contact the PayPal, Google, or affiliate at that page for help with any problem that occurs.

Note: ETAF participation in your donation or purchase is strictly limited. ETAF never gets involved in a PayPal, Google, or affiliate purchase or payment.  Electricka does not resolve problems or disputes arising in connection with purchases or payments. Your problem or complaint should be taken up with PayPal, Google, or affiliate, as appropriate.

Policy

—policy— Donation and  payment Processes When you make a donation to ETAF, you are making a payment to PayPal. PayPal is treated as the payment service you have chosen, and ETAF is not a party to your transaction. When you use PayPal, Google, or an ETAF affiliate to purchase any ETAF product, you are making your purchase through and from them. ETAF treats PayPal, Google, or the affiliate as the ordering or payment service you have chosen and is not a party to your transaction. ETAF is not responsible for financial or other errors made by PayPal, Google, or its affiliates. Do not contact ETAF for order status, follow up, or problem resolution; any ordering or payment issues or disputes should be resolved by contacting the party servicing your donation or order.

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