Step by step techniques to help narrow down the source of problems you may have with eBay’s Sell Your Item pages including use of eBay Picture Hosting Basic, Standard, and Enhanced Uploaders.

First: The quickest potential fixes

A. If you are using Internet Explorer and do not require use of eBay's Enhanced Uploader, start using FireFox as your web browser.  FireFox is free to download, install, and use from mozilla.com -- the entire web will work better and faster for you.  On eBay you may still use eBay's Standard and Basic Uploaders with FireFox.

B. Problems at established sites like eBay may result from incomplete loading of pages including files that load in the background to generate the pages.  When a page does not function correctly try this special reloading method which causes it and background pages to be loaded fresh:  While in the effected page hold down the ctrl key on the keyboard while clicking the refresh/reload button in the web browser's toolbar.  If you are prompted to resend data, choose OK or Continue.  Do NOT use that method if you are at the final step to list an item on eBay, making a payment, or any other transaction that may result in duplication.

C. If B doesn't solve the problem, close down the web browser.  Then launch it again and before returning to the site to try again delete Temporary Internet files (empty the cache). In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options. On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Delete then click Delete Files in the Temporary Internet Files section.  To clear the cache in FireFox see the instructions here:

support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/clearing+private+data

(copy and paste the address into your web browser)

D. If no luck after having performed the above restart your computer.  That will free up computer memory resources which, over time or after having run some less-than-well written software, was made unavailable.

E. I've personally never needed to delete cookies to get a web site, including eBay, to work properly.  But it seems possible it could help especially if the computer is used by more than one person who visits the site, if you use more than one eBay member name, etc. -- anything that might "confuse" the web site.  If the troubleshooting guides at the site advise it, as does eBay, then delete cookies at the same places that temporary Internet files/cache are deleted in C above.

Second: A little more involved but not too technical potential fixes (things you should know about / be doing anyway)

Sites where forms are filled out, files are uploaded, etc. inherently place a larger demand on the performance of a web browser and computer than sites that are simply meant for viewing.  By nature, listing an item on eBay requires a healthier web browser, healthier computer, and more computer resources than most other sites on the Internet.

A. Help assure your web browser is getting all the "juice" it needs from your computer by closing other application software.  Spreadsheet software such as Excel are memory hogs as are some graphics editors.  At least for testing purposes close down all other applications except your web browser while doing your listings on eBay.

B. If you are not protecting your computer and web browser with anti-virus and anti-spyware software make it your first priority to acquire and install that protection ASAP.  If you already do have those protections, and they are not "live" or you have not kept them up to date, get them updated with the latest definitions, then perform a scan with each.  Especially with Internet Explorer the number one source of problems with eBay and the Internet in general is spyware.  Bear in mind, sometimes the only noticeable symptom of spyware infection is reduced performance of the web browser which, in turn, would be more apt to effect your use of eBay than other sites.  If you are using a Windows XP computer consider installing Windows Defender:

microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx

(copy and paste the address into your web browser)

(it is included automatically with Vista but you may need to turn it on)

C. The more functionality any particular web site provides the more it depends on programming written to work with normal web browser performance.  Web browser add-ons may alter that performance.  When trying to track down why a site you can trust (such as eBay) isn't performing properly for you, at least temporarily, disable all add-ons.  In Internet Explorer go to Tools / Manage Add-ons / Enable or Disable Add-ons.  In FireFox go to Tools / Add-ons.  If you see both enabled and disabled add-ons write a list of those that are enabled and then disable them all.  If you are not prompted with a button to restart the web browser do it yourself (close it then launch it again).  Then try the problem page again.

If disabling all add-ons ends the problem with the page, one at a time re-enable them from your list and after you re-enable each (and restart the browser) try the page again to learn which one was the cause.  If it's an important add-on then try to find a way to disable it for that particular (eBay) site only.

If disabling all add-ons does not solve the problem, re-enable them all again from your list.  If any seem to be security related keep them in mind as they may, in addition to other security software on your computer, inhibit transfer of data from your computer such as to upload picture files.  Consider going to Google and typing in their add-on names to learn whether or not they might interfere with your use of eBay.

Third: Narrowing down the potential causes for problems uploading pictures to eBay.

1. Computer is blocking uploads?

2. File size in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) too large?

3. Incompatible file type?

1. Computer is blocking uploads?

To determine if your computer is preventing uploading first you need a file that you know is small enough in bytes to eliminate its size as being the problem.  Here is an image you can use:

right click on the picture and choose "Save Image As" or "Save Picture As" to get onto your computer.  Assign it the name testpic.jpg so you can find it.

Then go to this site:  tinypic.com  and try to upload it there.  If not successful, just to eliminate the possibility that the free site is overloaded try at this other one too:  imageshack.us

If successful at either, you've eliminated the possibility that your computer is blocking uploads in general.  If not successful at either, then your computer is blocking the uploading and that's what you need to focus on.  Follow the link at the bottom of this guide to the Enhanced Uploader Troubleshooting discussion for instructions.

2. File size in bytes, kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) too large?

While still at the tinypic.com or imageshack site try uploading one of the photos you could not upload to eBay.  If successful you'll have eliminated the possibility that its file size is too large.  If not successful and either A or B applies:

A. The upload never completes either by the page just sitting there waiting to finish loading or eventually lands at an error page such as site not found or network error.

B. Tinypic or Imageshack reports your photo as too large in file size (bytes, kilobytes KB, or megabytes MB)

Then the file size is too large.  Concentrate on reducing file size before uploading.  eBay will accept photos up to 4 MB for the Basic and Standard uploaders, 8 MB for Enhanced Uploader but that doesn't mean your Internet connection can handle files that large.  The larger the file size the greater the chance of a broken connection causing an upload failure.

This tutorial:

eaph.com/iDriveHelp/CropCutawayCompress.htm

(copy and paste the address into your web browser)

will teach you how best to prepare photos for use on eBay.

3. Incompatible file type?

Tinypic will accept these image types: jpg|bmp|gif|pcx|png|psd|tif.  Tinypic will report to you if is not an accepted type.  At imageshack you won't be given the opportunity to select photos they don't accept.  Both Tinypic and Imageshack accept more file types than eBay does.  eBay only accepts jpg|bmp|gif|tif|png.  So, if tinypic reports your photos as not accepted or Imageshack doesn't let you choose them for uploading then you'll know they won't be accepted by eBay either.

Concentrate on converting your photos to an eBay compatible type before uploading, preferably jpg (jpeg).  See the tutorial above.

Finally

If, after having confirmed none of the relatively easy things you can do to solve the problem are helping, go to this more technical troubleshooting discussion which includes suggestions and work-arounds:

Enhanced Uploader Troubleshooting

Hope this helps,

Rob