on some websites, like yahoo, I only get code instead of icons. how can I fix this?

Make sure you are using the latest browser version for your os system.

Disconnect all peripherals from your computer.

Boot from your install disc & run Repair Disk from the utility menu. To use the Install Mac OS X disc, insert the disc, and restart your computer while holding down the C key as it starts up.

Select your language.

Once on the desktop, select Utility in the menu bar.

Select Disk Utility.

Select the disk or volume in the list of disks and volumes, and then click First Aid.

Click Repair Disk.

Restart your computer when done.

Repair permissions after you reach the desktop-http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2963 and restart your computer.

AlihikauaLanaki wrote:

on some websites, like yahoo, I only get code instead of icons. how can I fix this?

Could you use the camera icon to post a screenshot here of what you are seeing exactly?

The page is using non-standard characters that require a special font to be installed or perhaps a more modern os or browser.

The items in question appear to be images which are rollovers as they expand when moused over:

for example the coding for the 'Delete' button is

<span class="btn icon icon-small-delete" id="btn-emptyspam" data-action="folder-empty-spam" title="Empty the Spam folder">

Why they aren't showing is another matter. If you turn off Javascript the page won't load at all, so it's difficult to see what's causing the problem - possibly an old browser as you suggested might be falling over.