Well, if the additional ads don't appear in FireFox or IE, and they crash MSN's browser, then what's the point of the additional ads?

I think you've found a bug in MSN's browser, but it's not a serious bug since there's no point in having 5 ads anyway.

I just want to alert you about this error to make you don't put more than 3 image/text ads in a single page because your entire page will not display for those visitors who are using MSN IE browser in Windows XP. Some webmaster may not be aware they have more than 3 Adsense image/text ads in a single page because of the way their site is coded (ex. Wordpress, Blogspot, php, etc). The best way to find out is to open the "Source code" in your browser and count how many adsense image/text codes are in it.

I'm not sure how many people use MSN IE, but this browser seems popular in the United State and is roughly used by about 10% of US users. This means you will lose about 10% income and page views per day (from US visitors).

Just my 2 cents.

n.b. I hope Google tech fix this problem. But we can't really ask our users to stop using MSN.

[edited by: jbayabas at 3:20 am (utc) on Feb. 7, 2008]

Would you rather lose 10% of your income or get terminated altogether since you would be violating the Adsense program policies?

This issue should be of absolutely no concern to anyone playing by the rules.

By the way, I think the title of this thread is deceptive.

[edited by: MyNewPC at 3:21 am (utc) on Feb. 7, 2008]

MyNewPC,

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. This is not in Violation of Adsense TO. Some users may NOT be aware they are displaying more than 3 image/text ads depending on how their site are coded. Example, if you are using Blogspot and place the adsense code in one part of the php, the adsense code will duplicate in some pages. So if you already have an image/text code in the header, footer, body, this additional duplicate will result in 4 codes in total sometimes even 5.

AS has a script that if you "accidentally" or "unintentionally" place more than 3 text/image ads in a single page, the additional ads in question will not display. This script works successfully in Firefox and IE. But not in MSN IE in Windows XP.

I don't think you understand what I'm trying to say. This is not in Violation of Adsense TO. Some users may NOT be aware they are displaying more than 3 image/text ads depending on how their site are coded.

Pleading stupidity doesn't shield you from the consequences of violating TOS, or the law.

AS has a script that if you "accidentally" or "unintentionally" place more than 3 text/image ads in a single page, the additional ads in question will not display.

I'm impressed. This is the first hard evidence that google scripts can actually figure out your intent, and stupidity levels, so if its accidental, it will understand, but if it's intentional, whammo.

Pretty cool. I wonder how, though...

jbayabas, you're right. I didn't understand correctly. I do now with your more detailed explanation. I think you should inform AdSense by emailing them at adsense-support@google.com.

jbayabas means well but I agree with the others, in the end, it is the responsibility of a webmaster to know how many ads are displayed on his site, no matter the "technical" reasons.

It has just gotten too easy for everyone to be an adsense publisher.

Any confirmation on this claim about the way that Firefox and MSIE handle multiple ad blocks? Does this happen with the old style code, or the new style code, or both?

I'd test it myself except that I only use (a maximum of) one ad block per page, and I just can't summon up the energy to be too concerned about what happens if you show 4+ blocks.

jomaxx,

It happens to both codes.

I just created a page with 5 ad blocks. Neither Firefox nor Explorer (v7) had any problem with displaying the page. Not even a Javascript error, much less a failure to display the entire page.

Anyone else is welcome to replicate the experiment, but in any case it appears that the bug is not universal.

He didn't say it was universal.

if you're using MSN IE in Windows XP, your entire page will not display and you'll get this error message:

Sounds like you aren't using MSN IE in Windows XP?

Yes. I was.

Why not just test it yourself instead of correcting me? It only takes a minute or two.

jomaxx, are all five of the ads appearing? I just tried an experiment with five ads, and it didn't prevent the page from loading. But no ads after the third one would appear.

I am using IE6, and the ad blocks were all 120x240 text.

That's what I observed. In both FF and MSIE, only the first 3 ad blocks display and the other two are blank.

Why not just test it yourself instead of correcting me? It only takes a minute or two.

Because I'm not familiar with MSN IE which the OP said is different than "regular IE."

Could we please get some clarification on this?

Well I must be really bored because I downloaded and installed MSN IE in order to test this.

Browsing a test page with 5 ads has exactly the same result as using IE6 - ads 1, 2 and 3 appear, while ads 4 and 5 are blank.

Since I downloaded this from msn.com, I'll assume I got the latest version (7.02.0011.2700). I even rebooted to make sure it took full effect.

So my guess is that the OP either:
Has an old version of MSN browser;
There's a problem with the installation;
Has changed the default settings;
Has some other problem on the page (besides too many ads);

Or it could be something else. However it appears that by default, the current version of MSN browser does not crash when there are too many ads on the page.

jbayabas, if you would like to sticky me the link that crashed on you, I'll check it out with my freshly installed MSN browser.

tim222,

Are you sure you're on Windows XP? It will only crash in Windows XP with browser MSN Internet Explorer.

Yes, I forgot to mention, it is Windows XP Pro with SP2

If you put more than 3, let's say 5, the other 2 ads will not display in Firefox or regular IE which is fine.

I just came across a site that is displaying 4 ad units (and 1 link unit). Windows XP Pro and IE6.

I've also seen a celebrity blog with about 10 search units on a page. The max allowed is two.

You should all feel pretty smart.

I didn't know that IE and MSN IE were two different things.

It still confuses me even though you've said it.

I didn't know that IE and MSN IE were two different things.

It still confuses me even though you've said it.

It's kind of like the difference between Budweiser and Michelob. Both are made by the same company, and both taste about the same. But Michelob is supposedly fancier than Budweiser.

It's kind of like the difference between Budweiser and Michelob. Both are made by the same company, and both taste about the same. But Michelob is supposedly fancier than Budweiser.

An interesting analogy, tim, but not exactly correct. Bud and Michelob are brewed separately. They're not the same beer with different labels.

However, I'm pretty sure MSN IE is just re-branded IE, it is the same code (if anything, perhaps older versions of the same code, but the same code nonetheless).

So, while I don't disbelieve the original report, I'd venture to guess something other than the fact that it's MSN IE causing the problem (like a plug-in one browser has that the other one doesn't, etc...)

Some one can tell us how many pr rank need to start Google add senses

on a set.

You don't need PR seomastersseo. If you did I'd be out of business. A website, any website provided it's not in contradiction to TOS and acceptable use, is all you need. Traffic helps. A basic understanding of the English language helps as well.

Motivation helps above all.

>Has an old version of MSN browser;

I can't get a single Adsense ad on my site to display in the old IE 5.2 for Mac, let alone three.

Your site only, super70's? Or all sites with Adsense that you try to view with that browser?

Super70s,

I think IE is now obsolete in Mac. Only XP users using MSN IE are having problems with AS ad code.

I received another email from a visitor of my site using IE in Windows Vista. He's also getting errors when Adsense image/text codes are displayed more than 3 times in one page.

I hope Google is aware of this bug.