Those of you who want to spread the word on this, may copy and paste the following message, in it's entirety, to your groups I am putting a link to this thread at the bottom, and we would hope you would include it but it's more important to get the message out so you have permission to leave the credit out (but at least volunteer to bring peoples questions here to get answers for them please):

 

Greetings Groups Users,

 

Many are starting to notice a strange notice that has appeared on the Groups home page

 

	Notice Only properly uploaded message board attachments within your quota will display correctly. Message board attachments that avoid quota limits will not display and could lead to deletion of the group.

 

This notice is in reference to a process people have been using to upload images to groups and then make them so they don't count against their storage limit. We are not going to say how to do this until we know that MSN has closed the glitch that allowed people to take storage space that didn't belong to them, but let us assure you that if you don't know what it's about then it doesn't apply to you.

 

Many rumors will be flying, and of course those little trolls that like to cause panics will be trying to attribute it to legitimate activity to scare people into not doing anything, but if in doubt ask.

 

For over two years people have been touting a little process they say can help you get around the upload process and save your storage. If someone has offered to teach you this process and you used it, then you were stealing storage space not alloted to you and MSN's message is directed at you.

 

If you used this process then you should get busy deleting every image you have posted that way, because you could lose your group. The people this involves know who they are.

 

The main thing is not to get into a panic over every message people post about this and not to take just anyones explanation of what this is about, go to trusted sources, or ask MSN themselves, http://groups.msn.com/contact .

 

If you've uploaded images using the insert pic icon  and after putting them in an album or message and copied and pasted them, you are ok, this isn't about you.

 

If you have images at Photobucket, your own website, or other places that allow you to upload images and hotlink them from your group, this isn't about you.

 

If you've copied and pasted images from somewhere else without permission, this isn't about you (although you could run into problems over bandwidth theft if you don't get permission).

 

This is about a process that people use where they upload an image, and then do something to remove the image from their storage count and then copy and paste it elsewhere. As long as you haven't taken that step to remove it from your storage count, this isn't about you.

 

Hopefully the person who posted this in your group posted it with a link to a group you can go and ask questions, but if not, just keep in mind that this process includes an act that those using it would know is wrong so if you haven't been doing something you know is wrong, you should be ok.

 

Also, If you have been given a method to post pictures without using your storage space and assured that it's ok with MSN, it's not.  It would probably behoove the managers of groups where this method is posted as a "tip" to remove those posts and notify your members you were mistaken and they should follow the suggestions in this message.

 

The Managers of Community Feedback

A Help Group for MSN Groups Users Since 1999

---

Now I'm not going thru the long drawn-out method of explaining exactly how to "cheat MSN". But if you use Photobucket or Fotki or other such outside photo hosts, you're supposed to be ok. Personally I haven't had any problems with my graphics showing up.

I will post a pic below of the way I enter graphics in from my other photo hosting sites.

1~First, insert your graphic into a photo host...such as Photobucket or Fotki (both are hyperlinked for you to be able to go directly there and open an account if you do not already have one. (I have four, although I find photobucket much easier to use, as I'm sure §tud does also)  There will be THREE links for each image you've uploaded to (I will use this as my example as I'm more familiar with it) Photobucket, the top is "URL" the middle is "HTML" and the bottom one is "[IMG]". Click on the MIDDLE one that says HTML, then I right click and click on copy even though it says it's been copied, cuz sometimes it doesn't lol

2~Next, open up your message box where you want your graphic image to go. Type in your message, adjust your font style, color/etc. Then tick the Use HTML to create your page at the bottom left of this box. (Follow picture below)