I don't think the v3 play vs computer uses Java at all (nothing tries to load when I'm on the page). v2 does though.
I'm running Aurora (alpha version of Firefox) and everything looks great for me and I was able to see the whole board without issue. You might try logging out of the site, clearing your cache and try it again.
I don't think the v3 play vs computer uses Java at all (nothing tries to load when I'm on the page). v2 does though.
I'm running Aurora (alpha version of Firefox) and everything looks great for me and I was able to see the whole board without issue. You might try logging out of the site, clearing your cache and try it again.
I just attempted to install the latest Windows update, restarted my computer, cleared all history from Firefox, and tried playing against the computer again today, and absolutely nothing has changed: I still can't see the full top row of the chessboard. I can't tell which version of Firefox I'm using. Java *does* start up, according to the message I'm seeing. I also said "Yes" to the "Vs Computer" plug-in that runs.
What now?
That screenshot is of v2, not v3. Not going to say work on v3 may not have impacted it though.
When I get to a computer again, I'll check it on v2 and see what it looks like for me.
You might have to change the screen to a higher resolution in control panel/display, or right click on the desktop. Check to see if it is on the default for your video card.
You might have to change the screen to a higher resolution in control panel/display, or right click on the desktop. Check to see if it is on the default for your video card.
Probably not the issue.
Yeah, don't spend the 5 minutes to try this because Martin "just clear the cache" Stahl doen't think it will work.
Yeah, don't spend the 5 minutes to try this because Martin "just clear the cache" Stahl doen't think it will work.
In normal operations, screen resolution doesn't change on its own, so is unlikely to be the issue. The board in the Java applet just appears to be misaligned. And that alignment problem may even be caused by the "Your turn!"
That all said, the main question in the OP is if the problem might impact Live. Since Live does not use Java, the solution to this doesn't even have bearing on that.
Low resolution may be ignored by a user until it manifests itself in certain applications, such as this one. It was always there, he just didn't notice it.
And, yes, I have dealt with this issue several times. It may not be the problem, but I would certainly try it.
You don't have to assume I have experience in desktop support. Not quite 20 years but close.
I'm not saying that isn't the problem, just that it isn't likely.
I would lean more towards a Firefox layout issue. Sqod, you might also try on IE and see if the Java applet is aligned appropriately there.
Low resolution may be ignored by a user until it manifests itself in certain applications, such as this one. It was always there, he just didn't notice it.
And, yes, I have dealt with this issue several times. It may not be the problem, but I would certainly try it.
Got to a computer I could test better on and Firefox 41.0.2 works fine and even dropping the resolution down to 800x600 didn't cause the layout issue being seen by the OP.
Another thing to try is to make sure there isn't an old applet loaded. Go to the Control Panel -> Programs -> Java and under Temporary Internet Files click View (options may be different depending on Java version). Find the Chess.com Play Against Computer applet and delete it. Then try and reload/rerun the page.
I really hate to see anyone still using Java in his browser if he doesn't absolutely have to use it. If I had this problem, I'd see if the problem occurred in V3. If not, I'd unplug Java from the browser (or uninstall it completely if not needed for any other apps) and just play the computer in V3. Of course, he can play Live chess in either V2 or V3, since neither Live version uses Java.
Why can't you see which version of Firefox you have? You should be able to find out by going to the "Help --> About Firefox" menu. (I just noticed that version 42.0 is available. Guess I need to do that soon.)
Thanks for all your advice. I sent in a support ticket yesterday.
In the mean time I tried Internet Explorer (IE). I couldn't even pull up the chess.com computer page with the computer chessboard in IE! I got the initial chess.com page but once I submitted my login information, I got a screen saying it couldn't display the webpage! I tried both the 64-bit bit and non-64-bit versions of IE and both had the same problem, and I tried exiting and restarting IE and got the same problem. It suggests there's a connection problem but when I click on that button, it says the connection is fine, which I know it is since I just used Chrome and Firefox a few minutes earlier.
Now I'm really getting confused. If I'm using V2, then how do I get to V3? I didn't know I was supposed to do anything differently than before.
I'm using Windows Vista. I had to go into the Control Panel today to see any version info on Firefox easily since I couldn't find that info within Firefox itself, and the Control Panel says "Mozilla Firefox 41.0.2 (x86 en-US)".
Also, that half-hidden top row of the chessboard lasts throughout the game, even after I start a game against the computer.
Yes, I'm more interested in Live chess, although I could really use some games against the computer here, too.
That's as far as I got so far. I'll try your other suggestions soon, thanks.
To get to V3, look at the links at the bottom of your browser screen. One of the links says, "Try the new Chess.com!". Click on that link, and it will take you to a new Chess.com login screen. That's V3. (To get back to V2, there's a link at the top of the V3 screen, something about the Old Chess.com.)
Oh my gosh, I just tried again in Firefox and the computer's board is fully visible now! Either the staff fixed something or else goblins from Halloween are still running around.
Well, you should still try the V3 computer. You really don't want Java hanging around on your PC. 
Well, you should still try the V3 computer. You really don't want Java hanging around on your PC.
Yes, I just found and tried the V3 link you mentioned and I'm in V3 now, for the first time. And yes, I completely uninstalled Java recently because it's such a security risk, and that removal immediately fixed a reboot problem I was having. The only reason I reinstalled Java was for chess.com but based on your advice, I'm going to remove Java again, hopefully permanently. Thanks.
I'm surprised I haven't seen this question yet...
The top row of the chessboard when playing against the computer on this site is only half visible. I can't even identify the pieces since I can see only their bottoms, which means I'm not about to play a game with the board in that state.
I believe that change happened with V3 since I could see the whole screen a few months ago. The problem exists in the Firefox browser, but I can't tell if it exists in the Chrome browser because I can't even get to that screen in Chrome because I get a warning about a required Java plug-in being incompatible with Chrome. I just uploaded Java, so the problem is not that my Java version is out of date.
Although I have only limited interest in playing the computer on this site, I do want to play some Live chess games again, but I'm afraid to even try now because if the board suddenly appears like that when I start the game, then I'm going to be unable to play, which will mean a lost game due to technical difficulties beyond my control since I don't believe there's a way to gracefully abort a game after it has started.
I can't find any settings that will change the board size to allow me to see the whole board.
Is this a known problem? Is anybody else having this problem? Does the Live chess board have the same problem, or is the problem limited to the games with the computer program? Are there settings that will fix the problem?