@ pastdgm46
The jagged character challenge or HIP challenge is used to prevent spam computers from accessing your contacts list. Our human customers prove they are human by answering the jagged character challenge.
To make sure that the condition you have described is not just browser related, I suggest that you optimize your browser’s settings first. Please visit MSFT Roopa S’ Solution Article “How to optimize Internet Explorer browser” for instructions on how to do this.
http://windowslivehelp.com/solutions/accounts/archive/2009/03/03/How-to-optimize-Internet-Explorer-browser.aspx
In the meantime, you could try the audio version of the jagged character puzzle. Just click the speaker symbol that is next to the scrambled HIP challenge picture. A pop-up window that contains a new text box will appear, and then listen to the characters as they are read, and then type the characters that you hear in the new text box.
