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Here are 3 screenshots I took pointing to where you go to post/change your avatar. The format/code to post the avatar on the Forum is slightly different than the format/code needed to post a picture in on of your threads. For an avatar - the code must be in the form of http://xxxxxxxxxx.jpg, where the Xs represent the location - online - of your avatar. Your avatar cannot be uploaded directly from your computer to the Forum - it must already be online somewhere - be it Photobucket, or Picasa, or your own webpage. It MUST NOT HAVE the [IMG] [ /IMG] codes.
GO TO "CONTROL PANEL > PROFILE"
Then click on "EDIT AVATAR"
Finally, in the LINK OFFSITE box, put in the location of your picture, which you have copied, and will paste, in this blank box.