An inquiry on Gral's behalf

[Cadrius]

As sent to me via email.

Feel like posting a question for me in "Inquiries"? Basically, my system is trying to download the PHP files from the site instead of opening them. Oddly enough, I did manage to get on the UserCP once, and even into the general Deadwatch Embers forum once although I never was able to open anything else. I can browse the WOTC boards fine, which I believe use the same vBulletin software.

I'm not sure what the problem is, but he can't access the boards. Any ideas?

[Gralhruk]

Now, add something even stranger. If I cut and paste the URL directly into the address bar, sometimes I can get into the boards. If I click a hyperlink, it tries to download the PHP file. If I cut and paste the URL instead, it tries to download it but I can tell it open the file instead. It still doesn't open it but if I repeat the procedure for the same URL, then it sometimes opens it.

It almost seems like it downloads the page the first time, then lets me open it since it's already been downloaded. Of course, it won't do it all the time - I think depending on the nature of the link. For example, it won't open the "last page" link on a thread (ie. http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2032&goto=lastpost), but it will open a link to a particular page (ie.http://www.online-roleplaying.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2032&perpage=50&pagenumber=12).

It's my work machine, meaning that it has to go through the firewall, but this is the only site I'm having problems with.

Help!

[LeeCHeSSS]

Do me a favour and try to open the same pages in Mozilla (Firebird). If that browser shows you nothing but garbled text; then I know what the problem is...

[Gralhruk]

I don't have Mozilla (Firebird), but if I hit refresh all I see is garbled text.

[LeeCHeSSS]

Drat, you didn't fall for my subtle switch-to-Mozilla trap...

Anyway, when did this start?

[Gralhruk]

Yesterday morning is when I first noticed, although that was the first time I used this machine to access the site since November 26. Like I said though, if I hit refresh (or use the "Back" button) all I see is garbled text.

[LeeCHeSSS]

If your problem started after November the 26th, then I am clueless as to what might be the cause of it. It sounds like a problem with the webserver's data-compression; either on your side (your browser might not be uncompressing the received data) or on the server side (the server might compress the data too many times).

I will try to find a reason for this...

[Gralhruk]

Thanks. It's really strange that it is just this site. Other PHP boards work fine for me.

[Gralhruk]

Okay, I downloaded Firebird (and I'm currently browsing with it), and that seems to solve the problem. Any idea what the heck it could be?

[itches]

IE sucks.

Just a theory ;)

[BigRedRod]

meh
it sucks, but most browsers do
the game seems to be who can make the worst that people will still use

[LeeCHeSSS]

Then Microsoft wins hands down...

[Tilus]

Nah, Netscape is worse now. While Microsoft might be the clunkiest conglomerate, AOL is the more evil empire. They've been far more anti-competitive than Microsoft's ever been, and they've been getting away with it, too..

[BigRedRod]

yes, but people don't use netscape unless they can't help it
Hence microsoft being the clear winner

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

Hey now, I use Netscape and have been since the early 90's. :P

[stealthbanana]

Wow, I'm so sorry Fiend. Is there some sort of organization that I should send my "Help Netscape Users Recover" donation to?

*runs for cover*

[Legion]

Opera all the way.

[archangel]

hmm... revive this discussion?.... the only reason that I use IE is because I've spent so much time on it... and I know like all of the shortcuts... like the Ctrl+Enter is my favorite... but I just start getting ticked off when I'm using Mozilla and it won't use all of my shortcut commands... and it seems that Mozilla likes to ignore the 3rd mouse button... making scrolling a pain when you have pages and pages of text to scroll through... so I think that if they make it user-friendly... or just look like it's user-friendly but then use crappy code that crashes and messes up they'll win the crappiest browser that's mainstream contest... I know that's what I'd do...

[BigRedRod]

I recently changed to Mozilla Firebird

the wonders of tabbed browsing overshadow the odd web-page that fecks up (i.e. the edit post text box on this one)

[archangel]

I haven't had problems with web pages messing up... well... there was one for my Java class... but I had to do that at the computer lab, because I don't want to mess with different compiler issues...(some compilers are just way too finicky...) but I do have Mozilla downloaded... I just haven't had the occasion to install it yet... I guess when I run into issues with IE messing up I'll change in a flash as soon as IE gives me the occasion...
It's awesome going from OO C++ programming to Java... I love being able to skip 1/2 of my lectures... heh...

[archangel]

Originally posted by archangel
I guess when I run into issues with IE messing up I'll change in a flash as soon as IE gives me the occasion...
the absurdly redundant statement that repeated itself unecessarly in my last post is now noted...

[Seraphine]

Wow, I don't have any of those problems you mentioned wiht mozilla. The scroll works, all the shortcuts work, and I never get kicked off.

[tyckspoon]

Originally posted by BigRedRod
I recently changed to Mozilla Firebird

the wonders of tabbed browsing overshadow the odd web-page that fecks up (i.e. the edit post text box on this one)

Netscape has tabbed browsing. And integrated pop-up blocking. Only problem I have with it is the AOL tieins, but that can be taken care of by simply removing them from the list of things to show. Or ignoring them completely.

[LeeCHeSSS]

Whatever you folks say about not liking Mozilla; this site's current userbase consists of 33.92% Mozilla users. And 1.12% Opera.

Compared to the ickle 0.8% when the site first started, this makes me happy. People are using browsers that know how to render proper XHTML!

[itches]

Flee before you're infected too!

[BigRedRod]

Originally posted by tyckspoon
Netscape has tabbed browsing. And integrated pop-up blocking. Only problem I have with it is the AOL tieins, but that can be taken care of by simply removing them from the list of things to show. Or ignoring them completely.

The problem being Netscape sucks, sucks real hard
I didn't realise it could tab though

but still

Firebird > ie > netscape

[LeeCHeSSS]

Nah, IE is the utmost bottom of the ladder. Even Netscape is better than IE.

[BigRedRod]

you missed the [sarcasm] tags