cannot access my home page on dg, nor dg from outside

The page that comes up says "Page Cannot be Found", when I click on the home tab. Otherwise, all other links seem to be working. However, if I try to access www.davesgarden.com from another webpage, I get "Page Cannot be Found".

Karen

Maybe try doing a shift-refresh on the page where you're getting that message? My home button and typing the address into the web browser both take me to the right place and the page is found just fine so I think it has to be something with your computer.

ecrane, Microsoft just installed some updates having to do with "malware", and just prior to that I had to switch to a new ISP which was earthlink. Perhaps they might be related?

For the time being, I can access links to dg from my favorites and from there, I can maneuver around okay within dg. I just cannot access either my home page at all, nor can I access www.davesgarden.com directly from the internet.

I did try clicking on the refresh button in the tool bar at the top of the webpage - did not work. I also depressed shift while clicking on the refresh button and that didn't work, either.

I also clicked that pop-off blocker off, and that didn't work either.

I sure hope this can be resolved - must disconnect from the internet soon.

karen

Well, I don't know who did what right, but everything is working fine now. Thanks, ecrane, I appreciate your answering.

Glad it's working! Sometimes there are just weird random bugs that happen and there's really no explanation for them, my next suggestion was going to be closing/restarting your browser or rebooting your computer, those are two things that often resolve those random bugs.

Funny how the internet resembles a garden sometimes, isn't it? Thanks again.

I wish I could reboot the garden and get rid of all the bugs, gophers, etc! LOL

I'm trying to imagine rebooting a herd of deer - can't you just see their sillouettes outlined over the moon? Well, we should be careful for what we wish for - we'd all be in a heap of horticultural trouble if deer could leap THAT high grrrrr

If you have problems in the future try a different web site and see if it is working properly. A lot of times the problem lies in the web site and not your computer.

Hi hcm, good thinking - I did try a couple other websites that day I was having this trouble with DG, and they worked fine - hence this thread

bluespiral,

That new malware update from Microsoft caused me to completely lose my internet access. I am linked to my daughter's computer as a home network. Hers worked just fine. Heck, I was about to run out and buy a new router. After I discovered that the problem was with Windows, I went in and deleted the "new" update. I had my access back immediately.

So, it may be that the update was the problem but just giving you partial trouble and it finally righted itself. I did remove automatic Windows updates -- they have to ask me now for permission.

I also received a notice from Zone Alarm that the new malware update was causing internet connection problems, so it's not just our imagination.

Karen

Thanks, Glendale - more great advice - y'all are making me a tad less clueless about 'pooters

bluespiral,

So very, very often computer problems are caused by "out of the blue" glitches in Windows. I don't know why, but it happens way too often. I invested in a program called Rollback RX. It cost $70.00 and has been worth every penny. It takes snapshots of my HD during the time my computer is booted up. You can set it for how often you want to do this. I always, always take a special snapshot when I am closing down. When I boot up, Rollback RX will come up before anything else. If all is not well after Windows opens, I can reboot and revert the HD back to that last snapshot. I can't tell you how often this has saved me time and trouble. If there are files that were modified after the snapshot, Rollback RX will give you the opportunity to "roll" just these files forward so you don't lose that data.

The problem that developed with the Windows malware update was happening because Windows was set to update at 3:00 am, which was after my last snapshot. So after rolling back my HD, Windows would immediately install what I was trying to get rid of. But I got rid of it by deleting it. I changed the Windows update so now Windows cannot update without an opportunity for me to be prepared for it.

I rarely pay for special programs, but this one has been a blessing.

Karen

Thanks, Karen-glendale - certainly worth a try.

It sounds a little like another pooter feature that has saved my *cyberbacon* a few times - "System Restore". That one has allowed me to pick any date/time before a major snafu happened and then "restore" the computer to that date, before ye snafu. All files get through fine (as far as I know) and snafu gets un-snafued.

For those who may also be on my clueless level, you can get to System Restore by:
clicking on the following sequence:

Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore

and then follow prompts

But I have a strong suspicion that your method might apply to snafus not solvable by System Restore; plus, I can appreciate where it would help to orient one's mind to windows machinations and relevant possible coping mechanisms.

Karen-Blue

Karen-Blue,

Exactly. Windows Restore is fairly limited in what it can do. Andi if you can't open Windows at all, which I've had happen several times, then it's no help.

When I had Windows ME several years ago, the computer worked fine one morning. Came home from work, booted it up, and got a message that Windows couldn't open. I couldn't even get into Safe Mode. Aha, but I have a Restore disk provided by MS with my computer just for this purpose. It didn't work!! I had to be able to get into Safe Mode to use it!!

Called Microsoft, who wanted $65 for fix-it advice after assuring me that there was a way without wiping the HD. Okay, I paid the $$ and was sent back to the tech who immediately started giving me instructions on reformatting my HD. I had a FIT and demanded my $$ back. Heck, I already knew how to do a reformat. So, I went to the computer store, bought another HD, and a copy of Windows 98SE, which cost over $200. I then installed the new HD as the master and the old HD as the slave. Formatted the new HD and installed Win 98 on it. Okay, so I have two working HDs and access to all my info that was "stuck" on the old HD -- but it cost me $200 to repair a computer only six months old. MS only provides "free" tech support for 30 days on Windows.

Since I've had this computer with Windows XL, I've had several Windows' glitches where it just wouldn't open -- something didn't load right, and no apparent reason for this. Usually this can be fixed by rebooting -- if not, you're in big trouble. Windows Restore can't do anything for you if you can't at least get into Safe Mode. Remembering my fun experience with Win ME, I researched on the internet for a program that would work independent of Windows.

I rarely buy computer programs as you can usually find a free one just as good on the internet, and I've certainly never paid $70 before. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. Rollback RX is worth every dime and then some. I compared similar programs but this one has it all, and it's easy to use. I have mine set for every two hours during the day, and then I take a special snapshot every time I shut down, reboot, add software I'm not sure about, or (from now on) before allowing Windows to do an update .

Check it out as they have a free trial period: http://www.horizondatasys.com/169614.ihtml

Karen

Thanks, Glendale. I do appreciate your advice and will look into Rollback, but for now, it's happening again: I cannot access www.davesgarden.com . I can access DG pages that I've bookmarked to my favorites, and maneuver within the DG website, but can not access my home page.

Sooooo - I downloaded Firefox, but that is worse, since it won't let me access www.davesgarden.com, or my home page as above, or any of my DG bookmarked pages. This is what Firefox says:

Proxy Server Refused Connection

Firefox is configured to use a proxy server that is refusing connections.

The browser is configured to use a proxy server, but the proxy refused a connection.

* Is the browser's proxy configuration correct? Check the settings and try again.
* Does the proxy service allow connections from this network?
* Still having trouble? Consult your network administrator or Internet provider for assistance.

I'm going to reboot and check with my ISP next - all advice welcome.

Karen

Here's what Microsoft IE says when it refuses to let me access www.davesgarden.com -

Page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please try the following:

If you typed the page address in the Address bar, make sure that it is spelled correctly.

Open the davesgarden.com home page, and then look for links to the information you want.
Click the Back button to try another link.
Problem: Unknown Error -1.

------------------------------------------

So, now I have 2 browsers that won't let me access DG per the preceding post, except that MS will sometimes let me access through a bookmarked page and Firefox will not at all.

There is much yet to do with the Morning Glory forum sticky index, and it's a shame not to be able to take it any further.

Thanks again for any further assistance,

Karen

If rebooting and talking to your ISP don't help, you might (if you can get there) go to the Computer Talk forum and see if anyone over there has any suggestions for you, this sounds like it might be a pretty complex computer thing and you'll find a lot of computer whizzes over there.

Karen,

This situation is very, very odd to say the least. The messages you are getting are those that usually only come up if your computer is not able to access the internet. If you are able to access other sites on the internet, then you should not get that kind of message when trying to access Dave's Garden.

It's definitely a software problem. Are you sure that Windows didn't go back and reinstall that malware "fix" they put in? I had to delete the "fix" and then set Windows so that it couldn't update automatically. Now it has to ask me for permission. It was the only way I could stop it from reinstalling the update that was causing the trouble with my internet connection.

Karen

Check your security settings in your browser(s). I have mine set at medium-high with no problems for DG and most sites. Also make sure DG is not in your restricted sites.

See if you have any firewalls turned on and what settings are there as well. I seriously doubt it is a software problem but more a configuration problem.

I'm having the same problem. Can't get on the home page at all. I can get on plant files and from there click on communities at the top of the page and then go to the page with the forums listed and click on each forum I want to read. Makes it a lot of work to get to where I want to be! Will see what happens tonight when I go to work and use a different computer.

Susan

Thank you, all, for the good advice. I'm tackling this problem bit by bit, so it'll be a while before I can try everything you suggest.

However, now I can access www.davesgarden.com (but not my DG homepage) through MS IE (Firefox is still not working for DG) - Yae! I clicked on Help and then on Cookies and then on How to delete cookies and followed the directions (involves clicking on Tools in toolbar, then Internet Options, then the delete button under Browsing History (including yes to dialog box about cookies related to add-ons). Learned that one from Gardenwife with regard to browser issues some time back.

I'll get back to y'all with further developments as time allows. Maybe if I clear Firefox's browser of cookies as I did with MS IE (even though I've hardly used it), it'll behave better.

ps - I have no other difficulties accessing DG right now, except that the DG homepage remains recalcitrant.

Throughout this whole snafu, I've been able to access DG by clicking on some DG threads or posts (don't know why some will work and others not) that I've saved to my favorites (bookmarked?), and from there I've been able to maneuver around DG from any of the tabs (that I've tried) at the top of DG webpages.

I don't know if Dave foresaw this kind of thing when he set up this website, but thank goodness he gave us more than one way to cope with a problem like this.

Edited to say that after clearing the browser history of cookies, I turned off 'pooter, waited a bit, and turned it on again - that seems to help when trying to teach 'pooter new tricks.

This message was edited Aug 7, 2008 12:20 PM

Susan, thank you for chiming in here - our posts crossed

To those as unknowledgeable about 'pooters as I am, see my edit for http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=5381763

My problem seems to be solved. I'm getting on the home page again with no problems. What a relief! I didn't do anything except restart my computer. How are you doing bluespiral?

susan

same here, susan - I can come and go with Ye Hompage with glorious impunity - wonderful! I have no idea what happened or what went right.

Kinda reminds me of the day, after 10 years with a 22' shallow well that only provided small amounts of water when it felt like it, how much fun it was to play with the faucets after water & sewerage came through -

Have saved this thread to my favorites - may need it again - this is the 2nd time this has happened - don't know why

karen