Strange w3c Validation problem...

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Strange w3c Validation problem...

w3c validation problem

simonlilly

12:20 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

We've noticed a few of our websites drop out of Google in the last few weeks. After trying various methods of altering code we've also found the same sites are failing the W3C Validation tests.

They are getting a 500 Internal Server error on validation attempts. Any ideas welcomed.

Cheers,

Simon

BlobFisk

12:54 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, simonlilly! Check out Marcia's excellent WebmasterWorld Welcome and Guide to the Basics [webmasterworld.com].

Can you see the page(s) over http? Is the 500 error on the validator site, or is it telling you that it is getting a 500 error from your site?

simonlilly

2:54 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

Thanks for the quick response. On an attempted validation of several sites we get the following message:

"I got the following unexpected response when trying to retrieve <http://ourwebsite/>:

500 Internal Server Error"

Cheers,

Simon

[edited by: simonlilly at 3:33 pm (utc) on Feb. 13, 2003]

tedster

3:02 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

You could try running a page or two through Sim Spider [searchengineworld.com] over on our sister site. Might give you some more to go on.

victor

3:12 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

If that URL you give in message 3 (which I assume will soon be snipped by a moderator) is yours, then you may have a Javascript issue.

When I view the site with Javascript turned off, it renders quite badly -- and that's how a spider will see it.

Also, having two <body> tags won't help. A spider might render both, or neither, or just one.

martinibuster

3:22 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

Hi simonlilly, we're glad to have you in the forum. However you may want to read the Terms of Service (link at the bottom of this page).

Dropping your url is un-cool around here. Don't post your url. A big no-no around here.

But talking about your issue is cool. In fact, it helps more people out with their own issues if we keep url's out of the picture. Also, site reviews are not allowed either, for the same reason.

You can click the "owner edit" link to the left of your message in order to remove your url.

Thanks.

simonlilly

3:42 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

Thanks for the guideline reminder! I must admit to posting the message in a bit of a rush...

We've sorted the problem now. It was a Detect Browser script we were using that was causing the validator to crash and burn!

Thanks for all your help and input.

Simon

amoore

3:48 pm on Feb 13, 2003 (gmt 0)

If you're getting 500 errors, then it likely has nothing to do with your HTML. I'd check your server logs to see what is causing this fatal error. Do you see this error yourself?