Google redirect errors- lower-case vs upper-case

I thought PAGE.htm was different to page.htm

[oddsod]

In htaccess I've redirected some pages with names like GeorgeBush.htm to georgebush.htm (not real pagenames). About 20 pages have been individually redirected so that all my page names are now completely in lower case.

Google webmaster tools is looking for the old GeorgeBush.htm, seeing the 301 to georgebush.htm, and noting that there was a redirect error. Why?

I've tested the redirect in browsers and it's working fine. I'm using just the "O" and "RP" flags, not the "I"
(e.g., RewriteRule /1/USA.htm [mysite.com...] [O,RP])

I thought Google saw upper and lower case like Apache does - as being different filenames (unlike programs like Frontpage) - or am I wrong?

[edited by: oddsod at 3:47 pm (utc) on Dec. 8, 2006]

[pageoneresults]

I've tested the redirect in browsers and it's working fine.

Have you tested it with a Server Header tool just to be sure that it is returning the proper header response?

I thought Google saw upper and lower case like Apache does - as being different filenames (unlike programs like Frontpage) - or am I wrong?

No, you are correct.

In Windows, there is no case sensitivity. This has caused problems for many who use mixed case and don't follow a strict set of guidelines for naming conventions. All that mixed case wreaks havoc on initial indexing. Even after the fact. You're using mixed, people are linking all lower case, so Google is seeing two copies of everything. It's a mess!

[oddsod]

No, I hadn't but I did it just now.

#1 Server Response: [**mysite**.com...]
HTTP Status Code: HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently
Connection: close
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:48:10 GMT

But both
Location: and
Redirect Target:
are showing the URL in complete lower case.

[pageoneresults]

and noting that there was a redirect error.

I've not used that interface but, in Windows, sometimes that 301 is referred to as a 301 Error. Is it possible that Google is reporting correctly and the terminology is a little confusing? I'm just guessing now...

[pageoneresults]

From Google's Webmaster Help Pages...

[google.com...]

Something isn't quite right either with the redirect or with Google's reporting. ;)

[jdMorgan]

Is this mod_rewrite code on Apache, or ISAPI Rewrite code on IIS?

The reason I'm asking is that [O,RP] is not a valid flag combination for Apache mod_rewrite.

Jim

[oddsod]

Sorry, yes, it's IIS. You're too quick off the mark! :-)

[edited by: jdMorgan at 4:01 pm (utc) on Dec. 8, 2006]
[edit reason] Speling [/edit]