Forum Moderators: phranque
1. Type URL into address bar
2. Instead of opening my site I get the Google page of results
3. I click on my result, which is at the top
4. I get the message 'Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage'
Please note:
I AM typing in the right URL!
I AM connected to the internet
I CAN connect to any other site I choose
I am absolutely CONVINCED this is a problem with my webpage rather than the machine I am using, despite my techy guy telling me that "it works OK his end and 'we' must be spelling it wrong!"
I know other people are experiencing this problem too as one kind woman actually phoned me to say "does your site actually exist?"
Incidentally, hyperlinks usually open the site fine.
The site has been moved from one host to another (a long time ago)
It has also been 'redeveloped' a couple of times.
Sorry this is waffly, but I'm at my wits end!
Thanks,
Janet
2. Instead of opening my site I get the Google page of results
To my knowledge, this can ONLY be a function of your web browser. What browser are you doing this in? (I am guessing FF, see below.) Have you tried a different browser?
Most browsers by default will have a setting similar to: if the web page is not found, go to the most likely result. The browser points it's request to what the settings have for the default search engine. This is why I say I'm guessing FF - Google is the default engine in FF, in IE it's MSN.
So for whatever reason - a virus or malware, your browser, your connection, a fault with the web server - your browser is not able to connect with the site and is doing what the settings tell it to.
Have you tried this exact same scenario with another site? IF you have these issues with OTHER sites, it's your connection. If it's just yours, I agree, it's possibly the web hosting service.
Do you type www.example.com or example.com? Does it default with one way, but not the other?
In IE:
Main menu Tools-> Internet Options -> General, look at the center of the pane where you see "Search results." Click the settings button.
This is the "default search engine" IE will use if a page cannot be found, or you ask IE to search (as opposed to going to a search engine via the address bar.) Note what's here, you may want to put it back in. Select it and remove it. Click OK.
Now go to the Advanced tab. Scroll to the bottom of the Browsing section and UNCHECK "Show Friendly Error Messages."
Scroll further down to Printing (I'll never know why this is under Printing.) Where you see "Search," click the button that says "Do not search from the address bar."
Now click OK out of the Internet Options pane.
You should now get a different view when you try to go to your page and can't get there. You should get "could not display page" or some other error. Even so, it may STILL not be your host, it may be the provider on which you're accessing the Internet. Only testing at both locations will verify this.
Addendum: if it STILL brings you to the Google results page, I don't have great news for you. I have experienced this myself.
On some ISP's, if there is a request for a non-existent page (keeping in mind the page is still non-existent if your ISP can't get to it,) they monetize their service by "hijacking" your request and taking it to a search results page. I find this serrupticious and annoying.
Rocknbil - I'm going to try your suggestion - thanks for all the detail - the machine that I have most problems with I cannot access until Monday - will let you know how I get on.
Thanks a lot for all your help
Janet
