DARK SHADOWS FORUMS

General Discussions => Testing. 1, 2, 3... => Topic started by: Mark Rainey on July 31, 2002, 02:34:21 PM

Title: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mark Rainey on July 31, 2002, 02:34:21 PM
For a couple of days, I was able to access the archives fine, and in fact posted there. But now I'm getting an error trying to access the archives that reads:

>>We're sorry, but AOL, Compuserve and MSN users cannot access this archive using Microsoft Internet Explorer within AOL or CS.

Please start IE separately from AOL, CS or MSN, go to http://www.dsboards.com, and you'll see that you're already logged (because you've already logged in using IE in AOL, CS or MSN). Close IE in AOL, CS or MSN, and then, using the separate version of IE, return to the archive by using one of the five links in the Members' Gateway.

This might seem inconvenient at first, but it's actually a better way to view items posted in the archive because AOL and CS convert Web site images to their own ART format before displaying them - often degrading them in the process. By using IE separately from AOL or CS, you'll be able to see the archive's content the way we've intended.

For MSN users, it's an archive security issue.<<

However, I'm not using AOL, CS, or MSN. I'm just coming straight in on IE 6.0. Cleared cache. Wazzup?

[shadow=black,left,300]--Mark[/shadow]
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on July 31, 2002, 06:30:24 PM
Quote
However, I'm not using AOL, CS, or MSN. I'm just coming straight in on IE 6.0. Cleared cache. Wazzup?

Hmmm...very odd, Mark. :-/

You're browser is reporting that you're using IE 6.0 connected through MSN 2.5 under Windows 98.

Is there any possibility that you're connecting to the Internet through a network and might not be aware that the network is using MSN 2.5?

I'll IM you the info your browser is reporting. Maybe it will be able to help you figure out what might be going on...
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Midnite on July 31, 2002, 06:33:03 PM
You're showing up in our logs as having an msn server, so can it be that you're using Road Runner (rr.com)?  That might explain it, since it also uses AOL servers.
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mark Rainey on August 01, 2002, 12:38:22 AM
Go figure. I can see the Road Runner network possibly being a problem since it uses AOL servers. But why it would indicate I'm using MSN is a total mystery. I long ago unloaded every trace of MSN that I could find on my computer, so it's not likely my computer itself; must be something in the Road Runner network.

I did get in OK a couple of days ago. Was that before changes were made for security purposes?

Later, I may hook up the phone line and see if I can get in through Mindspring.

[shadow=black,left,300]--Mark[/shadow]
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mark Rainey on August 01, 2002, 01:04:19 AM
Interesting. I just downloaded Netscape 6.2 and was able to log into the archives OK. I'm still using Road Runner, so it would seem it's not the AOL servers. It would appear to be tied to Internet Explorer itself, or so it would seem to me. I cannot for the life of me, though, figure out why the board would think I'm using MSN.


[shadow=maroon,left,300]--Mark[/shadow]
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on August 01, 2002, 01:07:27 AM
Quote
But why it would indicate I'm using MSN is a total mystery. I long ago unloaded every trace of MSN that I could find on my computer

How long ago? Could the version of IE that you're using have come from/with MSN 2.5?
Many ISPs either offer their own supposedly "specially" tweaked versions of both IE and Netscape, or while you're a member of their service, they'll imprint themselves on your browser without you even being aware of it. Sometimes a dead giveaway to either of those two situations can be that, instead of IE's logo displaying in the far right corner of the browser's button bar, you'll see their logo. (With MSN, though, the alternate logo might not be present because they're owned and operated by Microsoft. I don't honestly know what they might do because, surprise, I've never used MSN. ;))
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Patti Feinberg on August 01, 2002, 02:54:29 AM
Quote

Sometimes a dead giveaway to either of those two situations can be that, instead of IE's logo displaying in the far right corner of the browser's button bar, you'll see their logo. (With MSN, though, the alternate logo might not be present because they're owned and operated by Microsoft. I don't honestly know what they might do because, surprise, I've never used MSN. ;))

MB...I NEVER noticed this before...I've got, I presume a windows 98?? flag over a globe?? What's that?
Patti
(it's NOT the Explorer E!!)
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mark Rainey on August 01, 2002, 04:00:04 AM
Quote
Many ISPs either offer their own supposedly "specially" tweaked versions of both IE and Netscape, or while you're a member of their service, they'll imprint themselves on your browser without you even being aware of it. Sometimes a dead giveaway to either of those two situations can be that, instead of IE's logo displaying in the far right corner of the browser's button bar, you'll see their logo.

Yes, this version of IE 6.0 is Road Runner's; it's got the RR logo in the top right. I can't find any MSN files on the computer, though. I'm not savvy enough to know what file names to look for though, if they're using aliases, so to speak.

I can get to the archives, at least, using Netscape 6.2 now, although I'm not very fond of Netscape's interface. As for your question regarding them upgrading to a new version at work -- I wish! Upgrading Netscape is apparently a low priority.

[shadow=navy,left,300]--Mark[/shadow]


Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on August 01, 2002, 06:59:52 AM
Quote
I can't find any MSN files on the computer, though. I'm not savvy enough to know what file names to look for though, if they're using aliases, so to speak.

If there aren't any outward signs that MSN could have imprinted itself on your version of IE, something far more subtle and, IMO, more insidious could be happening. First let me give you a little Windows programming lesson:

All Windows programs link to .dll files. These are dynamic link library files (dll for short), which contain routines that a main program will call. It's much easier for programmers to split programs up into separate files because if a certain routine needs to be altered or updated, only the library file that contains that routine has to be worked with. And most often these library files won't take up memory unless a routine in them is being called on.
But here's where things can get tricky, some ISPs will either add routines to already existing library files, or they'll create their own - and they'll do it in such a way that even if you upgrade your browser from Microsoft or Netscape's Web site rather than the ISP's own site, the newer version of the browser will still act as if the ISP's library file is a vital part of itself - hence the insidiousness of what they do.

Now, with Netscape it's fairly easy to get rid of these sneaky library files because all someone has to do is go to Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel and remove Netscape. Windows will read the main program to see what library files it calls, and if no other programs are also using them, they'll be removed from your hard drive (though it isn't always the case that Windows will actually remove all of them - but any that remain will be orphaned - which is something we'll get into shortly). Then you just reinstall your current version or upgrade.

However, with IE it isn't that simple. You can't just remove IE because it's part of the Windows operating system. The only way to be 100% sure that you've gotten rid of sneaky library files with IE is to completely reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows from scratch. Then if the version of IE that came with your Windows installation CD isn't the latest or the version of IE that you prefer, you have to upgrade to whatever version you'd rather have. (Yet more reasons why IE and Microsoft aren't exactly high on my list. [wink2])

But to get back to your point, Mark, the only way to know what library files your version of IE is linking to, would be to run a program like Ziff Davis' FindOrphans (which actually searches for "orphaned" library files (meaning .dlls that aren't being called by any program on your computer) so that you can delete them yourself - but it also lists all the dlls that your programs are linking to) or to open IE's main program in a any program that can read binary code and search through the actual code to find the names of the dlls yourself (which can usually be a VERY tedious process). But even when you do know what library files are being linked to, you then have to search through each of them to find what you're looking for (in this case, any references to MSN), and the programmers who developed these sneaky library files (for whatever ISP) know that the average IE user isn't about to do that. So they feel pretty confident that in the majority of instances (unless someone reinstalls Windows from scratch, or another ISP imprints itself on IE), their imprint of IE is going to remain - even if the subscriber decides to change ISPs somewhere down the line...

Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mark Rainey on August 02, 2002, 01:31:23 AM
Quote
...some ISPs will either add routines to already existing library files, or they'll create their own - and they'll do it in such a way that even if you upgrade your browser from Microsoft or Netscape's Web site rather than the ISP's own site, the newer version of the browser will still act as if the ISP's library file is a vital part of itself

MB -- Thanks. I surmised this was exactly what might be happening because I've reloaded IE before, and it still gives me the same RoadRunner logo. I had no idea it was actually utilizing MSN somehwhere in the process, however. At least with Netscape I can get to the archives when the mood takes me. Funny; Road Runner uses AOL servers, and Netscape is partnered with AOL. Sometimes life is stranger than shit.

[shadow=purple,left,300]--Mark[/shadow]
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: jennifer on August 09, 2002, 03:48:01 PM
trying to get started(and please remember i'm clueless
when it comes to this !can saves lives but computers???)what is IE and why do i always get a headache when i read this stuff?

jennifer
i need something that is easier than simple!
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: jennifer on August 09, 2002, 03:51:39 PM
internet explorer?
will try wish me luck!

jennifer

ps was able to do it YEAH! but do you have to do this every time?
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Blue_Whale_Barfly on August 13, 2002, 04:43:25 AM
I have never been able to access the achives.  I still get error messages.

IE 5.2 (Mac OSX)  I'm not on AOL or MSN or anything like that.  I have ATT Broadband.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on August 13, 2002, 08:57:22 AM
Quote
IE 5.2 (Mac OSX)  I'm not on AOL or MSN or anything like that.  I have ATT Broadband.

IE is probably the culprit. Have you tried clearing its disk cache and then accessing the archive with one of the five links in the Members' Gateway?
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Blue_Whale_Barfly on August 13, 2002, 06:15:54 PM
Thanks MB but no luck.  I keep getting an error message.  It thinks that I'm not going through the member's gateway when in fact I am.
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on August 14, 2002, 08:34:34 AM
Quote
I keep getting an error message.  It thinks that I'm not going through the member's gateway when in fact I am.

Hmmm - what's odd is that the archive's log is showing that you're not coming in through any of the links in the gateway. It looks like I'm going to have to look into this further for you because I honestly don't understand what could be happening in your case. :-/
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Mysterious Benefactor on August 14, 2002, 08:55:01 AM
OK, this is getting really weird because I just logged in to the forum as you and tried to get into the archive with each of the five links in the Members' Gateway, and I was able to access the archive successfully with all of them.
Now, I'm not doubting for a second that you're having a problem because there's no reason for you to say you are when you're not - but I do have a favor to ask. I've just added some numbers to the errors the archive's system brings up. Could you try to access the archive again when you get the chance, and then post which error number comes up for you? Hopefully that number will help me trace what's happening to you. Thanks! :)
Title: Re: New archive forum problem
Post by: Blue_Whale_Barfly on August 14, 2002, 04:20:58 PM
Hi MB.  It reads Error#1.  Thanks for all your efforts!