Odd problem

[Davey]

Not sure if anyone can offer any advice regarding this problem.

A colleague of mine has problems with one 'forum' site ' where if a link enclosed with in the message is clicked, the browsers returns a 'forum not found' message even though the link is a hyper link.

All I know of the computer is that it is running Win xp, and have norton as the firewall and AV.

We have run everything from spy checkers, cleared temp files, caches etc, to system tools (sfc) but nothing stops this one problem. It is applicable to one forum site only. Everywhere esle is absolutely fine.

Any advice please?

[scottyman]

most likely their links are wrong -
if he navigates to the forum, then compares the link - he'll probably see the error. maybe the vhost information is generating the wrong path, and it's just simply not accessible from the address.
pm it to me and I'll have a look later if you want.

[Davey]

It is not just the one link, it is all from the forum. I understand another computer has been plugged in at the same address and it works perfectly. It is just this one system has decided that it hates the site.

[Norky]

Do the links include the http:// bit?

[Davey]

Hi Norky,

Yes, shows as the whole link all pretty and blue but just returns a 'forum not found' message.

[Olly1234]

Could you post any examples?

[scottyman]

Davey - meant that do the links being sent match what is displayed on the forum?

[Davey]

Hi scottyman.

Ah, now I can't tell you that, how will I know as the system gives a 'quick' flick and returns to the forum background with the message 'forum not found'.

I understand from my collegaue that the system now does a double flick and displays a single white page. I presume by 'flick' my colleague is refering to page opening.

Getting stranger by the minute this one. IE is the only browser on the system.

[rajagra]

Maybe the site depends on using popups, and they're being blocked by Norton?
Try right-clicking the link, Copy Link Location, then paste into notepad.

[Davey]

My colleague disabled Norton (risky with no firewall/av running...silly person), this did not stop the problem. All the pop up blockers have been deactivated too but to no avail.

[scottyman]

if you compare the link rec'd in e-mail to the link to the post on the forum - just compare them side by side and see if there's a difference.
i.e. link for this thread:

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=41243&goto=newpost
versus
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=41243

you'll see they're practically identical apart from the goto identifier telling your browser to instruct the server to accss the next latest post since you last visited the thread.

[Davey]

Well, that is it now then, they went for the big 'f'! and reinstall. A hammer to crack a nut it seems!

Thanks for all the help people.

Ta

Davey

[scottyman]

seriously - not going to solve the problem! *)
they're going to be sorely disappointed that they have exactly the same problem. Did they forward the link to you to test independantly?

[Davey]

Hi scottyman

I cannot contact my colleague now, so unable to see exactly they see. I have looked at the forum on my own system and it is formatted as your second link, i.e just to the site.

Never mind. I am sure if they continue with this problem, they will bellow again.

Thanks for the help.

[scottyman]

i've changed the layout so you can see the links are to all intents and purposes identical. the problematic issue is the link they're seeing in their e-mail client - so once they can show it to you - then you'll know immediately where the problem lies - their system, or the server itself. I'm sure an admin would have noticed by now and rectified the fault if it was a config issue on their forum.

[Davey]

Doubt I will hear from them for a while but I shall know what to look for when I do. Thanks for the info.

Regards

Davey