Serious Site problem in IE7
If you can read this then you must be using a browser other than Internet Explorer 7.0. Anyone using IE7 cannot access the site as they get a message saying “Internet Explorer cannot open site … Operation Aborted” or something similar.
Now this started happening shortly after the I put up the post yesterday evening with the video of the proof Gary Simpson had won the Google Ranking competition. About an hour after that the site starting having problems. I have tried removing the post, the video my pop-ups and yet I still get the same message.
If anybody has any ideas what I can do to rectify it please let me know. I stil don’t quite understand how it can work with other browsers (eg. Firefox, Chrome) but not IE7. Any help much apprecaited as I’m tearing my hair out here 
Filed under: Alex Jeffreys
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Hi Garry,
I don’t know of a solution yet but I thought you might like to knoe it’s not only your site with this problem.
I couldn’t access your site, Nigel’s and two others from yesterday afternoon on. I thought it was a problem my end but it looks like that’s not the case.
I downloaded Firefox and all is ok. It’s strange how it’s only some sights but I think it make has something to do with flash/videos. Having said that there are videos on my site and that loads ok in IE7.
Sorry this isn’t a solution but I atleast you know it’s not your site alone. It must be a problem with IE.
If I can find out any info I will email you.
All the best
Mark
sorry for all the spelling mistakes above…sight instead of site!!! Very tired today
Mark,
I have just come to the same conclusion and I too thing it is to do with embedded videos though not 100% sure.
I am relieved in a way that it is not only my site as I am sure now I’ll be able to find a solution as initially I thought something was wrong with my site and to be honest I was struggling to know where to look.
Hey Garry
This is a real bummer. I ‘googled’ the term ‘IE cannot open site’ and it came up with suggestions. I have to admit that I went through some of the sites offering solutions and they were way over my head. You may have more idea on what they’re talking about.
Good luck
Doug
Garry,
The other sites I mentioned will still not load in IE. I have an embedded video in my latest thread and no problems. Pretty sure it has something to do with Flash.
Still looking for info…
Mark
@Doug,
Yeah there’s loads of stuff - just wading my way through it to find an answer.
@Mark,
Thanks, You’re a few steps ahead of me I think. I just worked out it isn’t video as in IE7 I have managed to go to a page directly that has a video on.
I think my twitter feed is flash so I will try and remove that.
Thanks for the idea.
Done some searching around and seems to be a common problem, definately created by flash player in IE7. The common solution offered is to start using Firefox, lol….not very helpful. I have seen a few references to the problem being in the embed coding but nothing concrete.
Will keep looking!
Mark
Right,
I’ve managed to get the front page to load in IE7.
I’ve removed all the flash stuff and the embedded video plus a social media plugin. Now I was hoping that would sort it. However, if you click on any post (this one for example) in IE7 to display it fully on a separate page then you can the same error message again.
When I look at the source on the problem page when I view it in Firefox I can’t see anything there that wouldn’t be on the front page. I’m back to scratching my head again now.
I’ve got to pop out for an hour or so, so may the break will do me good.
Even more bizarre I’ve just found from my prior comment. If I put the URL for this post directly into IE7 it works !!!
But if I click to go to it from the front page it comes up with the error. OR even if I attempt from this page to click back to the HOME page that doesn’t work, though the front page loads if you initially go there directly!!
So it is something to do with the way IE7 is navigating from page to page. Could be a PHP coding issues somewhere.
Hi Garry,
Have found that people having this problem is being caused by more than one issue.
Flash player, javascript and IE add ons. I’m finding lots of info on problems but not many solutions.
If I do find suggestions they are usually to do with the viewer making changes to their browser, not site owners..
I’m out for a while too, I’ll check back in with you later.
Mark
Garry, I tried loading a page that has NO video to see if that would load in IE7, and it still gives the error. The page I tried is: http://garryparkes.com/alex-jeffreys/serious-site-problem-in-ie7/
That makes me wonder if something in one of your sidebars is contributing to the problem. If it was me, I’d try removing the sidebar widgets or content one thing at a time. If you remove something and the site loads in IE7, you’ll know which one triggered the problem. In theory, anyway. : )
Hi Garry,
I have had to switch to Chrome just to get your site. I notice that several sites are down the same way - JT’s, Nigel Yip’s. I noticed this all happened at the same time last night for me.
All the sites had a common bug - about an hour after you put up the “controversial” video of my site hitting #1 on Google - albeit briefly.
On that, here’s some more interesting data. I have now slumped back to #22 - in Oz anyway. I wondered about this then it made perfect sense…
I checked the cache and saw that Google had spidered my site yesterday - FIRST time since 27 January 2009. Thanks a BIGGIE Googs!
At that time my site showed 165k. Now it is displaying 211k. By far it is the biggest site in the F500 and since I haven’t done any SEO for at least a week or more the “density” of my site for those key-words has diluted by the extra size.
Unfortunately, I am off on yet another FRIKKEN “Noof-Noof” family extravaganza-bonanza tomorrow and across the weekend so I won’t be doing a damn thing. But when I get back, hmm… maybe a little more SEO? LOL!
Anyway, a superficial explanation ATM. I may have more later - if anyone could give a continental, that is.
I think the main thing is to get all these sites back on stream with IE. That’s a bummer for a lot of folks.
But I must say, Garry, that your site looks a LOT better in Chrome - some small consolation.
Gary
Hi Linda,
See you still like the [Q] reference
I have come to the conclusion that it is nothing in the sidebar. Like I say in comment#9 it is bizzare how I can now access ANY page direct, including the front page BUT when I press any link to navigate to another page on my site it fails. Even though if I went to that page directly in the first place it works !!
My conclusion is it is something to do with a PHP scripting problem and that is the line I am pursuing for now until I have exhausted it. This seems to be supported by what Mark as found in that absolutely loads of things are failing, suggesting that it is more fundamental then just one particular thing.
But everyone, keep throwing the suggestions my way. When I sort it I’ll put up a post to let everyone know how to sort it for themselves.
Back to the investigation.
Hi Gary,
sorry to hear your having trouble.. Just thinking back a little, your blog has slowed right down for me ever since you put the pop up on here.
Not sure if they may contribute, also I do believe it to be in relation to flash… When I come to either yours or G-man’s blog on my netbook it prompts me to install flash player constantly and crashes your blogs !!
*** BY THE WAY ***
Did you read Nigel Yips latest blog post ?? He’s giving it all up due to lack of results ??!!??!!
Shocked ! Thought he was going strong !
Speak soon
Dean
Hi Garry
Good to hear your interview on the webinar!
I agree with Alex - you’re not going to need a job any more. Hope there’s room for the rest of us up there at the top!
Here’s a funny thing about your IE7 problem: when you get the error message, if you click ‘OK’ on the Error Box, you get the “Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage” Big White Page.
Once you’ve got this, if you click your IE7 browser ‘Back’ button, it opens the page with no problems.
On my PC, this happens whichever page resulted in the error message.
This behaviour might provide a clue to help diagnose the cause of the problem. But in the meantime, it could provide a work-around for those using IE7.
Good luck,
James
Hi James,
I see what you mean James.
It just gets stranger and stranger.
I’m not getting very far at all trying to track it down though
Parkesy,
Argghh, cant see you in IE on FF just now my blog loads ok, as I have your video embedded…
Also posted about Product Creation and the ‘3D’s’
Let me know what you think
Cheers
Tommy
Hey Garry, it seems it is a problem with internet explorer. Both me and my friend couldn’t access much of anything during the past couple of days.
It definitely is not you or your posts or your videos. It seems to working ok for me now but when it’s not I use Firefox.
Hopefully microsoft figures out whats up and gets it fixed quickly or else Firefox and others will have a jump in downloads.
Later
Michael J Ottman
**** UPDATE *****
Well, have spent all day investigating the problem I think I’ve sorted it
Fingers crossed anyway. I’m out for rest of day now but will post an update asap so that everyone else who is encountering the same problem on their sites can sort it as well.
Thanks for everyone’s suggestions.
Oh, and tomorrow I’ll catch up and reply to everyone’s comments as well as there are a lot to !!
Hi hubby,
This seems like the only way to comunicate with you. Can you fit in some us time anytime in the next couple of months? lol (dose that stand for laugh out loud or lots of love - you decide. Kids said to say hi.
Garry, maybe it is time for spending little more time offline now? You seems to have a wife and kids there somewhere.
Can the problem be related with your theme? Maybe it is too much for your theme to handle now.
Your blog works fine in IE6
/Ali (I’m still open for flu killing tips. I know it is totally off topic. But if there’s no health there will be no life, also online)
Methinks “wifey & kiddy” message is tongue-in-cheeky. A frustration at getting nothing done coz you had this bloody IE7 issue. Nice release.
Very funny Garry!
Other Gary
That’s torn it…the wife’s aggitated now…LOL
(thats laughs out loud Mrs.P)in case you’re wondering
Doug
P.S. glad to see the site ok Garry
Garry,
Just checking in. I KNEW you would work it out.
Only trouble is that when these damn computer glitches happen it is always such a MASSIVE waste of time trying to fix them.
Good to see it is all up and running properly in IE now. Maybe you could tell us what happened.
Oh - before I go… I will be off on another “FAMILY FUN TIME” excursion all weekend but I have left an absolute treat over at my blog for everyone…
… it’s Linda Caroll with an MP3 recording that EVERYONE will want to listen to. It is just SO appropriate. Also, Linda is minding the fort for me while I am absent. I really do need a couple of days away from my keyboard.
But Garry, in addition to Linda, I was wondering if you and Thom Swartwood wouldn’t mind fielding a few answers for folks while I am away. I’ll do the same for you when you need a break.
We are going down to “Ding Dong” - you know where it is Garry - Dunsborough on the tip of the south west coast of Western Australia and I have been threatened with “NO TWO BELLS” for a week if I take my lappie. Jeez! No two bells for two days would be punishment enough! I reckon that is crap anyway coz I know who would be getting self-punished out of that!
OK. That’s it from me - see you on the other side of “Happy Days Are Here Again!”
Gary
@Gary,
I might try Chrome out as a browser. I’ve heard good reports of it. Have a great weekend away.
@Dean,
I wasn’t aware that the site was running slow so thanks for that. I’ve removed the Twitter feed (flash) for now and also removed the pop-up as well. I did this when I was trying to track down what the offending item was.
Regarding Nigel, looks like he has been planning this from virtually the very start as you can see from his repeated F13 post, which I still don’t fully understand, but it’ easy to confuse me, LOL. Real shame as Nigel has got real talent and he certainly helped me a great deal with video. I will pop over to his site later and put up my thanks there too.
@James,
It’s a big place the Internet so there will be plenty of room. I’ve got some great plans for what I want to do in Internet Marketing so I am extremely hopeful that I won’t need to have a ‘normal’ job, LOL.
Thanks for your contribution
@Tommy,
I’ll get over and look at your Product Creation Post
@Michael,
I see you have been very active with commenting Michael over last few days. I’m just doing the ’rounds’ to reply to all my comments so will respond very soon. I also need to email you about something
@Wife,
Oh no everyone …. I’m in trouble now, she’s found out where I hang out !! Better be careful what I say now
***** FINAL UPDATE *****
I’ll close off this thread now as I have resolved the problem. Thanks very much for everyone in offer suggestions, feedback and ideas for how to sort it. I got there in the end with your help and sorry everyone for the inconvenience while it was going on. Microsoft have a lot to answer for !!
Solution can be found on this post here