If you browse the Internet long enough, invariably you'll encounter some type of error message somewhere along the way. Why do these messages occur? What do they mean? And what can you do to stop from getting them? To help make things more clear, I'm providing a list of some of the most common error codes and messages you're likely to encounter on the Internet, plus a few tips and suggestions on how to avoid running into those errors.
Numerical Error Messages
The most common error message on the Internet is "Error 404-File Not Found." When you see this message, it means that the host server can't find the document at the website address you've entered. Either you've mistyped the address, the document no longer exists, or you were given the wrong web address in the first place.
There are a few ways around this problem. First, if the web address ends in ".htm", try typing in ".html" (or vice versa). Designers have been known to sometimes inadvertantly remove or add the wrong extension to a web page. If that doesn't work, delete everything after the last slash in the web address and hit enter. For example, if you received an error message after trying to access [url=http://www.excite.com/search/people/pictures.html]http://www.excite.com/search/people/pictures.html[/url], delete the /pictures.html and try accessing the site again.
Another option would be to slowly file the web address down until you get to just the original front page of the site ([url=http://www.apple.com]http://www.apple.com[/url], for example), then work your way through to the page you're looking for. If you still get an error message, send an e-mail to the site's webmaster and inform them of your situation. You'll usually get a response within 24 hours and an explanation behind the problem.
Other common numerical messages include "401-Unauthorized User" and "403-Forbidden." This means that the site you're trying to access is protected and you either entered the incorrect password upon entering the site, or the site's host does not want users coming from your domain to access that page.
Some sites only allow specific domains to enter otherwise restricted sections of a site. For example, some U.S. government sites (those with the .gov domain name) will only permit users from another site with a .gov domain to have complete access. Similarly, some educational sites (those with the .edu domain name) allow full access from other educational sites only.
If you get a forbidden or unauthorized user message, your only options are to access that site from a location that uses the same domain name, or to try retyping your password if the site is password protected. If your domain doesn't have access, or you can't remember the correct password to get in, you won't be able to access that site.
Dealing with an Unruly Host
Occasionally, users will try to access a site and receive a message that says "Host Unavailable," "Host Unknown" or "Unable to Locate Host." In these cases, it's usually a problem with the site you're trying to contact. There are a number of reasons that this message can occur. For instance, the server that you're trying to connect to may be offline or shut down for maintenance. You may also have entered the web address incorrectly, or you may have lost your own connection to the Internet.
In situations like these, the first step would be to click the Reload button on your browser. With the amount of traffic on the Internet, information requests can get sent out and end up lost in cyberspace, or it may never wind up at the intended destination. Sometimes the packets of information your modem sends out don't arrive at the correct server, and a second try (or even a third) may do the job.
If that fails, check your computer to make sure you're still connected to the Internet. If the connection has been broken, simply reconnect and try the address again. If you still keep receiving the error message, check the web address for typos and case-sensitivity. Remember that website addresses are case sensitive; when entering an address, try typing everything in lower case letters first.
Other Common Error Messages
There are dozens of error messages that a user can run into when attempting to view or download files from the Internet. Among the more common ones are:
File Contains No Data. This message is displayed when a user tries to access or print out a site that doesn't contain any web pages on it. You'll also get this message if you're trying to access a page while it is in the process of being uploaded to the server.
First, wait a minute or so and then hit the Reload button. If a page is being uploaded, it won't register as a web page until it has been uploaded completely. Also, make sure that the web address is entered correctly. If you're trying to print out a page and neither of those options works, you can save the page as an HTML file and then print it out using a word processing program like Wordperfect or Microsoft Word.
Too Many Connections -- Try Again Later. Users will usually encounter this message when they're trying to download a particular file from an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) site. When a user receives this message, it means that the limit to the number of people who can use the site at the same time has been exceeded. It's like standing in line for a table at a good restaurant: you just have to wait your turn until someone else is finished.
There are really only two options users have when faced with a "too many connections" message. The first would be to keep clicking the Reload button until you make a connection with the FTP server and can start downloading a file. The second option would be to come back at a later time when there is likely to be less traffic on that site.
Too Many Users. Like the "too many connections" error listed above, this message will be displayed when the number of people that can access a site or download a file at the same time has been exceeded. This is not uncommon among smaller-sized servers, where administrators set a certain amount of users to have access to a site in order to avoid slow upload and download rates.
As mentioned above, you have the option of trying to reconnect via the Reload button, or you can come back at a later time when there is less traffic on the Internet. However, some sites have what are called mirror sites -- other websites that contain the same files for downloading. If the site you're trying to access has a mirror site, try one of those as well.
NNTP Server Error. Occasionally, this error message will appear when a user is trying to log onto a Usenet newsgroup. An NNTP server is a part of the software that's run by your Internet service provider, so if you encounter this message, there may be a problem with your ISP's newsgroup software. On the other hand, the newsgroup you're trying to locate may not exist, either.
Once again, the first place to check is the web address. Make sure that everything's been entered correctly, then hit the reload button. Remember that newsgroups do not start with the http:// prefix that web pages use. You should also check the newsgroup preferences in your web browser and make sure they've been entered correctly. If the problem still persists, contact your Internet service provider and make them aware of the situation.
Helper Application Not Found. Helper applications are programs that web browsers use to open and view certain types of files, such as Quicktime movies or JPEG graphic images. However, sometimes users will try to download or open a file that a browser doesn't recognize. When that occurs, the "Helper Application Not Found" message will appear.
Usually, this error message is accompanied by a dialog box, which will tell you the type of file the browser is trying to view. There are several options which are available to you. Some users opt to get the specific application that is used to view a particular type of file (for instance, downloading the Real Player to listen to Real Audio/Video files). You can also save the file to your hard drive, then download or install the helper application needed to open that type of file. Or you can follow your web browser's instructions for assigning a certain application to view each type of file you wish to look at online.
Tips For Dealing with Error Messages
Admittedly, receiving an error message is a frustrating experience. Here are a few simple tips that can help you avoid running into these problems in the future:
- When typing in a web address, always use lower case letters. Web addresses are case-sensitive, meaning they recognize upper- and lower-case letters as separate entities. In addition to the letters, check the other text that goes into an address -- colons, slashes, dashes, numbers and tildes ( ).
- If you get a "not found" error, the page may not necessarily have disappeared; it may only be temporarily away because of a misspelling or bad coding at the host site. Try accessing the page the next day, or try the home page for the site and send an e-mail asking for an explanation.
- If pages are updated frequently, remember to use the Reload button to get the "freshest" copy of that page. Sometimes a page you're viewing may actually be an older copy of the same page that's stored in your computer's cache.
In our next issue, I'll give some advice on how to choose an Internet service provider (ISP) that suits your needs best. As always, we welcome your feedback. If there's an error message that you have a question about, or if you have any comments or suggestions regarding this column, please contact me by e-mail or telephone at the number listed below.
Michael Devitt
Huntington Beach, California
Tel: (714) 960-6577
Fax: (714) 536-1482
Editorial-DCmedia.com
