You are writing a post and to read it you move your cursor out of the way of the text box and accidently place it over the side box. After it sets there an indeterminant time, without touching the mouse, the browser moves to whatever was in the box.
When I’m writing a long post, I keep selecting all my words so far and right click my mouse to ‘copy’ it. So If I make a boo-boo, I just right click and ‘paste’ and all the work will be there again from the last point I ‘copy’ it.
No, I haven’t encountered that problem…yet…but I had a long, scintillating riposte all typed out on a subject of huge importance (yeah, whatever) once, and when I clicked on ‘submit’ I got a message saying “error on page. Host unavailable…”
SaceMouse, What browser are you using? With most modern browsers, you simply backup a page and your work should still be there. Never have encountered the problem. I’m using Safari (Mac) and it has never done that. Sounds like you have little gremlins or some viral disease on the PC… [;)]
Haven’t had that particular problem, but when I had a less steady ISP connection I got in the habit of writing in Word any posts that I expected to be long. I save the Word doc every couple of minutes (old habit). At the end I just copy from the Word doc and paste in the forum reply window and add smilies. If the system crashes, or if I hit the wrong key, I still have my original document to copy from and repost.
But I feel for you, it is frustrating when it happens.
Internet Explorer and it really depends on the site I move to. If the site is a simple html file, then yeah, I can usually get back my work. However, if it is one full of scripts, animations, etc. Then the memory gets wiped and the work is gone.
I’ve never encountered that particular problem. Like Ray stated, most of the time I can just use the back button and it will give me my previous page - with the unfinished post waiting for me.
With the said, however, I do subscribe to Aggros philosophy of Ctrl+Cing my longer discourses - just in case. I’ve been burned one too many times in the past typing out a long e-mail or response to someone and then - POOF! - “something happens” and I have to recollect what I had previously so eloquently composed for them to read. It’s a good habit to get into.
Chip, try using Mozilla Firefox. It’s a much friendlier browser than IE and a good way to not support Bill Gates and his problem. Easy download of <5 MG. A terrific browser. I’ve been using it for about 6 months. I have the MR Forum conveniently located in the “Bookmark Toolbar” - located at the top of the page. One simple click and I’m there…[:)]
I highly second that. Firefox is a very powerful, stable, and ISO compliant browser. Well worth downloading! Also, consider adding more RAM. It is the quikest and most cost effective way to upgrade. A lot of quirks on computers are caused by lack of RAM.
I usually type out my messages in MS Word, and then copy them over to the reply box. That way I know the spelling is correct, and the message is backed up in Word in case the website (or browser) is acting up.
Wow, you guys are really disciplined! I just type away, and post when I have given it the once-over. I have to admit that I still find lots of errors in my posts, which I do regret (and correct), but it is time consuming. Maybe I should write the longer replies in Word and paste them in. Good idea.
[#ditto] I’m surprised you didn’t start doing it this way much earlier - I’ve had too many bad experiences like yours to risk composing a long reply straight from the browser.
Happens to be occasionally too. Firefox does not prevent that problem, nor can you simply go BACK and get your message back - because what is happening is the RESET FIELDS is somehow becomign the active buttona nd you ht the space bar and…POOF. It really does not make sense - maybe if I was using a laptop with a touchpad, those things are NOTORIOUS for selecting a bunch of text and then with you next keypress, wipng it all out.
I notice that the message erasing that happens here does not depend on my inactivity time. I can be actually in the middle of typing, tap space between words, and my message is gone!