I case anyone else has stumbled back into the room after being locked out all day, Firefox and the Trains forums seem to have quit communicating today. I’m on Firfox 8.0, but checked and applied a pending update without success.
I keep getting this error message from Firefox:
The page isn’t redirecting properly
Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.
This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept
cookies.
Problem is I am accepting cookies. Dumping cookies gets me back to the board, but as soon as I try to log in, I’m back to the same irritating message.
I hate using Exploder, too many bad memories of security holes and MS weirdness.
One more reason to not get too excited about Exploder. I can log in and post now, but Exploder crashes everytime I do. Strangely, the message in always there after three tries. Maybe it’s time to hit the sack.
My wife, who is a programmer, suspects a server issue on the Trains end and suggested that the time to apply server updates is NOT on the Friday before a holiday weekend…
Just in case it doesn’t play well.
EDIT: OK, things didn’t choke ip this time around in Exploder. We’ll see what NYE morning brings.
IE always gave me problems of one kind or another with the MR forums. I switched to Firefox and the weirdness went away except for the occasional ‘redirect cannot complete’ BS message. This is also an error set off by the forum software as it happens absolutely nowhere else. I eventually got the Firefox options set so that I don’t see that anymore. I keep the Opera browser ready as a backup browser. I try IE once in a while but it’s like watching a three ring circus in a rubber padded cell.
I’ve used IE all my life and have never had a problem with it. Its got to be the number 1 browser for a reason doesn’t it. This website on the other hand seems to be the root of a few peoples problems from time to time.
IE9 on this machine, IE8 on the XP laptop I haul around and not once have I had an issue with this site. I am one of those heretics that used Firefox for a while and just did not get on with it well. I much prefer IE, each to their own I guess?
I had problems with Firefox after they started their “update marathon” last summer and switched to Google Chrome. I’ve had no problems and prefer it over the latest Firefox.
I’m currently using the latest version of Firefox (9.0.1) and am experiencing no problems at all. You aren’t using dial-up, by chance?
The reason for asking is that I used to get error messages occasionally when loading pages on MR when I was on dial-up and using Firefox. Now that I’ve moved up to DSL (a whole week now - Woohoo!), I’ve not had a single error message. [Y] And, except on a rare occasion, MR was pretty much the only site that that happened on.
Whenever I experienced the error messages, I’d use IE8 for browsing the MR and things would be copacetic again. I much prefer Firefox over IE but keep them both on my computer.
Exploder is the only browser that the Trains forums actively support. The rest of us are usually just along for the ride, but don’t have problems. So it’s not surprising that you don’t have problems here running IE. “Popularity” or being “#1” has less to do with it than with MS’s monopoly power.
Rich,
I run FF because it doesn’t usually cause these sorts of issues. I agree that the issue is most likely on the server side, based on consulting with my in-house expert (among other things, she programs the back end of enterprise-level MS installs and she can tell you some tales about the issues involved in making MS stuff play nicely with the rest of the internet.)
Tom,
I see that last night’s update did take me to FF 9.0.1, so it’s interesting that you’re not having issues.
I’m not using a dial-up (DSL). I am a little surprised that a few are using FF without issues, but this mostly seems to be those who don’t update it (other than Tom). Beware if you take that startegy, as the security holes that not updating leaves could be a problem at some point for you.
BTW, I’m still having some flakiness with Exploder this morning, but I expect that.[^o)]
And no luck with FF. I can still dump my FF cookies and read, but the second I try to sign in, I get the same error message above.
Happy New Year. I guess it’ll be fixed after the weekend.
I am using FF8 and have no trouble with the forums. I usually wait a week or 2 before updating to see if the update causes problems. That’s one reason I don’t allow auto updates. I just let FF, IE and others let me know when updates are available.
That may work to read, but doesn’t help me to post. Everytime I try to sign in, it chokes up. Clearly a cookie-handling issue, as once you acquire the cookies again, it’s right back to the same message.
Kind of strange that some on FF aren’t having problems. Seems like FF 8.0 is working for them, but that’s the version I had when I first noticed the problem and only then updated to FF 9.
Looks like I’m on “read-only” on FF until things get fixed.
That’s strange. I use Firefox 1.9 Yahoo Edition here at my parents place and I use Firefox 8 at home. Both systems are Windows XP Home Edition. Cookies are enabled and web site tracking is off.