URLs

[hot dog]

Why is it that some computers require typing   WWW   in the URL in order to access a web site, but other computers, don't require it...

For example, on my mom's computer if I want to go to Myspace I have to type www.myspace.com

But on my own computer I can get by typing:    myspace.com

[kpac]

Are you sure about this? Usually it's the site........something with the browser maybe?

[Rob Pomeroy]

http://myspace.com automatically redirects to http://www.myspace.com.  The redirection is suggested at the server end and the browser is expected to comply.  Which browser are you using?

[hot dog]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!   It's the "disembodied head", look out!  lol

Uh, the browser is Internet Explorer 7.  I don't recall exactly what is says when I try to access a web page without using WWW, but it simply doesn't work.

On most other computers, however, I don't have this problem.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Screenshot please!

[kpac]

Post the error you get, if any.

[hot dog]

well, my mom lives 50 miles away so I'll have to call her and ask her what is says when she attempts to access a web page like I described.......(I just called her and got a busy signal, she has a dial-up connection without any call waiting!)  I'll try back again in a little while

[2x3i5x]

well, my mom lives 50 miles away so I'll have to call her and ask her what is says when she attempts to access a web page like I described.......(I just called her and got a busy signal, she has a dial-up connection without any call waiting!)  I'll try back again in a little while

oh if you can, bug your mom to get DSL, so that you don't hack up the phone line in case of emergency calls! Internet is faster, and your mom probably would be happier to not have to wait. LOL 

Getting a busy signal on telephone does not necessarily mean she's on the internet, she might be on the phone calling somebody but I think you already knew that 

[hot dog]

oh if you can, bug your mom to get DSL, so that you don't hack up the phone line in case of emergency calls! Internet is faster, and your mom probably would be happier to not have to wait. LOL 

Getting a busy signal on telephone does not necessarily mean she's on the internet, she might be on the phone calling somebody but I think you already knew that 

Believe me, I bugged her to get DSL or some other faster service, but she seems content with her ancient technology

[hot dog]

OK, just got word back from my mommy.  I had her type myspace.com and the error that was generated was:   "Windows cannot find myspace.com  Please check the spelling and try again"

Once again, if she adds the WWW to the URL it works fine, but on most other machines I don't have to use WWW in the URL.

[Rob Pomeroy]

That's plain weird.  "myspace.com" is a valid URL for MySpace.  You can confirm this unequivocally from a command prompt.

Code: [Select]

telnet myspace.com 80

[type any old gibberish]

HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: text/html
Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:45:21 GMT
Connection: close
Content-Length: 35

<h1>Bad Request (Invalid Verb)</h1>

I suspect that there's a typo involved somewhere along the line.  No offence to your mother intended.  Why not set up LogMeIn on her computer and then you can watch (slowly) while it all happens, and take screenshots to boot.

[2x3i5x]

That's plain weird.  "myspace.com" is a valid URL for MySpace.  You can confirm this unequivocally from a command prompt.

Code: [Select]

telnet myspace.com 80

[type any old gibberish]

HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: text/html
Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:45:21 GMT
Connection: close
Content-Length: 35

<h1>Bad Request (Invalid Verb)</h1>



I suspect that there's a typo involved somewhere along the line.  No offence to your mother intended.  Why not set up LogMeIn on her computer and then you can watch (slowly) while it all happens, and take screenshots to boot.

his mom lives 50 miles away .... 

[hot dog]

I'm certain it's not a typo because I sat and typed it myself a while back and got the same error message.  I just had my mom retype the URL myspace.com so I could tell you exactly what the error message was (I couldn't remember what is was)


edit: I'd like to add it's the same story when any other URL is typed.  If the WWW is left out, it will not work

[Rob Pomeroy]

his mom lives 50 miles away .... 

Er... that was exactly my point!

Just talk her through the telnet session above.  See what results she gets.  Have you checked the HOSTS file?

[kpac]

Have you checked the HOSTS file?

To make that easier, download HostsXpert ( http://www.majorgeeks.com/Hoster_d4626.html ) and then follow the steps below:

- Unzip HostsXpert.zip
- It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.
- Run HostsXpert.exe by double clicking on it.
- click Restore MS Hosts File and then click OK.
- Click the X to exit the program

Restart computer.

[hot dog]

I haven't asked her to check the HOSTS file.  What exactly in the HOSTS file may need correction?  Forgive me, networking is not a strong point of mine.

Does LogMeIn need to be installed on both of our computers to use it?


I will talk her through the telent session mentioned....give me a little time and I'll post back..

edit: I just realized I wouldn't be able to speak to her on the phone while she runs the telnet session (because she's doesn't have call waiting--only one connection allowed at at time!).....But couldn't I connect to her computer through telnet, and then run the telnet session as is I was siting at her computer?  As I said, I haven't had much experience in networking.  I'm planning on going over there in a few days, it might just be easier if I did this from her computer

Thanks for the help on this guys.  This is certainly a learning opportunity...

[hot dog]

Hello, I'm sitting at my mom's computer now....I downloaded and unzipped the HostsXpert.exe file and ran it, restarted, connected to the Internet.........then I opened a browser and tried:  myspace.com  (without the WWW) and I got the same error.....Was there something else I was suppose to do?

I also opened a command prompt and typed: telent myspace.com 80
and the result was a blank screen, that said, "Telent myspace.com" at the very top.
What am I missing here

[BC_Programmer]

Windows cannot find myspace.com

"Windows"? why does it say windows?

similar to the Run dialog message:

Windows cannot find 'myspace.com'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.


Or is this something to do with Version IE7 and 8?

Hello, I'm sitting at my mom's computer now....I downloaded and unzipped the HostsXpert.exe file and ran it, restarted, connected to the Internet.........then I opened a browser and tried:  myspace.com  (without the WWW) and I got the same error.....Was there something else I was suppose to do?

I also opened a command prompt and typed: telent myspace.com 80
and the result was a blank screen, that said, "Telent myspace.com" at the very top.
What am I missing here

Assuming you typed telnet and not telent, you forgot the [type any old gibberish] part!

[hot dog]

"Windows"? why does it say windows?

I don't know, that's just what is says.  The browser is IE7....Yes, I did type TELNET (not telent)   Sorry about the typo

And what is meant by [type any old gibberish] ??
How do I add that to the command line, "telnet myspace.com 80"?  When I type that and press enter, there is a blank screen, and nothing else I type can be seen.

[BC_Programmer]

exactly. type something- anything, and press enter.

it should give back what Rob provided.

[hot dog]

I obviously need more practice with this telnet sh**

OK, I typed telnet myspace.com 80

hit enter, and a blank screen appeared.

next, I typed a bunch of random stuff (like you guys said & letters were invisable as I was typing) , hit enter a couple of times

and then this appeared:

HTTP/1.1 400 Bad Request
Content-Type: text/html
Date: Wed, 03 June 2009 14:17:33 GMT
Connection: close
Content-Length: 35

<h1>Bad Request <Invalid Verb></h1>

Connection to host lost.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Okay, that's good progress.  We have now confirmed that it's not a routing issue or an ISP issue.  It's a browser issue.  If IE is producing this behaviour, then there's almost certainly something wrong with its installation (possibly inherited from an earlier iteration of the browser, now upgraded).  Forgive me if you've already answered this, but has Firefox/Chrome/Opera/Safari been tried?

[kpac]

Try re-setting IE's default settings if you haven't already.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Hmm...  I should also allow for the possibility that some internet security suite is interfering here.

[hot dog]

I'll try resetting Internet Explorer and see if it makes any difference.

Currently, AVG 8.5.339 is installed as the primary anti-virus.....No other real-time protection agents are installed besides this.....I've got Spybot S&D installed, but the TeaTimer is off. 

edit: Firefox is installed, but I haven't noticed if this problem exists in that browser

[hot dog]

Success guys!   

I reset IE7 to default/factor settings and I am now able to type URLs without using "WWW".

What caused the problem?  Who knows...speculation...?

[Rob Pomeroy]

It's connected to how Internet Explorer searches for websites.  I suspect if you'd typed out URLs in full (i.e. http://myspace.com) it would have worked.  The underyling search system was breaking things.  Glad it's fixed now.