Internet (World Wide Web) Error Messages

This error message indicates that the server can’t figure out the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) you requested. The problem often occurs because of incorrect URL syntax. If you typed the URL, check it for incorrect uppercase or lowercase letters, colons, and slashes. Try to type the URL again. If you still get an error, try to backtrack the URL to the directory the document resides in. If the error message persists, the problem might be with the document. Your only recourse is to contact the site’s administrator.

This error usually occurs when an Internet site is protected and the server didn’t receive the correct encryption ID or password for entry. If you’re registered with the site, you can try your password again if you have the opportunity. As with URLs, passwords are often case-sensitive, so type the password carefully. You can also get this error from servers that deny access from certain domain types, for example, domain names ending in edu.

This error is similar to the 401 error. It usually occurs when a server denies access because of your domain, because of security restrictions, or because you don’t have a password. This error also occurs when you haven’t signed up with a site that requires registration. You can try to register with the site or try your password again. You can also attempt to contact the site’s administrator for a password.

This error often appears as Not Found or File Not Found. This error is common and occurs when the host server can’t find the specific HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) document you requested. A 404 error usually stems from a document name change or a document deletion. It can also occur when you’ve made a syntax error in the document name. Your best bet is to assume you made a mistake when you typed the URL. Backtrack by deleting the portion of the URL that follows the last slash. Then re-access the URL and look for it in the parent directory.

This error indicates that the server is experiencing high-traffic load and can’t process the request. You can often access the site by trying to reload it. If the error persists, you may want to try again later.

This error occurs when your access provider, gateway, or system is down or busy. Your only alternative is to wait a minute or two and try again.

These error messages indicate a problem with HTML coding at the site. The problem may be that your browser doesn’t support the form you’re trying to access. You can try to bypass this problem by E-mailing the Web site administrator for help.

This error message appears when you try to save the results of a form-based search engine (such as WebCrawler) as a bookmark. The problem is that the URL of the query results is invalid-even though it may not appear to be. You can bypass this problem by printing the search results, or you can try to save them as an HTML document on your hard disk.

This error indicates that the Domain Name System (DNS) can’t translate the URL into a valid Internet address. This DNS error message occurs in several situations. The server that you’re trying to connect to may be overloaded with traffic or temporarily down. If the server is just busy, you can sometimes get through by trying to access the site again. If the server is temporarily down or offline, there’s nothing you can do except try later. Unfortunately, there’s no way for you to tell whether a server is down or just busy. You might have also incorrectly typed the URL. If you’re accessing the Internet via a modem and you get a DNS error for each Web site you try to access, chances are something is wrong with you connection. Try re-launching your browser and your required communication software. If the problem persists, contact your Internet service provider (ISP).

From -- The Cobb Group’s Inside Netscape Navigator journal