What happened to this website?

Factual Questions
1

There is a website that I used to visit called “Tropical Forum” it is part of a large network of websites called Garden Web dedicated to all kinds of plants.

Some of the sites in the network appear normal, but some are not and only have text like the text below when you click on them.

Is it my computer or is it some of the network’s sites are down. Its been months since I was able to log on to this site.

When I click, this is a sample of all I get. The text goes on much longer.

TTP/1.1 200 OK
Set-Cookie: pagect=3; path=/; domain=.gardenweb.com; expires=Thu, 27 May 2010 17:12:40 GMT
Expires: Thu, 27 May 2010 00:32:40 GMT
Window-target: _top
Set-Cookie: visitor=243001266351823N73D14756xx; path=/; domain=.gardenweb.com; expires=Fri, 27 May 2011 00:12:40 GMT
Content-type: text/html

<HTML><head>
<script language=“JavaScript”><!-- Hiding
var bName = navigator.appName;
var bVer = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);
if ( (bName == “Netscape” && bVer >= 3) || (bName == “Microsoft Internet Explorer” && bVer >= 4 ) ){
if (parent.frames[1]){
parent.location.href = self.location.href;
}
}
// –>

2

Might need the rest of the page source. The link would be even more useful. Also, if this is practical for you, download Wireshark and get a packet trace.

3

The whole page source is way too long to post.

4

I think it’s this maybe?

Do you have any add-ons on your browser? If so, try disabling them all and see if the site works.

Also, what page are you on where you go to “click on” the Tropicals forum? Are you coming from a bookmark? A Google search? The GardenWeb forums homepage?

5

If this is it, works for me. Try going to the page in your browser and then force a deep refresh with this key combination - <CTRL><F5> (assuming a Windows machine).

6

I’ve tried with all 3, bookmark, google and the homepage, same result.

7

Thanks, but it didn’t work.

8

Have you tried an alternate browser?

9

Do you have javascript turned on? I assume you do.

It’s odd that you would see the markup language and not have the browser interpret it for you.

When I go to the site and hit View -> Source I get

But I am not getting the first part. Try clearing out your cookies. Perhaps since the first part refers to cookies you have a bunch of corrupted cookies.

Warning, if you clear all your cookies you may clear out some logins and such to websites. You won’t lose anything, you’d just have to re-enter your info

10

That is weird: you’re getting the HTTP information.

Which browser are you using? Have you tried reinstalling it? Or clearing your settings? If you’re using Firefox, have you tried creating and using a new profile?

11

Thank you!

The site comes up fine on Chrome, but not on Firefox which I normally use.

The strange thing is that 2 of the sites from the Garden Web network work normally on Firefox, but most don’t.

12

I would bet your MIME types are hosed. Firefox is getting a file that it’s, for some reason, forgotten how to process, so it’s just displaying it as text. Removing and reinstalling the browser would probably be the easiest way to fix that.

13

Are you using NoScript?