Error Terror:
What Does That Error Message Really Mean?
Contributed by
Elaine Landau
You’ve logged onto the Internet. You have completed a free Internet lesson and are interested in free Internet training and some free Internet tutorials. Your basic Internet training has built up your confidence. You are the master of your mouse. Nothing can stop you. You type a few words then suddenly an ERROR MESSAGE fills your screen. You scream like your little sister. Have you erased something really important? Is your computer damaged? Are computer police going to come and take you away? What do you do? First, you must breathe. If the error message pops up on your own PC or on a web site loaded in your browser, you don’t have to panic. Knowing what the message means will help you solve the problem quickly and efficiently. The following is a list of common error messages that you may encounter when you are logged onto the Internet.
Error: 404 File Not Found
That sounds pretty bad. Just remember, sometimes you cannot fix what you did not break. The error is not that you can’t find the file or web page. The web browser server can’t find it. It’s not your fault. You can push the REFRESH button to feel like you are doing something, but chances are FILE NOT FOUND means there is no file to be found. You may want to e-mail the web site and let them know that a problem exists. They may be able to correct things on their end.
Error: 500 Internal Error
This is my personal favorite. After spending time filling your shopping cart, filling out a feedback form to enter some fabulous contest, or just updating a contact information form, you push the SUBMIT BUTTON and the INTERNAL ERROR message pops up. It means that all the information that you just typed is lost. They never got it. What can you do? Nothing much. Just know that you’ve saved money because you won’t be buying all that stuff you put in your shopping cart, the web site won’t have your updated information, and they won’t get your feedback so you won’t win that fabulous contest.
Error: 408 Request Time-out
No, you haven’t reentered day care or kindergarten. This error usually pops up when you attempt to download a humongous file or web page and the connection times out. Do you panic? Have a tantrum? No, simply tap your browser’s REFRESH button and your download should continue where you left off. If it doesn’t, you may have to contact the web site and tell them about the problem. You might want to check back with them later, but there is nothing you can do now, so move on.
Error: Host Unavailable
Well, this sounds downright unsociable. Now, you can hit your computer screen upside the head. Push the REFRESH button until your finger is numb. Or you can catch up on your reading, because your server is down. Perhaps you tried to access the web site when they were restarting the server. Perhaps it was temporarily disconnected from the web and all will be okay. Chances are you will have to pick up the phone and call the web site company. If their server is down, they won’t be receiving e-mails.
Error: Unable to Locate Host
Now why would the host make a run for it just as I needed them? Actually this message could mean one of three things.
- Your Internet connection is caput.
- You typed the web site address incorrectly and now you must pay the price with an error message.
- Your web server is dead and gone.
If you mistyped, that can be corrected by just typing the words correctly. A no-brainer. You may not be able to determine if your web server is dead unless you try finding another web site. If you are unsuccessful, your web server needs CPR. Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ask for technical assistance. You would be surprised how much you can get accomplished with someone who knows his or her stuff.
If tech help is unavailable, try a few things yourself. The REFRESH button is always an option. If nothing happens, at least you feel like you did something. Retype the web address just one more time to make sure you typed it correctly. When we are tired, it is so easy to type numbers instead of letters and letters instead of numbers.
If you like to be extreme, you can shut off your web browser completely. Just shut it off. You’ll show them. Then, when you feel like it and only when you feel like it, restart it again. They may have cut you off, but hey, this is your computer. You control the on off button, right? Right.
About the Author:
Elaine Landau is a freelance writer, publicist, web site editor, and television writer with more than 15 years of experience in marketing, advertising, and publicity.
This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not provide legal or other professional advice. All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Please read our disclaimer for additional terms and conditions governing access to and use of this article. |
