Content Encoding Error

ChaosTitan · Jan 21, 2011

I use Firefox 5.0 and Windows 7, and this has just started happening today. A few times (often when I'm trying to search/Google something), I get a "Problem loading page" message, along with: Content Encoding Error. The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because it uses an invalid or unsupported form of compression. When browsing sites, especially AW, I will see format errors on the screen. Missing avatars, bits of coding remain on screen, the columns are off-center, photos are cut-off or misaligned. I tried to go back into YahooMail once and got a screen full of coding that I couldn't make sense of, and when I refreshed it went away and mail came up. Certain things will not load at all, such as the channel guide app on TVGuide.com (where you check local listings). Right now, this screen is offset to the right side, with the left half empty, and i can't use the bold, italics, or underline features (hopefully this even posts). I have cleared my cache. I have rebooted three times. I used System Restore to a point on 1/18. The errors still show up in Firefox (Safe Mode). Thoughts? ETA: I tried installing the latest Java update, but that didn't help, either. And sorry for the block text. It's not letting me make paragraphs. Grrrr... ETA2: The problems also occur in Google Chrome.

backslashbaby · Jan 21, 2011

Try using CTRL + F5 on pages you can't read. You might have to wait till the sites put out a fix... I'm not sure exactly how that works at the moment.

Someone will come by and know much more. I just thought the CTRL + F5 thing might be helpful in the meantime

Deleted member 42 · Jan 21, 2011

It's not the sites, it's a problem with your browser.

It doesn't sound like malware to me, but it might be a compatibility or security setting.

backslashbaby · Jan 21, 2011

I think I meant Chrome and Firefox or the sites, if that makes any sense. I certainly don't know

. I just poked around and know I have no clue about GZIP, so I'm spent. The keys sounded possibly promising

ChaosTitan · Jan 21, 2011

Thanks for the replies. I used the CTRL + F5 twice here on AW when the columns came up funny. One time it fixed it completely. The second time a thread was misaligned.

(testing to see if I can make individual paragraphs)

Deleted member 42 · Jan 21, 2011

ChaosTitan said:
Thanks for the replies. I used the CTRL + F5 twice here on AW when the columns came up funny. One time it fixed it completely. The second time a thread was misaligned.

(testing to see if I can make individual paragraphs)

Right now, with all the server-side problems with the AW ISP, I wouldn't be surprised by anything.

I'm seeing regular data dropouts, by which I mean the pipe (so to speak) from our ISP to our server is not working right.

Hence the reason we are moving.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

Just a note:

The major sites you listed that you're having problems with, tvguide, yahoo and AW are all having issues right now. TVguide has always suffered from schizophrenia in coding creating errors like mad cheerleader. Yahoo is currently undergoing an identity crisis where new names are more important than service and functionality, and AW...well see post above.

As for Google searches are you actually searching from Google.com or using the search bar at the top of the browser, using the address bar or using a service add on of Google such as Ancestry.com Google? Does the same search have the same problem.

So my first question is are these problems happening on other sites?

Second none of these sites rely on Java. I've uninstalled it because recent version have caused major problems on my system. The only website I've run into that uses it is youtube and you only needed it if you need to upload video larger than 2gb.

Have you run antivirus and spyware sweeps yet?

Check internet options in your control panel, is security level set higher than medium?

And this may seem silly in this day and age but...dsl, cable or dial up internet connection. Over wireless or plugged into a modum? At home or around town?

I have google chrome and firefox, same versions you do and do not have any problems.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

Sorry it's early. To answer your question.

A Content Loading Error usually happens when your cache is interfering with new files on the site. Clear it all out, files, history, cookies preferences. In Firefox click on Tools Clear Recent History to accomplish this.

Cntrl f5 doesn't go all the way for this. It's a pain, especially if you save form settings in Firefox but necessary every once in a while providing what I outlined above is all fine.

ChaosTitan · Jan 22, 2011

Thanks for all the info, Tirjasdyn.

Tirjasdyn said:
As for Google searches are you actually searching from Google.com or using the search bar at the top of the browser, using the address bar or using a service add on of Google such as Ancestry.com Google? Does the same search have the same problem.

I am using the search bar when the error message occurs. It's happened with a few different topics, but always in the search bar. So far, this particular error message only shows up in Firefox, but the lines of code and random wonkiness also happen in Chrome and IE.

So my first question is are these problems happening on other sites?

I saw some random coding this morning on e-Harmony. I still can't access NewTwitter from the home site. I was on Publisher's Marketplace last night, but don't recall any issues there.

Second none of these sites rely on Java. I've uninstalled it because recent version have caused major problems on my system. The only website I've run into that uses it is youtube and you only needed it if you need to upload video larger than 2gb.

Good to know. I was checking the Mozilla help forums last night. Other folks have reported getting a similar error message, and Java was one of the issues mentioned. Mostly the error reports haven't been responded to, but I'm not the only one with the issue.

Have you run antivirus and spyware sweeps yet?

Yep. Nada.

I have a Sony Vaio, and I ran the Vaio Care service. It detected small issues, and when I tried to have the VC service patch them, the whole thing went offline and nothing got fixed. I don't know if that's significant or not.

Check internet options in your control panel, is security level set higher than medium?

It's set to Medium.

And this may seem silly in this day and age but...dsl, cable or dial up internet connection. Over wireless or plugged into a modum? At home or around town?

I have google chrome and firefox, same versions you do and do not have any problems.

I have Comcast high-speed internet. I get it through a wireless router from my home setup.

I suspect the error is either on my computer, or it's something to do with Comcast (an Xfinity bug, maybe?). Dunno.

But thank you for your time and wisdom.

ChaosTitan · Jan 22, 2011

Tirjasdyn said:
Sorry it's early. To answer your question.

A Content Loading Error usually happens when your cache is interfering with new files on the site. Clear it all out, files, history, cookies preferences. In Firefox click on Tools Clear Recent History to accomplish this.

Cntrl f5 doesn't go all the way for this. It's a pain, especially if you save form settings in Firefox but necessary every once in a while providing what I outlined above is all fine.

Cleared the cache.

And what does using CTRL + F5 do, exactly? It looks like it just reloads the page.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

ChaosTitan said:
Cleared the cache.

And what does using CTRL + F5 do, exactly? It looks like it just reloads the page.

It initiates a refresh of the current window...which in a browser should refresh cache files...but that's not always the case.

It is my favorite way to solve website customer errors though when they call to tell me I haven't updated a page yet and my push for refresh didn't work for them.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

Okay suggestions because this is looking like it's coming from your computer.

Uninstall Java. You can always reinstall it later if you need it.

Run antivirus and spyware sweeps. I'm not familiar with out Vaio checks things but most company installed checks only checks their stuff not the whole computer. I suggest Microsoft security essentials. After you run that try to patch your computer via Vaio Care again.

kuwisdelu · Jan 22, 2011

One possible problem is that you're using a non-existent version of Firefox.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
One possible problem is that you're using a non-existent version of Firefox.

I thought the same thing at first but I thought maybe I was crazy too

If you click on About Mozilla Firefox it says Mozilla/5.0 in the latest version. So I figure that's what the op meant.

kuwisdelu · Jan 22, 2011

Tirjasdyn said:
I thought the same thing at first but I thought maybe I was crazy too If you click on About Mozilla Firefox it says Mozilla/5.0 in the latest version. So I figure that's what the op meant.

I assumed ChaosTitan was from the future.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 22, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
I assumed ChaosTitan was from the future.

ooooo let's assume that anyway. It makes this day way more fun.

ChaosTitan · Jan 23, 2011

Testing...

ChaosTitan · Jan 23, 2011

Tirjasdyn said:
Okay suggestions because this is looking like it's coming from your computer.

Uninstall Java. You can always reinstall it later if you need it.

Run antivirus and spyware sweeps. I'm not familiar with out Vaio checks things but most company installed checks only checks their stuff not the whole computer. I suggest Microsoft security essentials. After you run that try to patch your computer via Vaio Care again.

Java is gone.

I tried to download MSE several times, but kept getting an error message telling me that the file was corrupt. So I ran Trend and it fixed seven Java-related problems.

It didn't help.

Earlier today, Firefox wouldn't let me post anything here. It kept telling me I needed at least one character in my message, even though I'd just typed a bunch. So I'm using Chrome.

I can never have simple issues.

Tirjasdyn · Jan 23, 2011

It really is sounding like a virus.

ChaosTitan · Jan 23, 2011

Virus or malware. Unfortunately, every time I try to download a suggested program, my computer tells me that the file is corrupt, so it won't install it.

I feel like i'm going to be stuck taking this thing somewhere to be fixed.

backslashbaby · Jan 23, 2011

I can e-mail one with a name a virus won't recognize. LMK.

ChaosTitan · Jan 23, 2011

backslashbaby said:
I can e-mail one with a name a virus won't recognize. LMK.

PM-ing you.

ChaosTitan · Feb 3, 2011

Me again. Same problems.

So out of idle curiosity, I booted up my old laptop (which I haven't used in about a year and half) and got it connected to the internet. In a bizarre turn of events, the exact same compression error message in Firefox came up on that laptop.

I don't really have a question, I just thought it was odd to have the same problems on two different computers.

Deleted member 42 · Feb 3, 2011

ChaosTitan said:
Me again. Same problems.

So out of idle curiosity, I booted up my old laptop (which I haven't used in about a year and half) and got it connected to the internet. In a bizarre turn of events, the exact same compression error message in Firefox came up on that laptop.

Would you go over to WiS and see if you can get the error there?

Thanks

ChaosTitan · Feb 3, 2011

Medievalist said:
Would you go over to WiS and see if you can get the error there?

Thanks

Yep, still getting the crazy coding there, too. On the other laptop, I was trying to log into Rhapsody.com when I got the compression message. I can't play online videos or music on either computer. RealPlayer isn't affected if it's something I'd already downloaded, but my Rhapsody software keeps giving me script errors.

Content Encoding Error

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