I have a problem that has been going on for quite some time lately.
I run a Forum for quite some time. Lately I have received complaints from members who are using IE7 to download attachments. The attachment is never complete and they receive the following error: Please check attachment.
I tried to fix it by disabling "Use database driven sessions" and attachments then worked fine. However, this turned my forum very slow with a lot of time out sessions.
The whole thing is very annoying, which forced me to buy IPB. Actually I don't like IPB. I like SMF a big deal. If there's any solution to this, I would be very grateful because then I will continue using SMF which I enjoy a lot.
Get a new host. ;D
Thanks for your reply. However, if the answer is to get a new host, then it is easier for me to use a board which works better. Again, I like SMF so much. I think it is the greatest board ever created. but I keep wondering how comes that attachments work fine on other boards while on SMF they are a bit problematic? What should I tell my host? I mean what is wrong with their server? In addition, Firefox works fine with attachments. The problem only insists in IE7. Even previous versions of IE work fine as well.
Now as you saying it, I wonder whether the problem lies in the way SMF stores attachments?
Any suggestions?!
I use IE7 and haven't ever had a problem with SMF attachments.
Quote from: karlbenson on February 24, 2008, 10:04:58 AM
I use IE7 and haven't ever had a problem with SMF attachments.
Ditto... Never had any issues at all...
Thank you for replying. But this doesn't really help me solve the issue. Is there any other suggestion that may help with this issue?
Thanks in advance!
Post a link to your forum in your next reply along with a test account for us to login and see it on our end.
Thanks a lot for your reply. I really appreciate it.
My site is : www.melhem.ws/forum
Username: SMF
Password: testaccount
I want to draw your attention to the following:
1) We are testing the forum using Vista IE7 where the problem exist. However, using Firefox on Vista to download the same attachments work fine.
2) The problem particularly insists with MP3 files. Some files work though, but many others don't.
3) I uninstalled all the mods and even installed a clean SMF but the problem continued to exist.
To make it easier for you please go directly to the following links where the problem has repeatedly occurred with more than one member.
http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=6765.0
http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=5361.0
http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=5554.0
http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=6694.0
http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=6461.0
These are only a few to name! Please advise!
Thanks a lot in advance.
Are you one of the users having this problem? If not, are these users in any special membergroup?
Also you just mentioned Vista. I don't see how this might affect it, but did any of those users also have problems if they are using XP with IE7?
I justed tested all the links there (one of them had two mp3 files) and NONE of them gave me issues when I used IE7 (with Windows XP). I started the downloads and then cancelled them.
Please try to download the files till the end because when it's about to finish, the error shows up. I just tried it on IE7 on XP now, and the download starts but when it is about to finish the download dialogue box disappears and no file is saved.
The Problem occurs with me as an admin and with regular members as well who use IE
Disabling "Use database driven sessions" would solve the problem as I said earlier, but then my forum encounters slowness and lots of time out sessions.
Thanks for helping. I appreciate it!
I downloaded 3 attachments (MP3 files) with IE7 on Windows XP without a problem.
Maybe you have to check the security settings in IE7.
Thank you for taking the time to try and reply to me Sarge. What exactly do I have to check in my settings? They are ok since I download everything with no problems except for the problem I mentioned, unless I am mistaken. If IE on XP works fine does that mean that IE on Vista should too? Or could it be that there is a slight changed in the code of a (not totally) new browser? I am just wondering, may be I can get to a solution then!
I tried it, same problem....
I have...Nortons if that's causing anything :)
Try this:
Open the Tools menu in IE7 (press the Alt key on the keyboard to make the menu bar appear), select Internet Options and go to the Security tab. Click on the Internet icon and look at "Security level for this zone" (mine is Medium-High).
Click on the "Custom level..." button, scroll down somewhere between the middle and the bottom of the list and check the selection for "Open files based on content, not file extension".
I have it set to "Enable" for IE7 on my XP and it works for me on your forum attachments, but you can try setting it to "Disable." Restart IE7 (close all open windows) and try downloading attachments again.
I followed exactly what you suggested and disabled the "open files based on content, not file extensions", then closed IE and restarted it and tried to download the following attachment (http://www.melhem.ws/forum/index.php?topic=6461.0) and still the same problem :-X .
Any other suggestion please? I need to solve it because it is a major issue in my forums and members are complaining!
Alundra, what are you using please? Is it IE7? On Vista or XP?
Thank you all for your patience and help. I do appreciate it a lot.
Quote from: Talia on March 01, 2008, 05:00:21 AM
Alundra, what are you using please? Is it IE7? On Vista or XP?
Alundra uses IE7 on Vista. She couldn't download attachments from your forum, but she told me she was able to download after she applied my suggestion.
Try restarting your computer and see if that helps.
Same problem here! using IE7 on vista and XP (disabled "Open files based on content, not file extension")
What Sarge said ;)
My IE version may be different though, to your version.
I have 7.0.6000.16609 and I'm on a new computer. I had medium-high settings, with Open files based on content, not file extension enabled. I could not download when that setting was enabled. Then I turned that option off, and I could download them :D.
Thank you Alundra. You seem to be luckier than me. It didn't work with me even after disabling that feature and restarting IE and my computer. My IE on Vista version is the same as yours O:)
???
Quote from: Talia on March 01, 2008, 03:44:17 PM
Thank you Alundra. You seem to be luckier than me. It didn't work with me even after disabling that feature and restarting IE and my computer. My IE on Vista version is the same as yours O:)
???
Was it on medium-high before you did that?
Yes it was!
Are you or others running any type of proxy/firewall programs. I see Alundra is running Norton but the changes helped her, but maybe something else is consistent across yourself and your members who are experiencing issues.
Though browser inconsistencies forces upon us by Microsoft do not help.
Thanks for taking the time and answering me.
I don't run any firewall except for Windows Vista Firewall. This applies for me and for a couple of complaining members as well. I run ESET NOD 32 Antivirus. Any suggestions?
A lot of appreciation for your efforts
Can you try to disable the firewall first and try. Then disable the ESET NOD 32 Antivirus application and try.
Or when first clicking to download hold ctrl key and try to download.
Thanks Rumbaar!
But let me first apologize for answering a bit late, I have a very tight schedule. I followed your suggestion. Neither worked!!! First I disabled Windows firewall, then downloaded (of course after restarting) then I disabled the ESET NOD 32 Antivirus application and restarted then tried. However, none worked. Then I used the Ctrl Key thing and didn't work. But something weird happened; the frist two trials gave me " Content Decoding Has Failed", the third trial (the Ctrl key) the download box disappeared without giving me that error. Then tried again, and out of the blue, the download was finished in less than a seond, but guess what? only 5 seconds were downloaded/ played, not the whole file. The third file I tried (keeping in my that Windows Firewall and Antivirus are disabled, and I hold the Ctrl key) the file is downloaded again in a blink of an eye, but this time, the file didn't play. I guess less than a second was downloaded.
Can you find an explanation for this please? I am so puzzled ???
Sorry I can't even begin to explain the strange behavour you can get from Microsoft browsers :) That is why I've used FireFox for many years now :)
I can only offer the cold statement of, update to FireFox and try to get your users to do the same. Only when M$ is loosing greater market share will they probably pull their finger out and built a more consistant product.