MSN Website: CSS Issue

[amyfletcher]

One of my clients has a PC that is getting intermittent errors when accessing MSN.com. The user gets the following message: "Why does MSN look like this? Your browser cannot find our style and presentation information"

I have tried researching this on the web, and it appears that MSN now uses CSS on their website. That's fine and dandy, but how come my user is getting this error only part of the time?

He's running Windows XP with SP2 and the latest version of IE (version 6.0.2900.2180_xpsp_sp2). Also, I ran a spyware and virus scan and he came up clean.

Some of the research I found, said that there's a way in IE to turn on/off style sheets. I couldn't find this anywhere in the settings. It's baffling me. Does anyone have any suggestions to try? Please let me know. Thanks!!

 

[LTeeple]

I occasionally get that error as well on MSN sites. I never change my browser settings, and the problem is usually resolved by my clicking refresh.


~L.

 

[amyfletcher]

Yeah.. unfortunately that's not the best response for this client, he's a bit uptight (why isn't it working?? FIX IT!!!")

 

[iisman]

MSN web services are notoriously slow.....likely a problem on their end. Your issue happens often to various ppl/environments.

It is likely that the css sheet request times out because of slow serviere response time, and just loads the actual page data.

hope that explanation will appease your client!

Cheers

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

I just love the way that Microsoft assume "Your browser cannot find our style and presentation information."

Don't they realise that a lot of people choose to turn styles off for many reasons?!

Ah well!

Dan


[tt]Dan's Page [blue]@[/blue] Code Couch

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[ChrisHunt]

Don't they realise that a lot of people choose to turn styles off for many reasons?!

I know that quite a few people turn Javascript off, usually as an (excesive) security precaution. I should think that hardly anyone turns style off, nor can I think of a sensible reason for doing so. There are some Lynx and screen reader users who won't see styles, but that's not quite the same thing.

IMO, you can assume that everybody who can do so will have CSS switched on (you can't make the same assumption about Javascript).

-- Chris Hunt
Webmaster & Tragedian
Extra Connections Ltd

 

[Foamcow]

I understand your concern with relaying info to your client that he probably won't want to hear.
But the truth of the matter is just as these guys said.
The problem is MSN.

As such, if I were you I would approach it like this.

"After extensive research, it seems that the 'problem' is the slow server response time from MSN. This results in your browser giving up waiting for MSN to deliver the stylesheet and displaying the plain, unstyled site instead.
Now, I'm uncertain what em can do about this as the issue stems from servers and equipment outside our control.
For now, I have contacted MSN's technical support team (see attached message) and will relay their explanation to you as soon as I receive it.
I am also looking into the possibility of making the stylesheet information available to you offline. Either by caching the stylesheet or finding a means of you loading it manually, not the ideal solution I know but it may provide a workaround until MSN can address the issue."

Something like that.
Of course, send a message to MSN too and attach give a copy to your client. Then wait to see if MSN respond.

Regarding caching etc.
What browser does your client use?
It might be possible to save the stylesheet locally and have it be used by the browser as a default stylesheet.

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r

 

[Foamcow]

gah... the em should be we.
Actually better than that try "I'm uncertain what can be done about the issue from this end."

Foamcow Heavy Industries - Web design and ranting
Target Marketing Communications - Advertising, Direct Marketing and Public Relations
I wonder what possesses people to make those animated gifs. Do you just get up in the morning and think, "You know what web design r