The frequency with which it is impossible to connect to GAOTD to activate or register because the site is having problems is very annoying! If you people can’t keep your site reliably operational, then re-run or extend the activation period! I don’t complain about software which I don’t need, can’t use or won’t use, but for Pete’s sake keep your site operational, or make make up for the down time!!!
Connect error on activation or download
(12 posts) (5 voices)-
If you wish to report a site outage, you should contact the GOTD team via the Contact Form.
Personally I haven't had any long lasting outages. Maybe twice over the past fortnight - I have seen a error when accessing the main site or the forums. If I leave it for 5 or 10 minutes and everything is back to normal.
So remember the Contact Form is your best option.
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberBubby, FWIW, I'll second Probert's report of instability, although I wouldn't rail at the guys behind the scenes since I believe this site's manned by an all volunteer geek squad.
There have been several days over the past fortnight (nice to see someone else use that term) where either the GAOTD URL or the GAOTD Forums URL or both have been inaccessible. Sometimes (as was the case yesterday... 12/12) the downtime lasted from 5 minutes to several hours at a stretch from morning until evening.
I encounter different displays when this happens -
the classic "Cannot Find Server"
a WordPress "dysfunction" page,
a cryptic single line of text - "Cannot connect to DB" (I'm paraphrasing from what is now an exhausted memory, fading fast... ooops, there it goes)FYI - I did save the unusual error message from a crash on 12/7 - - - - -
bbPress database error: [Table './gaotd_operational/bb_posts' is marked as crashed and should be repaired]
SELECT * FROM bb_posts WHERE topic_id = 2054 AND post_status = 0 ORDER BY post_time ASC LIMIT 30Although GAOTD is admittedly somewhat addictive, there's only one situation that frustrates (the stand up comedian in) me. After dashing off an expository tongue-in-cheek response to FreewareFan, Wabbit or one of the amusing lasses who've recently entered this cyberspace, I hit SEND, the browser hangs for 10+ seconds, the page disappears to the sound of Langoliers consuming my creativity forever, whereupon I'm informed the server can't be found. grrrrrr
I simply assumed the techies were aware of this snafu and were engaged in a mighty light saber duel against computer/web gremlins, perhaps migrating things to a new and better server due to the increasing popularity of the site. Do you mean to tell me this isn't a known problem? The contact form idea is great, but if one cannot access the site to report the problem, that form begins to take on a Snuffy Smith's roof quality... when it's raining, you can't go out and fix the roof, but when it's sunny, the roof ain't leaking so why bother nailing shingles?
Posted 16 years ago # -
It is entirely possible I have been lucky - or "arrived" at the last 5 minute tail-end of a 3 hour downtime.
Point being - you are unlikely to see any changes by slipping a post in the forums. Because I know of 2 people who could address the problem, but they visit the forums when they have a free moment - and lately these "free moments" are far and few between.
So sure if you want to tell all the other users, how unhappy you are... go ahead post in these forums. If you'd like to get boxes swapped, cables pulled, disks upgraded, servers monitored... well truth be told - all I can do, is contact the GOTD team... (and I'm real busy right now.... sorry).
Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberWell, Probert sounded a bit miffed, but like I said, I'm not "unhappy". Compared to some sites (including some with legions of paid geeks working 24/7) this little site seems to be chugging along quite nicely. Minor glitches with the free software created by third tier vendors shouldn't be surprising when you consider that even the great MSFT can't manage to crank out a simple upgrade to a program and have it work on every computer. The majority of complainers demonstrate by the content of their posts that they haven't been swimming in the big pool for very long.
Posted 16 years ago # -
LeKanaw
MemberHi, I thought I was doing something wrong or it was my computer's fault...
Glad that probert & RunesageMagik posted about it! Now I know I'm not alone!!
I get all of the "Cannot connect to DB", "505 & 404 Errors", "WordPress blah blah" too and some others I forgot.
Some days I can't access the main site for hours and hours. And when I finally get in, the downloads just don't work, they just hang.
I have missed 1game & 2s/w bc of it. But it really got worse 4 days ago.But I figured a couple of runarounds ;-)
1-Instead of going to the English site, I go to the French site, I never have problems connecting there, I suppose there is a lot less traffic there. This way at least I can see what the s/w of the day is.
2-After I write my post, I ALWAYS copy it in a post-it, before I hit SEND, bc I have lost too many posts when the site is having problems.
I have not figure out a runaround for the Games site yet :-(Hope this helps a little, until the Team is able to fix the problems.
Bye.Posted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberLeKanaw, seems my guess was correct. I just noticed that Slava posted a notice about the reasons behind the service interruptions on the right hand sidebar under the Game Giveaway. -
http://blog.giveawayoftheday.com/performance-problems-and-server-migration/
Posted 16 years ago # -
LeKanaw
MemberHi RunesageMagik
Thank You for the link to Slava's post! Yap, it confirms we were right!!By sniffing around the Forum, just found other threads about connecting problems.
One was posted by "Topofall" 2 days ago:
http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2097?replies=3I'm guessing there are different outages in different parts of the world...
Where are you located? I'm in Montréal. It's funny that BuBBy hasn't had any problems.I suppose these are just growing pains, as the site becomes more and more popular.
We'll just be patient, I'm sure it will be resolved once they move the servers.
BTW, did you like my runarounds? People in the French site are very nice too! Very small community though
ByePosted 16 years ago # -
RunesageMagik
MemberLeKanaw - I'm close enough to the corrupt politicians in DC that I can actually hear them scratch each others' backs as they sell us out.
Your previous post made me smile. As a typical "ugly American", I don't speak French and thus would likely be lost on that site. However, you reported a valuable bit of knowledge for those who do understand what is meant by -
"Distribuer du Jour" (blame any errors on terrible on-line translation sites!)As for your copy/paste idea, I've been trying for 20 years to get in the habit of typing or dictating (using Dragon) ALL drafts on Notepad and then copy/pasting; and yet with extraordinary regularity, I will absentmindedly type directly onto a form, press SEND, only to grimmace and cross my fingers hoping it reaches its destination. It usually does, but when it doesn't... arrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Posted 16 years ago # -
Where are you located? I'm in Montréal. It's funny that BuBBy hasn't had any problems.
I'm in Australia. But given the nature of the latest problems, I don't think it matters where you are from - unless you have your own local internet issues.
The couple of times I've had problems I've just left it and come back a little later, and managed to get through. I don't get too stressed over it - because I know there are 24 hours to download the giveaways - and I only need about 5 or 10 minutes to get them setup.
Perhaps there are other people who are stressing over the whole thing, pounding on the F5 refresh key, and after 10 minutes it seems like an hour, or they have left it until the final hour of the giveaway and hit some problems haven't been able to connect in time before the end of the giveaway - and then miss out... again.
As LeKanaw said, at times the site will be really busy (maybe a mini slashdot effect) with everyone trying to download at the same time. Just a little patience will usually see you through.
This week, I've managed to get all of the giveaways - all on the first attempt (except for tonight - took 3 attempts). Some of the giveaways I've downloaded a second or third time during the day to check for various users. But I am fully aware how frustrating it is to get an error and have to come back and try again later on.
We are used to, and expect everything to work perfectly - the first time, every time.
Posted 16 years ago # -
copmom
MemberA few weeks ago, my domain server was switching over to new equipment to improve their services. It was supposed to take place at night, (I'm in the US here), so it wouldn't interfere with anything and be done in a few hours. They were down 3 days. This cost me money in lost orders, as I have an online business.. but, "expect the unexpected".. that's a motto I live by! Things happen that are beyond anyone's control, and just be glad that you do have places like GOTD that offer neat programs and they are normally up and running all the time! Have a GREAT day!
Posted 16 years ago # -
LeKanaw
MemberHi BuBBy, Wow Australia, you are lucky :-) Snowstorm here, minus 21°C!!
"...pounding on the F5 refresh key, and after 10 minutes it seems like an hour"
No No, there is no pounding on the F5 key, don't even know what it's for, I'm a newbie remember... When I say it takes hours to connect, believe me , some times it takes 6 hours, some days more, I'm not exaggerating. I never said anything, bc being a newbie I assumed it was my fault, as usual."We are used to, and expect everything to work perfectly - the first time, every time."
That would not be my case, I'm old enough too remember sending a letter would take 6-8 weeks, calling long distance was for emergencies, receiving a calculator for Xmas was an event. So all this new technology is way TOO FAST for me. I would like everything to slow down a bit, cause it's very hard to keep up!!As you said, it is true the s/w is available for 24hrs.
But if you take out sleep/bathing, cooking/eating, work, coming & going, and if the site is down for all the hours you can get to it, well, that can become a problem, non?
And, not knowing much, I have to read all the comments, Google it, find credible reviews, decide if I like/need it(this takes me several hours), before downloading it.
I'm sure it's much faster for most everybody, bc they already know what the s/w does, what it's for, how to use it.Anyway, I was not complaining, I'm glad you don't have problems w access or dwlds.
I'm happy others posted about it, cause it comforted me to know it was not my fault!!
Now that the powers that be are changing serves, all will be back to normal soon!
Tchau, ManuPosted 16 years ago #
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