I received this bulletin today from another website. Could be something to do with the problem. I still love Firefox as my default browser.

Yesterday we alerted you that some people were experiencing problems connecting after recent security updates to their Internet Explorer browser software. We applied a software change to our load balancers to remediate this issue during our maintenance period at 12:00am which was successful. Recent versions of Internet Explorer and Google Chrome browsers can now be used to access without connectivity issues.

 

JT, I think you posted that suggestion to someone else, a few weeks ago. I tried it too, but it didn't really do much for me. I see the same "slow load" issues both here, as well as LS1Tech, and it began about 6-7 months ago, for me.

 

Have you tried Firefox as previously suggested a few months ago?

Unfortunately, with all sorts of different environments out there and so many other variables with members computers, there will be different issues with different solutions.

Even though LS1Tech and CF are owned by the same parent company, which they do own over 100 other websites, they certainly do not all run on the very same hardware because some of their sites (such as CF) are very large/active and require multiple hardware. They do share some similarities (e.g., some networking, custom scripts, 3rd party advertising links, etc.).

Can you redefine what you mean by slow? Slow as in when you click on an internal link (such as a thread) does it take a long time before any progress is shown? Or is it slow as in when you click on an internal link (such as a thread), the thread starts to load quickly (atleast the top section) but the rest of the page halts for X seconds before the rest of the content is shown?

 

No I haven't tried FireFox, and here's why. Primary reason, I'm no computer expert, by any means, (believe me, I'm not proud of that) and there have been times when I've tried to make changes like that and gotten myself in a barrel of crap, and then spent many hours digging myself out.

Secondly, when I first entered the work force full time, some 40 years ago, my employer sent me to an "Analytical Trouble Shooting" seminar. One of the first questions you're trained to use, when trying to get to the bottom of a problem is, "What Changed".... In my case, I seem to recall that one day, 6-7 months ago, CF simply started operating very slowly. My laptop hadn't changed, its settings didn't change, my provider didn't change, (although they may have changed their operating system without me knowing it). Therefore, using the ATS theorum of "what changed", I have to say nothing...at least that I know of, at my end.

If this was just a "me" problem, I would have to say that something, a thing that I'm not familiar with, changed at my end. However, since this discussion has originated, it appears that I'm not the only one that has this problem, so it appears that something did indeed change, it's a matter of finding out what and where.

In my case, as an example, I go to my "favorites" and click on CF. I get the opening page, type in my user name and password, then click on submit. Formerly, I'd get to the topics page in 3-5 seconds. Now it takes anywhere from 10-20 seconds, sometimes more. Usually, however, the entire page will load.

If I click on a topic such as C-5 tech, it may load that section withinn a few seconds, sometimes it takes 10-20 seconds. If I'm scrolling through a discussion in C-5 tech, and want to add a comment, sometimes when I click on "reply" I get the reply box right away, sometimes 10-15 seconds go by. After adding my comments, and clicking on "submit reply", it can take 10-20 seconds for my reply to register. Sometimes, after posting a reply, I notice I've misspelled a word. If I click on "edit", usually I get there quickly, but when I click on "save", it frequently takes forever for the update to acknowledge.

I noticed that one of the other members who is in this discussion, mentioned his provider ir RoadRunner. In the interest of finding a common ground for this problem, and in hope of finding a solution, I'll add that my provider is also RoadRunner. Hopefully, if everyone who is experiencing this problem can provide input, find some common denominator, we can solve the problem....

 

Most personal computers get updated software automatically. Unless you have set your options to ask you before installing updates, most small updates will be done without your knowlege. Larger ones, such as MS monthly security updates usually run at logoff and delay system shutdown. Any of those changes can cause "ripple" effects - introducing new problems that need to be fixed in future updates.

For those who have access to computers at large corporations where updates are routinely delayed for testing before thousands of PCs are impacted, checking for problems at work often tells you whether a home PC has picked up an unwanted system change.

 

I run Firefox exclusively and have the same issues as recently as now. BTW - It does the same thing on IE v9.0 - Thanks

 

Firefox is a very popular browser. So many people have installed the software to make that possible. Installing Firefox is not difficult or prone to causing computer issues like other (poorly written) software. As I previously suggested to you, the only suggestion I had offered is when Firefox asks if you want Firefox to be your default browser, to select No. However, even if you make a mistake on that step and select Yes you can change that option later. I only suggested that option for your own convenience, should you want IE to be your default browser automatically while still using Firefox.

Not intended to simply echo what magicv8 said, but not only is he correct, but you need software updates! Software does get updated automatically in the background. The O/S could be setup that way, as could be your antivirus and other security software. If you've never updated any of your software (security, O/S) then you have a bigger problem!

Due to how large CF is, it's natural for some to report issues with CF. Just like some report problems with their own Corvette. Some Corvette owners may share the same Corvette issues, while others may not.

This Help section is the place to report problems while on CF, so that's what you will tend to see. You won't often see people come here unless they have a problem, so you won't often see people say that they don't have a problem (but you do see a few that do so). So the perception here can be very skewed if all you see is reported problems.

Some of the ssues are related to members' own software or environment, while others may be on CF's side. CF has had intermittent performance issues in the past that has been noted, discussed, and addressed. The Facebook ribbon on IE is one of those issues that simply was creating a lot of performance issues for IE members, and based on that, CF disabled that feature for IE members to address that performance issue.

There's also members that don't have these issue. I use IE 8 and Firefox and don't have the performance issues noted. I did have the issue with the Facebook ribbon (when it was installed for IE members) and I was involved with that issue to work toward a resolution. Even though I may be an Administrator, the server doesn't give me priority. It's true that there have several complaints but they're not all one and the same. Some have been fixed with the suggestions offered above (e.g., disabling third-party browser extension in IE, applying a Microsoft update for "Operation Aborted" errors, etc.). You indicate the above suggestions don't work for you, which makes it appear you may have a different issue that may or may not be with CF.

My suggestion to you was to install Firefox. The outcome of that can help pinpoint where the issue is that you may be having, depending upon if you see an improvement or not.

Please don't misunderstand. I'm not saying CF is trouble-free or that CF never has problems. What I am saying is that not all members have these issues, and that some members have had issues that have been resolved through some of the above suggestions. Some issues, while appearing similar, are not all one and the same - especially when some of the above suggestions may or may not work for a given case.

 

JT, if nothing more I do have my computer set up to automatically load the updates as they become available, and do install them on a regular basis. I'm just trying to find a possible, and for me, a simple solution to the problem...if there is one. I also would like to share that solution, if I/we find it, so everybody else can get back to swifter operation.





EDIT....


OK, it's been almost an hour since I logged on, and I have to say that the system is running much quicker at this point. Since I go to "my recent topics" first, after logging on, I responded to JT's post here, before going further into the forum. After a while, it suddenly dawned on me that searching and responding to a few posts has been much quicker.....and I didn't change anythig (that I know of) since yesterday.....

 

Mine is running perfect again since early last eve, All I did was go out for dinner! LOL! All is well now! Love the forum!!!!!!

 

same issue for me going on 3 weeks now, improved somewhat after scanning with Malwarebytes and running CCleaner.... clicking twice on links seems to reduce occurances (Windows 7, IE9, 1.5yo HP laptop)


just MHO, this sounds like a "work around" as opposed to addressing the actual problem

again JMHO, (bolded and italicized).... CF accepts unscrupulous ads

ditto

mine is Charter cable

 

Third-Party plugins are extensions (toolbars, others software designed to alter or "improve" the experience of the browser, etc.) that are "aftermarket" software to IE. It's not uncommon for them to be a source of an issue and interfere with the website. Unfortunately, CF can't exactly support such aftermarket software designed to alter the operations of the website, just as a majority of manufacturers of any given product can't support or warrant altercations to their product.

Additionally, you will find that even Microsoft suggests disabling them for troubleshooting purposes, and if you find the specific source, to contact the software developer for that plugin (not the website).

With as many members as CF has, and as many variables and differing habits there are, there are going to be some that will report having issues. Based on feedback, not everyone is experiencing issues and those that have experienced issues have indicated an improvement; either through doing the above, or seemingly without doing anything. Others who indicated an issue have reported the issue occuring for months, weeks, or days. As can been seen, there is a lot of differing reports. Not all issues are the same, and the aforementioned suggests that some may be a local issues while others may be global, as well as possibly a mixture of both.

 

Just for the sake of trying to find the solution, here are a couple of current additions to my "condition"....


Yesterday, things were "hit and miss". Some topics loaded quickly, some didn't, same as has been happening lately.

Today, I logged on, clicked on "my recent topics", waited about 30 seconds, and got a screen saying "Error 503, service not available". I tried again, got on, but while browsing, I got an "IE error box" telling me that windows stopped responding, followed by an error screen generated by my Norton Security, telling me that a malicious add-on was detected, and it shut down my access to CF. This is the second time in 2 days that I've gotten the "IE not responding" error message, but the first from Norton.

Obviously, something isn't Kosher......

 

The My Recent Topics delay has been a known issue that appears to be frequently experienced by members who have high post counts. Jim-Savewave has reported that issue as he has frequently been impacted. There have been several reports about the My Recent Topics delay from other members with high post counts, which is often reported as intermittent. That is an issue with CF and unfortunately I don't have any updates on that issue.

As far as IE crashing, that's difficult to diagnose. Even assuming that only occurs on CF, however, that doesn't necessarily automatically mean the issue is with CF itself. It is known that CF does use many javascripts, as does many popular websites today, to provide features and enhancements beyond basic text and graphics but few websites are really alike, which is why you can see varying experiences. I don't experience the performance issues being reported on CF with either Firefox 9 or IE8, but there are a few other non-IB websites that I visit daily that really choke even my Firefox browser.

 

"JT", thanks for the reply. I want to emphasize that I'm not trying to be annoying, just hoping that I/we can provide some sort of information that possibly could help with the loading speed issues, and restore CF to its previously swift operation....

 

This "fix" didn't change anything on my machine. Still the same as described earlier and ONLY with CF.

 

The problem is with the site, regardless of how often site admin fails to acknowledge it or tries to deflect the complaints.

There is nothing wrong with your computer or mine. It's more than obvious to anyone with decent ISP speeds that this site loads much slower than most others.

I'm not trying to be a douche here... but for admin to keep saying the problem is at the user's end is just plain wrong. PERIOD.
If there were a problem with my computer... ALL sites I visit would be slow, not just this one.

The reason there are not more complaints is because average people probably don't notice or don't care.
Those of us that spend alot of time on the www and this site, can easily see the difference in page load-times.

The simple fact that we are discussing it in this thread is evidence enough there is a problem.

 

I'm using Firefox 9.0.1 with AdBlockerPlus on a 64-bit Vista machine. My ISP provides me with 10 Mbs download, 2Mbs upload. I have 2 shortcut icons on my desktop - one for the C6 General forum and one for the Off Topic forum.

I'm retired and I get on the forum 4 or 5 times a day, EVERY DAY, from about 9 AM until midnight.

With only 2 or 3 exceptions in the last month, from the time I double-click on either of those shortcuts on my desktop until I have the full 1st title page of that forum displayed is usually about 5 to 6 seconds, never more than about 8 seconds.

I can click on a thread title and I've got the first page of that thread completely displayed (100 posts) in 3 to 4 seconds unless there are a lot of pics on that page. Then it may take 10 to 15 seconds to finished loading.

I average posting 15 times a day.

I'll also state here that this is the only forum I subscribe to or visit. Maybe those "fast" forums that some here subscribe to have fewer members and fewer posts per day.

Quite honestly, I think there would be a lot fewer complaints if every forum member was in a position to be able to use Firefox and AdBlockerPlus. It would also help if they had a dependable ISP.

Obviously, YMMV.

 

I wonder how much traffic decreased recently due to people who got a virus and aren't able to get rid of it by themselves.

 

I read this as "CF accepts ads from companies that may infect or deteriorate your computer unless you employ software to block ads."

Then I think, how dumb is that? Why not screen and restrict ads to companies that don't do that? Oh, wait $$$$$.... priorities

 

I don't believe I have insisted that the performance problem is solely on the user's end, but I have supported that the issue may be a mixture of both, with that including some being on the user's side.

This is supported by some reporting improvements with making changes on their end (disabling 3rd-party browser extensions or using another web browser), as well as supported by the fact that not everyone is experiencing this issue.

If the performance issue was solely on CorvetteForum's side, can you explain why some don't experience this issue? If the issue were solely on CorvetteForum's end, then nearly everyone would be impacted. That does not appear to be the case. Not only do I not experience the issue itself with IE8 or Firefox, the tech team have difficulty replicating the issue to pinpoint the cause, and there are members that do not have the issue and have reported as such. JimTN is one of those members who isn't reporting performance issue as some have, and I can vouch that Jim is very active on this site.

It's not completely correct to say that if the issue were on your end, that the issue would appear on all sites. There are many variables here (routing, features of the site, etc.) that will give different results. If there is a routing issue between you and CF, you would not see the issue on all sites because websites are found all over the country with different routing. If the issue was software or memory related, you may not see the same issue on all sites unless whatever triggers the issue is found on all sites. You will find that few websites are alike, and the coding and features are very different.

I've tried to be realistic about the issues, and tried to offer some solutions that the end-user can do themselves. Like I said, not everyone is experiencing this issue and that does suggest the issue may not be solely on CorvetteForum's side because if it were, we all would be impacted.

Like I also previously said, this Help section is the section for members to report issues and get help. It is not a section you will find members coming to praise about CorvetteForum or report that there are no issues. Therefore, what you see here can be a very skewed representation because the majority of those participating or viewing this section are those who are having one issue or another.


I'm not sure where you're reading into my response to suggest that? Although I did mention that CF does use a lot of javascript, it is not solely for advertising. Javascript on CF is also used for features such as the drop-down menus, auto populating of the search field, inserting of smilies, lightbox feature (expanding attachments), and Facebook connect feature.

I previously read a response that suggested the last virus on CorvetteForum came through an ad, but that's not correct based on what we know.