"either the page does not exist or the server could not be contacted"

[Chris@Crane]

Hi!

I'm trying to submit a site to a few directories, but am getting the following error message:

"either the page does not exist or the server could not be contacted"

Has anyone encountered this before? Does anyone know how to fix it? It's not the directories, as I've used them before for other sites and not had the same problem.


Thanks

[ScriptMan]

To me it looks like you may have gotten your IP banned and are getting a polite Kiss off notice.

[Chris@Crane]

The previous submissions were paid though, and have all been accepted. I thought the same thing originally but it seems unlikely I'd be blocked if all my submissions were within the submission guidelines and were paid for?

[Chris@Crane]

I just tested another submission (different site, from the same IP) and it was accepted. This leads me to believe it's a problem with the site I'm trying to submit, but no idea where to start looking..

[ScriptMan]

Several of the better directory scripts offer the option to ban by IP or domain name. If it is an old domain that was bought you might consider contacting the directory owner and asking. I would un-ban and old domain for a new owner.

[Chris@Crane]

Thanks ScriptMan. I've sent an email to one of the directories I had the issue with, hopefully they'll either unblock me if that's the case, or maybe know what the issue could be.

[Dan]

The other thing it could be is that you are blocking their parser.

I've tried unsuccessfully to find out exactly what it is called, but basically if you are blocking a lot of IPs or robots in your .htaccess file you could be blocking directories also.

When you submit, the URL field goes through a validation process to ensure it is online and contactable, and this is the process that you could be blocking...

[boblord666]

It's the directories, check this out:

http://www.phplinkdirectory.com/foru...rver+contacted

[Dan]

only paying phpld forum members have access to that page.

if its the latest upgrade, then I doubt it is this OPs issue anyways. Most directories are using older versions.

[boblord666]

It's an old problem apparently with directory owners not setting up heir reciprocal link properly. Here's the forum message:

Recently someone tried submitting to my directory and they put a reciprocal link on their site first, they then selected the reciprocal option.

The guy emailed me and said that he was getting this error message-

The URL could not be validated. Either the page does not exist or the server cound not be contacted.

So I checked the reciprocal link on his site and then I also tried to submit his site from the submit page on the directory and I got the same message.

I had to submit the site manually from the admin panel for him.

Over the years I have had hundreds of failed submissions, so perhaps this has been an issue for some time, but I have only just become aware of the problem as the guy took the time to contact me?

[ScriptMan]

Bob as you expressed it it has been a known issue for a number of years. I don't recall all the details.

What the script in question does is look for the href tag and specified anchor text on the page name you provide. That name may not be the same as the index page of your site. It seems like I also recall it failing when the link was actually on an included page but that may be a false memory.

Also some server configs will not allow the directory script to function properly because it is not known as a browser or recognized spider.

[boblord666]

Definitely concur with this little beauty in your sig.

SEO does not mean Spam Everywhere Online

LOL