How to solve a 'redirection' problem?

The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> alexd <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> Meanwhile, at the uk.telecom.broadband Job Justification Hearings, Terry
>>> Pinnell chose the tried and tested strategy of:
>>>
>>>> In the thread 'OT: Apple forums working?' I posted about getting
>>>> redirected from the Apple discussion forums to
>>>> https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html
>>>>
>>>> As it happens on my iPad and PC (both IE and Firefox) I have to agree with
>>>> Apple's conclusion on the phone this morning that it's caused by either:
>>>> - My BT Home Hub 2.0 router configuration (which I've not touched since
>>>> its installation many months ago)
>>>> - My Windows XP Firewall settings (never go near it)
>>>> - Or some settings by my ISP, BT Broadband. (Haven't a clue what they
>>>> might be.)
>>> It's not impossible for a third party to intercept or redirect your access
>>> to an HTTPS website without a prominent warning in your web browser.
>>> However, it takes a fair bit of work [including, getting a certificate
>>> signed for the target site, trusted by your browser] so it's highly unlikely
>>> to be something that happens accidentally.
>>
>> Thanks - hadn't even suspected that possibility!
>>
>> Any way to check definitively?
>>
>what was the URL you were having probs with?
>
>First, take mobile device to a friend on a decent ISP and try again..
>
>Second what kit have you got? a Mac? know how to use traceroute?

Did you read my previous posts?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>> alexd <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Meanwhile, at the uk.telecom.broadband Job Justification Hearings, Terry
>>>> Pinnell chose the tried and tested strategy of:
>>>>
>>>>> In the thread 'OT: Apple forums working?' I posted about getting
>>>>> redirected from the Apple discussion forums to
>>>>> https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html
>>>>>
>>>>> As it happens on my iPad and PC (both IE and Firefox) I have to agree with
>>>>> Apple's conclusion on the phone this morning that it's caused by either:
>>>>> - My BT Home Hub 2.0 router configuration (which I've not touched since
>>>>> its installation many months ago)
>>>>> - My Windows XP Firewall settings (never go near it)
>>>>> - Or some settings by my ISP, BT Broadband. (Haven't a clue what they
>>>>> might be.)
>>>> It's not impossible for a third party to intercept or redirect your access
>>>> to an HTTPS website without a prominent warning in your web browser.
>>>> However, it takes a fair bit of work [including, getting a certificate
>>>> signed for the target site, trusted by your browser] so it's highly unlikely
>>>> to be something that happens accidentally.
>>> Thanks - hadn't even suspected that possibility!
>>>
>>> Any way to check definitively?
>>>
>> what was the URL you were having probs with?
>>
>> First, take mobile device to a friend on a decent ISP and try again..
>>
>> Second what kit have you got? a Mac? know how to use traceroute?
>
> Did you read my previous posts?
>
Not all,no.
And once read they are hard to get back to.

So a concise restatement may be in order

The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Terry Pinnell wrote:
>> The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>>> alexd <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Meanwhile, at the uk.telecom.broadband Job Justification Hearings, Terry
>>>>> Pinnell chose the tried and tested strategy of:
>>>>>
>>>>>> In the thread 'OT: Apple forums working?' I posted about getting
>>>>>> redirected from the Apple discussion forums to
>>>>>> https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html
>>>>>>
>>>>>> As it happens on my iPad and PC (both IE and Firefox) I have to agree with
>>>>>> Apple's conclusion on the phone this morning that it's caused by either:
>>>>>> - My BT Home Hub 2.0 router configuration (which I've not touched since
>>>>>> its installation many months ago)
>>>>>> - My Windows XP Firewall settings (never go near it)
>>>>>> - Or some settings by my ISP, BT Broadband. (Haven't a clue what they
>>>>>> might be.)
>>>>> It's not impossible for a third party to intercept or redirect your access
>>>>> to an HTTPS website without a prominent warning in your web browser.
>>>>> However, it takes a fair bit of work [including, getting a certificate
>>>>> signed for the target site, trusted by your browser] so it's highly unlikely
>>>>> to be something that happens accidentally.
>>>> Thanks - hadn't even suspected that possibility!
>>>>
>>>> Any way to check definitively?
>>>>
>>> what was the URL you were having probs with?
>>>
>>> First, take mobile device to a friend on a decent ISP and try again..
>>>
>>> Second what kit have you got? a Mac? know how to use traceroute?
>>
>> Did you read my previous posts?
>>
>Not all,no.
>And once read they are hard to get back to.
>
>So a concise restatement may be in order

Well, the inconsistencies in behaviour make conciseness elusive, but
here's another attempt at the essentials:

In Safari I go to the Community page
https://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa
I click 'Sign In' which gets me to a page 'Sign in to Apple Support'. It
has a very long URL; here's an extract in case it helps:
https://daw.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObj...language=US-EN

(Changing that suffix to UK-EN didn't help.)

And here's a screenshot:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Appl...-photo%205.jpg

THE KEY PROBLEM: When I click 'Sign In' on that page (either immediately
or after re-entering my password) I get the same old 'Back Soon' page.
https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html

It's the sign-in link that triggers the re-direction. You asked "what was
the URL you were having probs with?". But how can I determine that? I
can't r-click the 'Sign-in' button and open its properties. It's a GIF, so
presumably the page javascript or whatever determines its URL. I thought
maybe a look at the page's source code would help, but it didn't - beyond
my skill level.

Finally, the inconsistencies I mentioned are mainly that *sometimes* I
can't even get to that second Sign-In page. Or even the first Community
page. Instead, I often get straight to 'Back Soon...' But that's always
later in a session, so I think it's a cache thing.

Also, I'm not really sure whether the first 'Sign In' link is taking me to
the right Sign In page anyway. Do others get that same intermediate page,
'Sign in to Apple Support'?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Success!

My internet-savvy son suggested I set up another Apple ID. I objected
emphatically at first because I thought it would screw up my sweetly
working existing Apple ID, with which I occasionally buy apps. But at his
insistence I went ahead and used another ID - and it works fine. ;-)

I've not yet thought through any other implications? Are there any I
should watch out for?

I'm obviously confused about this account ID stuff. I understood it was a
UNIQUE Apple ID? But now it seems this new one is only an Apple
Discussions ID? If so, why is it called an APPLE ID?

Presumably I can just use this new one in the forums from now on? I'm
still going to pursue Apple, partly because I don't like untidiness of two
user IDs, partly because I hate unsolved puzzles, but mainly on principle.
The Apple Support rep didn't make an adequate attempt to get to the cause,
just concluded it was nothing to do with Apple. Had me convinced too!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>> The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Terry Pinnell wrote:
>>>>> alexd <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Meanwhile, at the uk.telecom.broadband Job Justification Hearings, Terry
>>>>>> Pinnell chose the tried and tested strategy of:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In the thread 'OT: Apple forums working?' I posted about getting
>>>>>>> redirected from the Apple discussion forums to
>>>>>>> https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> As it happens on my iPad and PC (both IE and Firefox) I have to agree with
>>>>>>> Apple's conclusion on the phone this morning that it's caused by either:
>>>>>>> - My BT Home Hub 2.0 router configuration (which I've not touched since
>>>>>>> its installation many months ago)
>>>>>>> - My Windows XP Firewall settings (never go near it)
>>>>>>> - Or some settings by my ISP, BT Broadband. (Haven't a clue what they
>>>>>>> might be.)
>>>>>> It's not impossible for a third party to intercept or redirect your access
>>>>>> to an HTTPS website without a prominent warning in your web browser.
>>>>>> However, it takes a fair bit of work [including, getting a certificate
>>>>>> signed for the target site, trusted by your browser] so it's highly unlikely
>>>>>> to be something that happens accidentally.
>>>>> Thanks - hadn't even suspected that possibility!
>>>>>
>>>>> Any way to check definitively?
>>>>>
>>>> what was the URL you were having probs with?
>>>>
>>>> First, take mobile device to a friend on a decent ISP and try again..
>>>>
>>>> Second what kit have you got? a Mac? know how to use traceroute?
>>> Did you read my previous posts?
>>>
>> Not all,no.
>> And once read they are hard to get back to.
>>
>> So a concise restatement may be in order
>
> Well, the inconsistencies in behaviour make conciseness elusive, but
> here's another attempt at the essentials:
>
> In Safari I go to the Community page
> https://discussions.apple.com/index.jspa
> I click 'Sign In' which gets me to a page 'Sign in to Apple Support'. It
> has a very long URL; here's an extract in case it helps:
> https://daw.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObj...language=US-EN
>

that didnt work for me at all.

> (Changing that suffix to UK-EN didn't help.)
>
> And here's a screenshot:
> http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/Appl...-photo%205.jpg
>
> THE KEY PROBLEM: When I click 'Sign In' on that page (either immediately
> or after re-entering my password) I get the same old 'Back Soon' page.
> https://discussions.apple.com/backso...stempaway.html
>
> It's the sign-in link that triggers the re-direction. You asked "what was
> the URL you were having probs with?". But how can I determine that? I
> can't r-click the 'Sign-in' button and open its properties. It's a GIF, so
> presumably the page javascript or whatever determines its URL. I thought
> maybe a look at the page's source code would help, but it didn't - beyond
> my skill level.
>
> Finally, the inconsistencies I mentioned are mainly that *sometimes* I
> can't even get to that second Sign-In page. Or even the first Community
> page. Instead, I often get straight to 'Back Soon...' But that's always
> later in a session, so I think it's a cache thing.
>
> Also, I'm not really sure whether the first 'Sign In' link is taking me to
> the right Sign In page anyway. Do others get that same intermediate page,
> 'Sign in to Apple Support'?
>

Nope.

Basically apples site is broken.

Install Linux.

Terry Pinnell wrote:
> Success!
>
> My internet-savvy son suggested I set up another Apple ID. I objected
> emphatically at first because I thought it would screw up my sweetly
> working existing Apple ID, with which I occasionally buy apps. But at his
> insistence I went ahead and used another ID - and it works fine. ;-)
>
> I've not yet thought through any other implications? Are there any I
> should watch out for?
>
> I'm obviously confused about this account ID stuff. I understood it was a
> UNIQUE Apple ID? But now it seems this new one is only an Apple
> Discussions ID? If so, why is it called an APPLE ID?
>

You have to understand Apple is a tribal brand. Everything is apple. Or
I something.

They are not that good at software - they are and always were hardware boys.

One of the marketing unutruths perpetrated is that 'Apple just works'.
Mainly it does, but when it patently doesn't the brand image does not
allow them to admit it, so their support is vile, and their agents adept
in telling you its someone else's problem.


> Presumably I can just use this new one in the forums from now on? I'm
> still going to pursue Apple, partly because I don't like untidiness of two
> user IDs, partly because I hate unsolved puzzles, but mainly on principle.

Go for it. But expect disappointment.

> The Apple Support rep didn't make an adequate attempt to get to the cause,
> just concluded it was nothing to do with Apple. Had me convinced too!
>

QED

I finally got this a few days ago fixed by Apple (after 3 weeks).

But this morning I'm back with the same problem. When I try to visit
https://discussions.apple.com/
I'm getting redirected to
https://discussions.apple.com/___sbs...intenance.html
(the 'We'll be back soon...' message page).

Others seeing the same?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Terry Pinnell <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I finally got this a few days ago fixed by Apple (after 3 weeks).
>
>But this morning I'm back with the same problem. When I try to visit
>https://discussions.apple.com/
>I'm getting redirected to
>https://discussions.apple.com/___sbs...intenance.html
>(the 'We'll be back soon...' message page).
>
>Others seeing the same?


OK, I've now established that this time it really *is* due to maintenance!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK