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AOL 5.0 and PHP???

Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:18 pm
by nufferkay
So someone recently informed me that she can't access one of my sites, which happens to be templated using PHP. When she tries, it just downloads an "untitled" file to her desktop, which when she double-clicks attempts unsuccessfully to open in Acrobat (!).

Here's the rub - she's using AOL 5.0 for Mac b/c her outdated hardware won't run anything more recent - so there's no asking her to upgrade her browser.

Has anyone run into this before? Is it a problem with AOL's browser not recognizing the .php extension as something to display as HTML? Or is it something else?

Any ideas on workarounds?

thanks,
-N

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 3:52 am
by no_memories
Well,

There is always a solution. AOL binds to all kinds of a computer's TCP/IP resources but you can still run a third party browser - Mozilla Firebird.

The problem isn't so much not being able to use another browser as won't. I tell people straight up about AOL, especially old versions, it's a propriatary Internet software package that isn't completely compatable with web technology.

I know this doesn't address the core issue you mentioned, but this may not be a PhP problem at all. But rather a known bug in that version of AOL software. That's why they are pumping out a "ALL NEW" AOL vXXXX every 6 months. Of course getting a plain ole dial-up for these AOL lovers is just unheard of, lol.

AOL should be banished to the outskirts of hell for trying to strangle the Internet with yet another bloated hunk of crap Internet Service "program".

I would recommend to her she get Firebird for just such instances.

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 5:41 am
by nufferkay
Thanks - I wish I could switch her to a new browser, but she's running Mac OS 8.6, and there is no version of Firebird. The best I could do is convince her to run Netscape 4 (ugh!).

Update on the problem: It's not PHP specifically - she can load Zend's pages. I'm going to have to figure out whether it's the XHTML or something, or maybe a server issue.

-N

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 6:02 am
by twigletmac
Check the file type that your pages are being served as - it may be that the server is sending them out as something other than text/html causing an issue with her software.

Mac

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 9:14 pm
by Steveo31
Yea, I've got AOL 9.0... can't stand it. Runnin Firebird. :D :D

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:16 pm
by nufferkay
twiglet - how do I figure out what the file type is served as?

thx,
-N

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:37 pm
by malcolmboston
the extension

index.php -> PHP file
index.html -> HTML file
index.doc -> word file

etc etc

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 3:48 pm
by Illusionist
to all you suggesting Firebird and/or running Firebird, its outdated... Get Firefox!! There aren't as many Extensions, yet, but they're comming!

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:44 am
by malcolmboston
why the hell would anyone ever get AOL!?

even there free trial is a rip off, constant disconnections super lag on gaming, awful ISP, seriously awful

and 'chosen' mail servers only mean major head ache for PHP programmers when trying to send e-mails to gy@aol.com

take my advice - stay clear