Cygnus Media Busy?

Anyone have any ideas why I simply cannot access Firehouse.com by typing it in my browser? I keep getting a message that says "Cygnus Media is experincing heavy use. Please try back later" (or something to that effect.) Somehow I managed to find my way to the fourms... I typed something in, hit a few more keys, and then asked my 6 year old to help me get to this site. :D ...I just hope I can find my way back to check this post. Even by getting here, I still cannot find my way to the Home Page without that message.

Any help you can offer a technologically impaired individual would be greatly appreciated...I can no longer afford my son's consulting fee! :D

Thanks

Andy

No, getting on fine, no problems- maybe they don't like you? ;)
Nah, just kidding, I have been able to get on, but there have been some really slow periods. Especially loading some of the ad server pages.

I got that message not too long ago, but then it seemed to fix itself and has not happened since that time.

Andy.I havent got that message but if this place gets any slower maybe we can watch the grass grow ?

After I got that message, I checked thier sister site, officer.com, and got the same one. Seems to be working fine now...

Site was down briefly, and forums should be very fast....if not, please post here approximate time eastern if it was slow, your connection speed and ISP.

Thanks

Well...everything is better for now...have had no problems for several days.

Josh...I agree things are slow around here...I myself have been working on a research paper and things have been stressful (I'm sure your Chief can empathize- as he is in the same boat)...so I haven't been on here lately. Well, the paper is done..for better or Worse...and I took a few days off for vacation...back to the grindstone!

Andy

All of last night and this morning. I couldn't access it from firehouse.com BUT I could back door it by Googling firehouse forums. Getting to be a pain in the *****. It probably happens 50% of the time I try to access the site within the last month.

Where are you trying to access it? The site appears to be running fine..what ISP?

from home. AOL user. still showing too busy at 18:30 hrs

Thats some problem on AOL. We'll get in touch with them.

What happens if you go to www.firehouse.com/index.html

WebTeam

Also what version of AOL are you using?

Thanks
WebTeam

It worked when I went to the index link.
AOL 9.0 Security Edition SE road runner

OK, we'll contact AOL. Some must have some very old page cached...www.firehouse.com and www.firehouse.com/index.html are the same thing...so...we'll see if they can adjust...assume you are using AOL's built in browser not IE separately?

Here's what AOL suggests:

You may not be able to load a specific Web page for any one of several reasons. After trying the first solution, check to see if you can access the Web page. If you are still unable to load the specific Web page, continue using the suggested solutions until the problem is fixed.

You may wish to print or save a copy of these instructions, as this page may not remain visible as you go through the suggested steps.

Solutions

* Verify the Web Address
* Reload the Web Page
* Run an AOL® Auto Fix
* Clear the Internet Explorer Cache and Rebuild the AOL® Adapter
* Verify the Web Page Has Not Moved

For Additional Support
Verify the Web Address

If the Web address is not typed in correctly, the Web browser will not load the correct Web page.

To verify the Web address:
Make sure that the Web address (or URL) that you typed exactly matches the address you were given. Check that the capitalization matches, all words are spelled correctly, and all punctuation, like dots (.) and slashes (/), are correctly placed. Remember, there are no spaces allowed in Web addresses. A proper Web address will look like www.aol.com.

Back to Top
Reload the Web Page

When there are temporary problems with the connection to a Web page, reloading the Web page will prompt your Web browser to request the page's information again and may allow the Web page to load properly. You can also wait and try again later.

To reload the Web page, click the Refresh button.

Back to Top
Run an AOL® Auto Fix

AOL can help you automatically fix many common problems or errors with AOL Auto Fixes. Your AOL® software comes bundled with advanced technology to make it easy to repair the most common errors that prevent you from getting the most out of your AOL® membership. Just start an Auto Fix to have the AOL® service automatically go through steps to repair your software and optimize your AOL® experience.

To run an AOL Auto Fix:
1. Go to AOL® Keyword: Fix It.
2. Find the solution to the issue that most resembles the one you are currently experiencing and click the Download One-click Fixes button.

3. Follow the simple instructions to complete the repairs.

The Auto Fix will:
1. Delete the temporary Internet files.
2. Rebuild the AOL® Adapter.
3. Repair Internet Explorer.

Back to Top
Clear the Internet Explorer Cache and Rebuild the AOL Adapter

When you browse the Web, graphics and text are downloaded to your computer. These files are known as Temporary Internet Files and are stored in the browser cache. Eventually these files may become damaged and cause pages to load incorrectly, or they may just build up and need to be cleared out. The AOL® software uses the AOL Adapter to access the Internet. Sometimes this adapter gets damaged and rebuilding it restores access to the Web.

Note: Depending on the number of stored files, clearing the cache may take a few minutes.

To clear the Internet Explorer cache and rebuild the AOL Adapter:
1. Close the AOL software.
2. Click the Start button, select Programs or All Programs, select America Online, then click AOL System Information.
3. Click the Utilities tab.
4. Click the Clear Browser Cache button or the Clear button, depending on which option you see.
5. Click the Uninstall AOL Adapter or Rebuild AOL Adapter button.
6. Click the OK button.
7. Click the Close button.
8. Restart the computer and launch the AOL software again. The AOL Adapter will rebuild automatically.

Wow...I'm sure glad my 6 yr old can work a computer...those are complex instrructions... :D I haven't run into this problem since shortly after I posted this (go figure huh..) But I use Internext explorer for broadband both at home and the office...so I'm not sure if the AOL solution will help if it happens again...But thanks for the reply!

Andy

I have know idea what you are asking me with the ie or broadband thing.
I do know that if I use the link you showed me then it works. That is good enough for me. Thank you.

As for the short story you posted.......too long to read......try using pictures to keep our attention:)

Thanks for the prompt response and helping out a computer illiterate jake
Mike

The common demoninator seems to be AOL and Internet Explorer.

I stopped using I.E. a couple of years ago. We even dumped the blue e from the fire station computers. Firefox is a much better alternative.

AOL is, well, AOL. A google search of AOL problems has over 60 million pages listed.

Hello Everyone,

It appears that people experiencing this issue are essentially seeing a cached page. AOL is not checking for a new version of the page, so let's help it along.

Here are set of instructions for AOL 9.0 users running Microsoft Windows.
If you are running other versions post them back here and will work out a procedure for you..

1. Click on "Start"
2. Click on "Run"
3. ***Important*** Copy and paste the following command including the quotes and excluding the double hyphens in the run box

--"C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\System Information\sinf.exe" /language=1033--

4. AOL will display a warning.. Click "OK"
5. An AOL window will open.. Click on "Utilities"
6. You will see "Current Cache" .. To the right of that you will see "Clear"
7. Click on "Clear"
8. Click on "Close"
9. Close and Disconnect from AOL
10 Connect to AOL as you typically do
11. Try going to http://www.firehouse.com/

fyi, I tried all your instructions and AOL still won't work for me. It's not a big problem for me because I can use another browser to access Firehouse. I just wanted to let you know that some users might still be having trouble. Thanks for your help, though. :)