Fix the forum/chatbox for IE users

[stealthify]

ie8 ...

I know it doesn't solve the problem completely, but maybe it'd be easier for Alan to give us a profile setting that would allow us to toggle the global chat on/off. And/or give us the option to only load it into a seperate window when we want it.

As nice as it is to have the ability to instant chat, it does seem like it slows pageload speeds down quite a bit and puts extra strain on the server. Especially if you're the type to open multiple threads into seperate tabs. Either that, or Alan may have to comb through the ChatBox developer's code and track down the gremlins that are causing issues with IE, and that'd likely be quite the annoying task.

I'm using IE9 to post this right now, trying to see if I can replicate the problem.

[Alan92RTTT]

As soon as I have a chance I'll see if their is an update to the chat software.

Are the errors only if you are chatting or at random times?

If you are not using chat have you tried closing the chat area?

[DrGonzo]

Any version of IE has never played nice with AJAX which is what powers the chatbox. In truth the reason you are getting those errors is really not due to the software on the site, but the inability of Microsoft to follow common standards when it comes to online browsers, HTML, Memory allocation, ETC. Microsoft likes to make their own standards and force everyone to work around them.


And yes I have to right to say all of this as I used to work for Microsoft.....I know their inside practices!!

For those of you who are unable to use any other browser besides IE "Cause your Job Suck...." try this:
Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives

You can download it to a flash drive and run it. it does not install to the host computer, I used to use it all the time in college as it allows me to save all bookmarks, passwords etc and run it on any computer. Nifty little tool!!!

[Alan92RTTT]

Chrome will install on most windows stations without admin privileges.

[DrGonzo]

But it writes registry entries!

Some companies block the installation of any application that writes registry entries. it is a somewhat common practice for companies that are web based as this stops any type of malware/trojan from even accidentally being installed. So using the portable apps is a great solutions

[stealthee]

I know it doesn't solve the problem completely, but maybe it'd be easier for Alan to give us a profile setting that would allow us to toggle the global chat on/off. And/or give us the option to only load it into a seperate window when we want it.

As nice as it is to have the ability to instant chat, it does seem like it slows pageload speeds down quite a bit and puts extra strain on the server. Especially if you're the type to open multiple threads into seperate tabs. Either that, or Alan may have to comb through the ChatBox developer's code and track down the gremlins that are causing issues with IE, and that'd likely be quite the annoying task.

I'm using IE9 to post this right now, trying to see if I can replicate the problem.

From what I have gathered IE9 is only available to Vista or Windows 7 users. I still run XP which I personally love compared to Vista and 7. Anytime I have to fix issues on my mom's or brother's computers I want to pull my hair out at the stupidity of some of the areas on the OS.

As for load times, I really don't see page load slow downs one way or the other. There were ZERO issues up until the most recent update. After that is when all the crashes started. And Alan it is just at random times. No one was chatting when I got up this morning and I had page crashes twice. The chat also crashes randomly. Sometimes it will crash every 30 seconds and I have to refresh the page to even get it to come back. There are other times where its fine for 15 minutes at a time. I have had chat eat several of my posts too.

[Alan92RTTT]

"I have had chat eat several of my posts too."
chat posts or forum posts?

[stealthee]

Sorry, chat posts. I have only lost one forum post, and that was from hitting submit, then having of of the forbidden 404 (or whatever) errors hit right after.

[green-lantern]

For those of you who are unable to use any other browser besides IE "Cause your Job Suck...." try this:
Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives

You can download it to a flash drive and run it. it does not install to the host computer, I used to use it all the time in college as it allows me to save all bookmarks, passwords etc and run it on any computer. Nifty little tool!!!

Can't do that, I get caught with a thumb drive at work I'll be talking to the FBI.

[green-lantern]

BTW, chat just crashed on me