Unable to access ftp site

[Markkk]

I’m trying to access an ftp site that I know is good through an Internet
connection that is also good. But after I correctly enter the username and
password for the site, I get the message “Internet Explorer cannot display
the webpage.†Does anyone know what could be causing this problem?

 

[Bruno]

I'm trying to access an ftp site that I know is good through an Internet
connection that is also good. But after I correctly enter the username and
password for the site, I get the message "Internet Explorer cannot display
the webpage." Does anyone know what could be causing this problem?

Webpage? The address must start with ftp://

 

[Markkk]

Well, that message was confusing to me too. I didn’t think an ftp site had a
webpage. But that’s what it said, and the address starts with ftp. It’s as
follows:

ftp://ftp.si.edu

Could there be some security setting on my computer that won’t let me access
it?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

An FTP index page is a webpage as far as IE is concerned. Most likely a
server side problem, but you might want to try Internet Options>advanced
tab, and toggle the item named "Use Passive FTP (for Firewall & DSL
Compatibility." Don't ask me, I just know that when I had a similar problem
suddenly with my own site's FTP access, the support person suggested this,
saying that the problem was to do with one server in the chain between me
and my FTP site's server. I simply couldn't follow the lady's explanation
far enough to decently relay it here, and I apparently don't need the
setting.

 

[Bruno]

Well, that message was confusing to me too. I didn't think an ftp site had
a
webpage. But that's what it said, and the address starts with ftp. It's as
follows:

ftp://ftp.si.edu

Could there be some security setting on my computer that won't let me
access
it?

Make sure "Enable folder view for FTP sites" is checked in Tools > Internet
Options > Advanced. Or download a real FTP client. FileZilla is free
(http://sourceforge.net/projects/filezilla).

 

[Bruno]

An FTP index page is a webpage as far as IE is concerned.

I don't usually use IE but in my version (6), the error message when IE
can't find an ftp site is "Windows cannot access this folder. Make sure you
....", not "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." I have to uncheck
"Enable folder view for FTP sites" in order to get a page-not-found error
message when I type a bogus address.

Most likely a server side problem,

The server works.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

I don't usually use IE but in my version (6), the error message when IE
can't find an ftp site is "Windows cannot access this folder. Make sure
you ...", not "Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage." I have to
uncheck "Enable folder view for FTP sites" in order to get a
page-not-found error message when I type a bogus address.

Funny. When I disable folder view for FTP, IE6's standard "This page cannot
be displayed" error page is exactly the response I get. Well, out of several
tries, I got two offers to log on, but I don't have a Username/Password. The
rest of the time, the same "page not found" error is what occurs.

The server works.

How do you know. Did you log on? Did you get an index page? Or use IE's
Folder view and successfully access files? All you know is that the server
is there and that it can process the logon. You have no idea if it works
beyond that point, and if it doesn't, the error page cited is exactly what I
would expect if Folder View is off.

Besides, as I already said, I had what appeared to be the exact same
problem, only a couple of weeks ago on a different server, and the solution
is the one I offered, below. When I said "server-side" I didn't mean to
indicate the specific FTP server the OP is trying to get into, I meant the
whole university's server farm, and all the servers between there and the
OP's machine. Sorry I wasn't more clear about that. It is the servers
between the OP and teh FTP server that I was trying to suggest might be
causing teh problem, and while I can't explain it, toggling Off the Passive
FTP is what fixed it. Some tiem later, after the problem on teh server(s)
side presumably got fixed, I can now use Passive FTP to access the site
again. Much of the investigation we did didn't involve IE at all. We tried
several FTP apps and they all had teh same issue -- couldn't use PASSIVE FTP
to access my site. And now they all can.

I should have added that when I said "toggle", I meant to change it from
whatever it is to the opposite.

 

[Bruno]

Funny. When I disable folder view for FTP, IE6's standard "This page
cannot be displayed" error page is exactly the response I get.

Why is it funny? As I said, I get this error message too when I unckeck
"Enable folder view for FTP sites".

Well, out of several tries, I got two offers to log on, but I don't have a
Username/Password. The rest of the time, the same "page not found" error
is what occurs.

I don't get this error message when "Enable folder view for FTP sites" is
checked.

How do you know. Did you log on?

Yes, I did.

http://www.geocities.com/bgarbay/ftp.htm

Did you get an index page? Folder view and successfully access files?

Folder view? Yes! Files? Yes! :-D

All you know is that the server is there and that it can process the
logon.
You have no idea if it works beyond that point, and if it doesn't, the
error page cited is exactly what I would expect if Folder View is off.

I know it works because I logged on

Besides, as I already said, I had what appeared to be the exact same
problem, only a couple of weeks ago on a different server, and the
solution is the one I offered, below.

I may work for Markkk. However, checking/unchecking Passive FTP doesn't make
any difference on my system whereas checking/unchecking "Enable folder view
for FTP sites" does. I have no idea what this Passive FTP thing is but I did
try it before replying to Markkk.

[...]

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Why is it funny? As I said, I get this error message too when I unckeck
"Enable folder view for FTP sites".

I misread the last sentence. No biggy. I was just trying to point out why OP
might be getting that error page and not the "Can't open folder" page.

I don't get this error message when "Enable folder view for FTP sites" is
checked.

Nor do I. I don't get any error message just a logon dialog that I can't use
due to teh lack of username/password. Anonymous logon doesn't work, when I
cancel, I get a blank page. So do you have username/password or can you
explain how to log on without them?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

How do you know. Did you log on?

Yes, I did.

http://www.geocities.com/bgarbay/ftp.htm

Did you get an index page? Folder view and successfully access files?

Folder view? Yes! Files? Yes! :-D

All you know is that the server is there and that it can process the
logon.
You have no idea if it works beyond that point, and if it doesn't, the
error page cited is exactly what I would expect if Folder View is off.

I know it works because I logged on

Besides, as I already said, I had what appeared to be the exact same
problem, only a couple of weeks ago on a different server, and the
solution is the one I offered, below.

I may work for Markkk. However, checking/unchecking Passive FTP doesn't
make any difference on my system whereas checking/unchecking "Enable
folder view for FTP sites" does. I have no idea what this Passive FTP
thing is but I did try it before replying to Markkk.

[...]

 

[Bruno]

Anonymous logon doesn't work, when I cancel, I get a blank page. So do you
have username/password or can you explain how to log
on without them?

You need a username and a password.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

No, I don't. I have no need to get in. And since Markkk is no longer
participating, and all the probable problems have been covered, I'm outta
here.

 

[Markkk]

I appreciate your and Gary’s suggestions about this problem, and I’m sorry I
was out of touch so long, but work concerns have preoccupied me. I looked to
see if “Enable folder view for FTP sites†was checked, and it was. I also
tried toggling the “Use Passive FTP (For Firewall & DSL Compatibility)â€
option, which made no difference. Right now, I have a query out to the owner
of the FTP site to see if it’s OK to give out the username and password, so
you can try and duplicate the problem. It’s only when I enter them that I get
the cannot-display-webpage message. I’ll let you know their answer as soon as
they get back to me. Thanks again.

 

[Bruno]

I appreciate your and Gary's suggestions about this problem, and I'm sorry
I
was out of touch so long, but work concerns have preoccupied me. I looked
to
see if "Enable folder view for FTP sites" was checked, and it was. I also
tried toggling the "Use Passive FTP (For Firewall & DSL Compatibility)"
option, which made no difference. Right now, I have a query out to the
owner
of the FTP site to see if it's OK to give out the username and password,
so
you can try and duplicate the problem. It's only when I enter them that I
get
the cannot-display-webpage message.

I can log on with the username/pw using IE6 and FileZilla. Install an ftp
client such as FileZilla and try to log on (if you can log on, something is
wrong with your Internet Explorer).

 

[Markkk]

Were you able to log on to the ftp site using FileZilla without the username
and pw? I just downloaded FileZilla, accessed the ftp site and tried logging
on with the username and pw, but without success. I’m not sure FileZilla was
activated though. It’s sitting in the Program Files folder. Do you have to
run FileZilla before you access the ftp site, or does it automatically kick
in when you go to a site?

 

[Markkk]

I tried running FileZilla, but still couldn’t get through. According to the
messages FileZilla generated, I apparently was able to log in successfully
with the username and pw and connect to the site. But then when the CWD/
command was issued, the response was “550/: Permission denied†with an error
message saying “Failed to retrieve directory listing.†Can you make anything
out of this? If you need the username and pw, I can send them to you via
email, but the site owner doesn’t want them posted on a public forum, sorry
to say.

 

[Bruno]

Were you able to log on to the ftp site using FileZilla without the
username
and pw?

I had to enter the username and password.

 

[Markkk]

Well, I tried running FileZilla again, and this time I got through. Horay!
So I’m all set. Thanks very much for your perseverance and help.

BTW, how did you happen to know the username and pw?

 

[Bruno]

I tried running FileZilla, but still couldn't get through. According to
the
messages FileZilla generated, I apparently was able to log in successfully
with the username and pw and connect to the site. But then when the CWD/
command was issued, the response was "550/: Permission denied" with an
error
message saying "Failed to retrieve directory listing."

Here's what I get when I log on using the username and pw:

[...]
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command: PWD
Response: 257 "/ftp/users/sites" is current directory.
Command: TYPE A
Response: 200 Type set to A
Command: PASV
Response: 227 Entering Passive Mode (160,111,252,23,191,53).
Command: LIST
Response: 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for file list
Response: 226 Transfer complete.
Status: Directory listing successful

I can download files.

Can you make anything out of this?

Are you using a username that starts with an "s" and a password that starts
(and ends) with a "9"?

 

[Bruno]

I tried running FileZilla, but still couldn't get through. According to
the
messages FileZilla generated, I apparently was able to log in
successfully
with the username and pw and connect to the site. But then when the CWD/
command was issued, the response was "550/: Permission denied" with an
error
message saying "Failed to retrieve directory listing."

Here's what I get when I log on using the username and pw:

[...]
Status: Connected
Status: Retrieving directory listing...
Command: PWD
Response: 257 "/ftp/users/sites" is current directory.
Command: TYPE A
Response: 200 Type set to A
Command: PASV
Response: 227 Entering Passive Mode (160,111,252,23,191,53).
Command: LIST
Response: 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for file list
Response: 226 Transfer complete.
Status: Directory listing successful

I can download files.

Can you make anything out of this?

Are you using a username that starts with an "s" and a password that
starts (and ends) with a "9"?

Oops, I've just seen your other post.

 

[Bruno]

Well, I tried running FileZilla again, and this time I got through. Horay!
So I'm all set. Thanks very much for your perseverance and help.

BTW, how did you happen to know the username and pw?

As someone once said, "seek, and ye shall find" :-D