Error Messages

[JulieS]

500 Internal Server Error

 

As with most errors on the internet, these are random and only affect a few people at a time.  Below is some information about how to fix 500 Internal Server Errors from your end...

 

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The 500 Internal Server Error is a very general HTTP status code that means something has gone wrong on the website's server, but the server could not be more specific on what the exact problem is.

 

Most of the time, "wrong" means an issue with the page or site's programming, but there's certainly a chance that the problem is on your end.

 

The 500 Internal Server Error is a server-side error, meaning the problem probably isn't with your computer or internet connection but instead with the website's server.

 

While not probable, it is possible that there's something wrong on your end, in which case we'll look at some things you can try:

 

1: Reload the web page. You can do that by clicking the refresh/reload button, pressing F5 or Ctrl-R, or trying the URL again from the address bar.

Even if the 500 Internal Server Error is a problem on the web server, the issue might just be temporary. Trying the page again will often be successful.

Note: If the 500 Internal Server Error message appears during the checkout process at an online merchant, be aware that duplicate attempts to checkout may end up creating multiple orders - and multiple charges! Most merchants have automatic protections from these kinds of actions, but it's still something to keep in mind.

 

2: Clear your browser's cache. If there's a problem with the cached version of the page you're viewing, it could be causing HTTP 500 issues.

Note: Internal Server Errors are not often caused by caching issues, but I have, on occasion, seen the error go away after clearing the cache. It's such an easy and harmless thing to try, so don't skip it.

 

3: Delete your browser's cookies. Some 500 Internal Server Error issues can be corrected by deleting the cookies associated with the site you're getting the error on.

After removing the cookie(s), restart the browser and try again.

 

Source: Lifewire

 

[JulieS]

503 Service Unavailable Error

 

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The 503 Service Unavailable error is an HTTP status code that means the web site's server is simply not available right now. Most of the time, it occurs because the server is too busy or because there's maintenance being performed on it.

 

The 503 Service Unavailable error is a server-side error, meaning the problem is usually with the web site's server. It's possible that your computer is having some kind of problem that's causing the 503 error but it's not likely.

 

Regardless, there are a few things you can try:

1: Retry the URL from the address bar again by clicking the reload/refresh button, or pressing F5 or Ctrl+R.

Even though the 503 Service Unavailable error means that there's an error on another computer, the issue is probably only temporary. Sometimes just trying the page again will work.

Important: If the 503 Service Unavailable error message appears while paying for an online purchase, be aware that multiple attempts to checkout may end up creating multiple orders - and multiple charges! Most payment systems, and some credit card companies, have protections from this kind of thing but it's still something to be aware of.

 

2: Restart your router and modem, and then your computer or device, especially if you're seeing the "Service Unavailable - DNS Failure" error.

While the 503 error is still most likely the fault of the website you're visiting, it's possible that there's an issue with the DNS server configurations on your router or computer, which a simple restart of both might correct.

Tip: If resetting your equipment didn't correct the 503 DNS Failure error, there might be temporary issues with the DNS servers themselves.

 

3: Another option is to contact the website directly for help. There's a good chance that the site's administrators already know about the 503 error but letting them know, or checking the status on the problem, isn't a bad idea.

Tip: If the website giving the 503 error is a popular one and you think it might be down completely, a smart Twitter search can usually give you the answer. Try searching for #websitedown on Twitter, replacing website with the site name, as in #facebookdown or #youtubedown. An outage on a big site will usually generate lots of talk on Twitter.

 

4: Come back later. Since the 503 Service Unavailable error is a common error message on very popular websites when a huge increase in traffic by visitors (that's you!) is overwhelming the servers, simply waiting it out is often your best bet.

Frankly, this is the most likely "fix" for a 503 error. As more and more visitors leave the website, the chances of a successful page load for you increases.

 

Source: Lifewire