I Can t Connect to My iDisk

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I Can't Connect to My iDisk

There are a few things that can cause trouble when connecting to your iDisk from failed connections to somewhat obscure errors with descriptions consisting almost entirely of a negative number.

To troubleshoot iDisk connection problems, try the following:

  • If you're using Windows (98, 2000, or XP) to access your iDisk and you're having problems, try restarting your PC. If that doesn't help, remove and then re-create the iDisk connection (see Chapter 3). You might also try using a more expanded URL by ensuring that the URL has a /? (slash followed by a question mark) at the end. For example, instead of http://idisk.mac.com/yourmembername, TRy http://idisk.mac.com/yourmembername/?.

  • Get a faster Internet connection. iDisk works much better with a high-speed Internet connection (as do a lot of other things). If you're running into iDisk problems, see about a high-speed connection especially with a higher upload speed.

  • Proxy servers can cause all kinds of connection problems. For example, iDisk Utility for Windows XP will not work with a proxy server, so you'll have to use Network Places. If you're still having problems, ask your ISP if it uses proxy servers, and if so, find out if those servers support WebDAV connections. If they don't, you'll have trouble connecting to your .Mac account. Your ISP may be willing to find a way around the proxy server for you.

  • If you're getting a -36 error (which is a WebDAV error), make sure you're running the latest version of Mac OS X. If that doesn't solve the problem, then a proxy server may be at issue. Ask your ISP if it uses them and see if your ISP is willing to help you find a way around the proxy server. Also, try a faster Internet connection. This can help solve -36 errors.

  • If you're getting a -38 error when you try to do something with your iDisk, odds are you're trying to change a file or folder that your iDisk needs in order to work properly. If you're trying to change iPhoto or HomePage files (in the Pictures or Sites folder) on your disk when you see this error, use iPhoto or the HomePage portion of the .Mac Web site to change them instead of doing it through the Finder. If you try to rename a file that HomePage needs to display a Web page, for example, you may see this error.

  • If your iDisk password is longer than eight characters and you're using iDisk Utility for Windows XP, use only the first eight characters of your password. iDisk Utility for Windows XP doesn't support the longer passwords.

What Is WebDAV, Anyway?

Thought you'd never ask! WebDAV is a way of using the HTTP protocol (which is merely the way your computer requests and loads Web pages) for something it wasn't intended for: moving files over the Internet.

WebDAV, which stands for Web-based Distributed Authoring, was originally intended to provide a way to read pages with a Web browser as well as edit them. Often these days, WebDAV is used to handle moving files to and from remote storage volumes, such as an iDisk.

A great place to find out more about WebDAV is at the WebDAV FAQ (www.webdav.org/other/faq.html).


What Is a Proxy Server?

Proxy servers allow computers to make indirect connections to the Internet (or other networks). A proxy server works like an intermediary middleman that is, users request a connection (such as for a Web page) from the proxy server, and the proxy server goes out and finds that file, grabs it, and then returns it to the user who requested it.

Proxy servers do the following:

  • Provide additional network security for users (because bad guys have to break in through the proxy server first before reaching a user's computer)

  • Provide control over what users can see (by blocking requests for certain Web pages or other resources)

  • Help speed up browsing (by keeping local copies of frequently fetched files that can be loaded by users much faster than if they had to be retrieved over the Internet)

If you're working with a broadband router that relies on NAT (Network Address Translation), you're using a kind of proxy. Many ISPs use proxy servers to help speed up the customer browsing experience.

Proxy servers, though, can sometimes cause unexpected problems, such as breaking large file downloads or causing problems with some Internet services, such as VPN or .Mac.

Curious about proxies? Visit the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server.


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    .Mac. Visual QuickStart Guide
    .Mac
    ISBN: 032130473X
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 97

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