Is it just me, or did eBay mess things up with their most recent routine maintenance?

When I look at search results or a seller's auction list (not in Stores -- they seem to be fine), the top half of the page is blank (other than the usual Category list, Show only box, and Seller Information along the left edge). I have to scroll down half way before I start seeing the listings (either List or Gallery view). Not only is there a lot of empty page territory (eBay abhors empty space -- must sell ads! must fill space!), but no Featured auctions are showing up, and I know the list of items started much higher on the page than it does now. In fact, a newbie would just assume there are NO results for a search. I've checked the System Status board, but there's no mention of this.

Here's a screenshot:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/emailshere/eBayGlitch.jpg
(nothing shows up above "Add To Favorite Searches")

Also, when I'm looking at some seller's list of stuff, and I'm clicking to view some of the auctions, and going back to the list, and then advancing through several pages of items, eventually, I can't get back to the initial page by using the Back button (it's like those annoying sites that disable the Back button and you have to use the browser drop-down box and click on the original page to get back to it). When this happens, using the Back button just reloads the current page.

I probably wouldn't even ask about this -- would just assume eBay would fix it next week -- but on the same night as eBay did their maintenance, I also upgraded to MSIE version 7. Or at least, I think I did -- the version still says 6.x, so something's not right. But other internet pages appear completely normal, and the Back button seems to be working correctly on other pages.

So has anyone else noticed this glitch on eBay?

Sue

Sue,

Now it could be an eBay glitch as they have done some re-arraning. You'll notice the shipping calculators are different. That changed last week. And there is a bug in the calculator eBay is working to correct. So maybe they are working on the bug and caused a display problem. It's possible.

Do you have Firefox? You might try viewing the pages using firefox and see if they look strange to you.. I viewed the pages in IE and Firefox from my home computer. All looks okay to me.

Try to download the IE update again and see if that corrects the problem.

Judy/blue

Oh my gawd! It IS the browser! It's totally normal in Firefox (why didn't I think to try that?! -- don't answer that question!).

Ok, now I've got to get back to the earlier version of MSIE. Sheesh! No wonder people hate Microsoft. I have Automatic Updates disabled, but every now and then, when I open a browser session, I get a prompt to update this and that. Usually, I just ignore them, but this one said there was an update to the browser itself, so I went for it. It's still possible the new version of MSIE is fine and that I simply got a bad download or bad install (although nothing seemed to go awry), so I guess I should refrain from bad-mouthing Microsoft.....ah, what they heck, they suck. It's always so amusing (or would be if it weren't so aggravating) that Microsoft's own web site is so full of errors -- links that don't work, typos, and so on.

It's also interesting that this glitch seemed only to affect eBay. All the other sites I've visited since downloading the new version appeared completely normal.

Here's my list of auctions in the two browsers, side by side:

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/emailshere/eBayGlitch.jpg

The one on the left is with MSIE and looks like I don't even have any auctions running. You have to scroll halfway down the page to see them.

Thanks again, Judy, for making me THINK.

Sue

Sue,

Holy moly, That is a significant difference in displaying the listing.

I am glad you got it fixed though. And that it wasn't something major

Judy/blue

I spent a couple hours tonight trying to reinstall MSIE version 6. Windows tells you it's detected a more recent version and won't install. Microsoft instructs you to tweak a Registry file to avoid this roadblock, which I did to no avail (lots of people are complaining about the same problem).

I also tried some steps using the command prompt. Didn't work. Finally gave up and configured Firefox as my default browser (took a while to inform other programs, log into sites and remember passwords, etc.).

Figuring I can't possibly be the only person who had problems making eBay work right with IE 7 (also called RC1 for Release Candidate), I Googled on the topic and found this:

http://forums.ebay.co.uk/thread.jspa?messageID=1200998895&forumID=2009#1200998895
(see posts 27 - 30)

Wouldn't you think Microsoft would make sure their new browser and eBay played well together before inviting (presumably) thousands of people to give it a try?

Sue

Sue,

If other software providers were to release products with as many bugs as Microsoft does, the companies would go broke. Or if AW2K was released with as many bugs, can you imagine what the users would do to AW2K tech support. Why Thom would have to go into permanent hiding

I think it might be wise for users to make a restore point on their computer prior to updating the IE browser to version 7. I am certainly glad you posted about this problem. What a mess!

Bless your heart-- having to go through and change everything on your computer. Could you uninstall the update?

Judy/blue

Hi Guys!
I have been using IE7 since it was made available as a BETA and have had no issues at all. I was jumping between Firefox and IE because I love working with the tab browsing but since IE7 added that feature, I have been pretty much using it exclusively. Now that being said I have to agree with you with the functionality and security issues Micrsoft's software is famous for!

But I just wanted you to know that I haven't had any problems so far, knock on wood!

Marty

Marty,

I wonder what the difference is?? What operating system do you use? Isn't is strange how some will have no issues and others will have tons. And have you altered the Advanced Internet Options at all?

And come to think of it, Hey Sue, have you changed any of your Internet options lately? Removing some of the defaults. Or did the IE 7 install replace changed you had made and restored the defaults causing the problem. Oh my the possibilities, the possibilities.

Judy/blue

Judy:

I am using XP Home. And really the only advance option that I have changed is the Phishing Option and I have that turned off.
Thinking about this more I can only remember trouble with with issues concerning pop ups. Because some secure sites use them to let you conduct business. However, I don't believe that this an IE7 issue. It is me, I have too many layers of that sort of blocker, XP has one, IE7 has one and I run the Google toolbar which has one and on top of that I have McAfee Security Software!! Anyway I don't have the problem any more because you can disable them as needed. I currently just let Google block the popups! Works fine for me.

Other than that I am using it "out of the box" so to speak.

But I am willing to compare notes to try to help out!

Also, I noticed that eBay was doing some format changes, especially on their search results, could that have been the issue?

Marty

Marty,

Absolutely, anytime eBay makes changes it rarely goes smoothly. I noticed the changes and they made another category change. (might want to update your AW2K if you haven't already)

I have not upgraded my IE to version 7 but I may just to see what happens on my machine. As I have changed some of the Internet options. I also use the Google toolbar and popup blocker. Works just fine. And I have McAfee too.

Judy/blue

Hi Judy,

Well, it's not as if my computer crashed, or I can't get online, or can't get to web sites. I'm fine, but thanks anyway for the sympathy. It's just so very aggravating that Microsoft would urge people to download a program with such huge bugs. They invited computer geeks and developers to download the beta version a few months ago and only very recently broadened the invitation to everyone....."everyone" meaning suckers like me.

I modified a Registry file as per Microsoft's instructions, and restarted my computer several times. I removed every component of IE I could locate (it no longer appears in Add-Remove Programs) and redownloaded ie6setup.exe, but I still get the notice that it detects a more recent version and that setup cannot continue. Now, here's the weird thing..... As of this morning, if I visit eBay via IE (and how the heck can I open IE if it's not on the Add-Remove Programs list??? -- by just clicking my tray icon, that's how...Twilight Zone!), eBay search results appear normal -- no more empty space at the tops of pages. And my internet Links (the ones you drag to the upper menu bar) are all rearranged, so something got reconfigured. I think I'm back to "normal" -- I just don't know how it happened (little computer cobblers while I was sleeping?).

But I plan to keep using Firefox (even if only in protest) -- some sites look a little different (not necessarily a bad thing), and I can't find a way to change the default icons of Toolbar bookmarks (not a big deal; just was fond of my personalized icons). But Firefox seems to be faster than IE and does a much better job of remembering passwords and keeping me signed in over multiple sessions.

I thought this sampling of posts from a Microsoft forum was pretty amusing (http://forums.microsoft.com/Communities/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=372106&SiteID=6):

-------------------------
Hello, I am interested in learning how to uninstall IE7 and reinstall IE6. If I uninstall IE7, I no longer will be able to connect with MS to download IE6, I think. Is there a process or program available to do this? Thanks, CRB
--------------------------
Look....the only way to get IE6 SP1 back is to use system restore. Now I've been talking with IE and they are trying to fix everything. But they are very busy. So be patient, because I have to wait, too. I'm helping them fix it, but it's a major problem that they are trying to fix. So give them and I some time. Thank You Very Much For Your Patience. [that was from May 2006]
--------------------------
It should have never been released if you can't get rid of it. (Beta or not). This is why it is increasingly difficult to get customers to use MS products. Have you ever heard of shooting one's self in the foot. Be patient?...really!
--------------------------

On the last page of the thread, someone says they called Microsoft Support and were referred to this article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923721

"This problem may occur after you use a hard disk utility program that recovers hard disk space by deleting temporary files and folders."
[I did delete temporary internet files when I switched to Firefox to view an eBay page]

The article goes on to say:

"Warning: Use the Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Uninstall Tool only if the computer and Internet Explorer 7 match the following requirements. Serious problems might occur if you use this tool on a computer that does not meet these requirements. These problems might require that you reinstall the Windows operating system.

The version of Internet Explorer 7 that is installed is 7.0.5346.5; The path of the Windows folder is C:\Windows; The path of the Program Files folder is C:\Program Files; You are running Windows XP on a 32-bit computer; and Internet Explorer 7 is not listed in Add or Remove Programs."

Well, all I can say is yikes. Even if I could determine that is the version of IE7 I have (had?), I think I'd be afraid to use the Uninstall Tool.

Sue

Hi Marty,

When you are at eBay and you run a keyword search, do the results show up like you're used to seeing them, or is there a long blank space at the top of the page (links along left side but no listings until about halfway down the page)?

Sue

I'm also using Windows XP Home Edition. It is version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519 : Service Pack 2). I have Automatic Updates disabled, so maybe my system was missing some files needed for IE7 to run properly (and there's still the possibility I had a bad download/a bad install, though usually if a DL or install fails, it's pretty obvious).

Sue

One more comment about using Firefox.

When you revise the description of an auction on eBay, there is no Standard tab -- your only option is to Enter Your Own HTML. I wonder why the Standard (I guess that's the WYSIWYG option) tab is missing when the browser if Firefox. Anyone know?

Sue

Sue,

I do not know about that one. But I will find out. I will check on it after class tonight and get back to you. I have not noticed the standard formatting being gone in the revision before.

Judy/blue

Hmmm, you're right. Wonder why it happens also. It could be that the tabs are Java script and FF is having problems with it. Dunno, but I'll keep checking to see if I can find out why.

Garry

Sue:
Sorry for the slow reply, been away from computer most of the day!
When I do a keyword search, it is pretty much like always, except they have changed the look at the left of the page showing current bids, time left etc.
I actually like it better, looks cleaner to me.

About XP, I have automatic updates turned on and have been always up to date.
If you had a bad IE7 install you should be able to download it again right over the top and be ok.
Hope this helps.

Marty

Just an update......

I was finally able to rid my computer of the beta version of MSIE 7 and get back to MSIE 6. I used Firefox for a while, but eventually went back to MSIE mainly because it supports the Java-based category selection (when revising auctions), and because it allows using the WYSIWYG description editor in the Revise Your Description page. I wish there were a browser that provided the best of both worlds.

Sue

Sue,

I am glad you got it fixed. That was a pain in the neck!

Judy/blue

Sue,
I am glad you finally got it figured out also.

And not to place another fly in the ointment but MS released IE7 NON BETA this week in an automatic update. Took quite awhile to install must have been alot of registry changes or something. However, I have notice great improvement in browsing speeds.
Also, Firefox released v.2 last week.
Marty

Marty,

I hope the Non Beta version is better than the Beta version. I bet all the workstations in my network start flashing there is an update later today.

Judy/blue

Judy,

I can only speak from personal experience and so far so good! And I never really had any "major" problems with the Beta, just minor hiccups that were so random that I couldn't tell you if that is fixed or not!
Good Luck, hope any updates are smooth sailing!

Marty