The Strange Case of the Disappearing Blog
I just tried to look at my blog but all that came up was a blank screen. I tried typing in the address, going from various other links - but still nothing.
I sat back. This was such a horrible feeling - I thought of all my work, all my pictures - and I realised then how valuable this blog is to me in all sorts of ways.
Maybe it was something to do with being a blogger for a year, perhaps. Maybe a year is all you get. Or maybe something else had happened. Maybe all blogs had gone. I checked. They hadn't - just mine.
But then I found I could get onto my last archived post via a link from a comment (CFR's or Susan's - thank you both), and then once there onto the dashboard. My blog still seemed to be registering there at least. I tried the link - but still it was just a blank screen. The trouble-shooting options in blogger help were no help so I emailed them a query.
But then I saw I could still make new posts - so I did. I made a short one with the word test and viewed it - and the whole thing came up again!
Phew. To say the least. I keep testing. It is still there. I really should back this thing up.
I sat back. This was such a horrible feeling - I thought of all my work, all my pictures - and I realised then how valuable this blog is to me in all sorts of ways.
Maybe it was something to do with being a blogger for a year, perhaps. Maybe a year is all you get. Or maybe something else had happened. Maybe all blogs had gone. I checked. They hadn't - just mine.
But then I found I could get onto my last archived post via a link from a comment (CFR's or Susan's - thank you both), and then once there onto the dashboard. My blog still seemed to be registering there at least. I tried the link - but still it was just a blank screen. The trouble-shooting options in blogger help were no help so I emailed them a query.
But then I saw I could still make new posts - so I did. I made a short one with the word test and viewed it - and the whole thing came up again!
Phew. To say the least. I keep testing. It is still there. I really should back this thing up.
posted by Clare Dudman at 5:57 am
11 Comments:
I'm glad you're back! I kept looking for you (you'll hear the plaintive call over on my blog.) I wonder what happened...
This makes me wonder whether it's possible to do an external blog backup. Anyone know?
Susan: It's very nice to know I was missed!
Lee: Just found this.
Think I might take a deep breath and have a go - later...
That's odd, it happened to me last week when I clicked on your blog from my favourites list. I thought it was just a glitch at the time. The next time I logged in and tried, you were back to full strength.
The other thing I've found with Blogger is that you've had a new post before, something I could access from a link in MetaxuCafe, but when I went directly to your main page it wasn't there. Sometimes it seems to take a few hours to load up.
I would recommend backing up, just to be safe. It's also possible once you have that file to import it into other blog applications.
When you follow the directions in that Blogger help file you mentioned, make sure you don't delay before you do number 10: my delaying overnight is how I lost my blogspot address.
Weird stuff going on with Blogger lately...good to know you were able to find your way back home!
CFR: This is very odd, the mysteries of blogging and the internet I guess - like those emails that never arrive. What happens to them, I wonder. I imagine them bouncing around on the wires.
Debra: Thanks very much for the tip. I'm going to try and remember to back up from now on - copy the whole thing to word and then onto a memory stick just in case. Tomorrow. Probably.
Twitches: It sounds like I'm not alone, then. Must be something afoot.
This sort of thing has been happening to me too - i thought it was since switiching to beta blogger - but it was before that i think. I have to keep switching between firefox and Safari because one or the other doesn't show the latest post - and I've been having all sorts of trouble with comments. Blogger also keeps asking me to sign in (twice) every time I move away from my page - it's quite bewildering. 'Something' is happening out there! You're right, it makes you realise just what you might lose if it all went poof!
Yes, I noticed you had gone a whiter shade of pale the other day...
Thanks for the tip on backing up the blog. I have just done it. It works a treat. Now I have a scarey 300 page long html file to look at!
Generally, I find Firefox is quicker for publishing on Blogspot.
I have also seen that some people run two blogs simultaneously, blogging the same stuff to both. Another way of doing a back up... But I'm not sure how it works.
I back mine up but this is good to know before the panic.
CB: I must admit I'm pretty glad it's not just me. But I'd hate to think of all your words and pictures going. I hope you're backing up too.
Jonathan: Oh you've tried it. Thank you for letting me know. I haven't yet. keep putting it off. But I must...
Tammy: Well done for backing it up. It is sheer idleness on my part that I don't.
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