Here it is late on Thursday night, and it’s time for one last check on my email and sundry other Net tasks I need to get at – before it’s lights out time. On launching Firefox, I’ve got an immediate problem – MSN.ca (my home page), is nowhere to be seen. Instead, I get that dreaded tough luck message – can’t open the website unable to locate.
Earlier in the evening, I had performed some network maintenance – adding and removing network connections – and since I’m a “worse case scenario” thinker, my overly anxious first response was – you dummy, you screwed up your Internet connection (or, another network connection) somehow. I now had visions of having to do some heavy lifting before I pulled the blankets over my head.
It was just a fleeting thought, since there were any number of reasons (other than me screwing up), which could push out the “nowhere to be found” message. I then turned to the web site, Down for everyone or just me? – which would let me know in seconds if it was just me, or, if the site was really down.
I must admit to breathing a sigh of relief when it turned out that MSN.ca was down – first time I can remember that happening.
It’s unlikely you’ll need this tool very often, but it will definitely come in handy. When this sort of thing happens, it’s good to know what’s really going on.
Down for everyone or just me? – couldn’t be any easier to use. Just enter the address of the website you can’t reach, click on the “just me?” button, and you’ll have the answer instantly.
The following screen shots illustrate the process.
Add Down for everyone or just me? to you Bookmarks, and you’ll be ready for the inevitable.
Additional services which you might find useful for site checking.
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