Google Sitemap-Status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist.

contactsonia · #1 04-17-2007, 07:08 AM

I have submitted my forums (WMT.in - Webmaster Forum) site map to Google but when I log in into Google Webmaster Tools > Site Map I am presented with this:

Verification status: NOT VERIFIED
Last attempt Apr 16, 2007: We've detected that your 404 (file not found) error page returns a status of 200 (Success) in the header.

Webmaster Help Center - We've detected that your server returns a status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist.

Quote:

We've detected that your server returns a status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist.

We've detected that your server returns a status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist. We can't verify sites with this configuration because it would enable anyone to verify ownership of your site. You can try our meta tag verification method or change your server's configuration.
This configuration presents a security risk for site verification and therefore, we can't verify your site. If your web server is configured to return a status of 200 (found) in the header of 404 (not found) pages, and we enabled you to verify your site with this configuration, others would be able to take advantage of this and verify your site as well. To ensure that no one can take advantage of this configuration to view statistics to sites they don't own, we only verify sites that return a status of 404 in the header of 404 pages.
If your server is configured to return something other than a 404 for non-existent pages, try our meta tag verification method or change your server's configuration.
You can change your web server configuration to return a status of 404 in the header of 404 pages and still provide a custom error page (see Apache information and IIS information). Note that we do a HEAD request (and not a GET request) when we check for this. Once your web server is configured correctly, try to verify the site again and we'll recheck your configuration.

In my vBSEO setting, I have done this:

"File Not Found" requests handling?
Select how 'File Not found' requests will be handled:
- Redirect to homepage
- Send 404 HTTP code and show a 'Page not found' message
- Include custom error page. NOTE: The filename should include the absolute path. (example: /home/user/public_html/error.php)

I hv this: Include custom script: /usr/home/webmaste/public_html/404.shtml

Could you please let me know how should I fix this?

Oleg Ignatiuk · #2 04-17-2007, 07:15 AM

Hello,

you should set ""File Not Found" requests handling?" to "Send 404 code", complete google verification process and then you can switch it back to "404.shtml".

contactsonia · #3 04-17-2007, 07:24 AM

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I did that. It worked but in a few hours Google starting showing the same error again as mentioned above... due to which I cannot see the stats and it is required to me.

Also, I need to have 404.shtml because if I don't use this than all old URLs will not work and I will loose members.

Oleg Ignatiuk · #4 04-17-2007, 07:35 AM

Then you should make sure that your custom 404 handler send HTTP code 404. In php you should use:

PHP Code:

             header ("HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found");

contactsonia · #5 04-19-2007, 07:01 AM

Bingo! That worked.

Thanks for your help

Saudi Zoom · #6 11-03-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oleg Ignatiuk

Then you should make sure that your custom 404 handler send HTTP code 404. In php you should use:

PHP Code:

             header ("HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found");

sorry, would you explain more please ? i face the same problem right now

Oleg Ignatiuk · #7 11-04-2007, 12:07 AM

Hello,

are you using php file as your "Custom 404 handler script"?

Lee G · #8 11-20-2007, 06:07 AM

This is also a follow on from this post
Google web master tools problem

Where do you put this code?

PHP Code:

  header ("HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found");

If its in the "Include custom script:" when I try that all I get is

PHP Code:

  header (

left in the box and still no joy

This is the error google web master tools throw up at me each time I try and access the stats there and try and verify my web sites

Quote:

Verification status: NOT VERIFIED
Last attempt Nov 20, 2007: Our system has experienced a temporary problem.

And this is what google have about the error

Quote:

We couldn't find your verification file. Make sure it is named correctly and is uploaded to the correct location.

We looked for your verification file, but couldn't locate it. Check the following and then try again:

case sensitivity - did you use the same upper and lowercase letters as shown on the page?
extension - does the file have an .html extension? Sometimes text editors automatically add a .txt extension to files. If this has happened, rename the file so that the extension is .html.
location - did you upload the file to the directory listed beside the Verify button?

Another possible reason for this error is that you've added the site to your account, but typed it in incorrectly. So, you've uploaded your verification file to the right place, but we are looking for it somewhere else. Make sure that the site we show is your site. If it's not, delete the site and add yours.

All the above is done, its all been working fine until I moved the forum to the main url rather than a folder on the url

Oleg Ignatiuk · #9 11-20-2007, 08:59 AM

First of all, what do you have selected for ""File Not Found" requests handling" option currently?

Lee G · #10 11-20-2007, 11:39 AM

Thats set to "Send 404 HTTP code"

Oleg Ignatiuk · #11 11-20-2007, 12:20 PM

It should not be related then, try to resubmit verification request.

Lee G · #12 11-20-2007, 12:43 PM

I have to redo most of my web sites over the next week or so, another job I just cant wait to do and I will try adding meta tags to each one, see if that cures the problem

MadMax · #13 09-04-2008, 11:49 AM

I am having this issue currently. I have 4 websites returning this error, and only 1 has vBSEO installed.

Could someone please explain this in simple terms?

MadMax · #14 09-04-2008, 12:21 PM

Verified....all is OK, just had to re-read the thread.

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Google Sitemap-Status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist.

Google Sitemap-Status of 200 (found successfully) for pages that don't exist.

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