If/when HPotD finally croaks...

[Neil]

If/when this site does bite the dust, at the very least there's a homage to it in the shape of the Way Back Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20230615000000*/www.homepageofthedead.com

[Mike70]

Well, considering my age started with a 2 when I first found this place and starts with a frakkin' 5 now...been a darn good run for fan site no matter when it goes down.

[Neil]

:(:(:(:(:(

[JDP]

If/when this site does bite the dust...

I've heard that the only way that can happen is if its server is shot/hit/stabbed in its CPU.

[MinionZombie]

Well, considering my age started with a 2 when I first found this place and starts with a frakkin' 5 now...been a darn good run for fan site no matter when it goes down.

IIRC I was about 14 or 15 when I first hopped on HPOTD - back when it was on the DiscApp version (the one before the lovely Loom version, if I recall that name correctly). How time flies, how times change ... blimey.

It's great that it's still here. :)


I've heard that the only way that can happen is if its server is shot/hit/stabbed in its CPU.

:lol::lol:

[Moon Knight]

This is the OG site for me! HotD will always be around.

[Mike70]

IIRC I was about 14 or 15 when I first hopped on HPOTD - back when it was on the DiscApp version (the one before the lovely Loom version, if I recall that name correctly). How time flies, how times change ... blimey.

It's great that it's still here. :)



:lol::lol:
was 27 or so...53 now *stormtrooper scream*

[mista_mo]

Whoa, what a trip down memory lane. I believe that I was 15 or 16 during the OG run if the forums. Now I'm some old(ish) man. What a crazy ride.

[Exatreides]

It's interesting how the rise of DIG then Reddit kind of lead to the slow decrease in popularity for forums. Have to say, it's good popping my head in now and then and seeing some old familiar faces. A dune page (dune2k.com) is in a similar state.

[Neil]

Dig??

[EvilNed]

I couldn't access this forum for about two days, until just now it seems. It gave me an error message, black text on white background.

[JDP]

I couldn't access this forum for about two days, until just now it seems. It gave me an error message, black text on white background.

Same here, but for me it only lasted about a day, and then all just fine as usual.

[MinionZombie]

I couldn't access this forum for about two days, until just now it seems. It gave me an error message, black text on white background.

I had the same problem yesterday up until just a few minutes ago.

[Neil]

...and the error message?

[MinionZombie]

...and the error message?

Oh ... errrrrr ... :o

I saw the word "install" IIRC. It was even in the URL (at the end, I think).

[JDP]

...and the error message?

Mine seemed like just the average generic "cannot access page" kind.

[JDP]

For the last few days, I have been sporadically getting the same "cannot access page" as well as "Internal Server Error" messages, not only when trying to access the forums, but also the main site. Sometimes it only lasts for a few minutes, sometimes it lasts for hours, but then the site/forums come back.

Here is what the "Internal Server Error" message says:

Internal Server Error
The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request.

Please contact the server administrator, and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.

More information about this error may be available in the server error log.

[MinionZombie]

I had that the other day, as well - and I just had it again trying to respond to this post. I tried refreshing a few times, no dice, so I went "back" and the thread page returned and I was able to respond.

[Neil]

If you get it again let me know please...

[JDP]

If you get it again let me know please...

Happening again: "Internal Server Error" message. It comes and goes.

[MinionZombie]

I've just hopped on for the first time today and I've had numerous ISE problems in the past few minutes - on and off randomly.

[Neil]

Support ticket raised with hosting company...

[Neil]

I'm still battling away with my hosting company on this random error.

WARNING: There's a chance we could be seeing the end of this forum. It's an old version of VBulletin, running on an old version of PHP and they may simply argue - rightly or wrongly - that I need to upgrade.


If the $hit hits the fan and this forum disappears, as a fallback communication, I guess - https://www.facebook.com/HPotD

UPDATE: Looking more and more likely this forum is about to die :(

[kidgloves]

Oh no. :(

[JDP]

I'm still battling away with my hosting company on this random error.

WARNING: There's a chance we could be seeing the end of this forum. It's an old version of VBulletin, running on an old version of PHP and they may simply argue - rightly or wrongly - that I need to upgrade.


If the $hit hits the fan and this forum disappears, as a fallback communication, I guess - https://www.facebook.com/HPotD

UPDATE: Looking more and more likely this forum is about to die :(

Any way of saving its contents, just in case you can find an alternative platform where to "revive" (pun fully intended) the forums?

[Neil]

Not unless it's moved to another VBulletin install, which is a significant undertaking both in time and cost.

Yes, losing the forum's contents is a huge huge bummer. But then as it stands, there's a good chance in less than a year this entire site's lights will be going out given the huge increase in its cost :( This has all cost me some sleep TBH. It's horrible being sensible and letting it all go :(


Probably the best option if we want to retain a forum just for some nice little chit chat akin to what happens here now, is a free one hosted on a 3rd party site. There's some good options out there now. That way there's no install/maintenance hassle, and no expense. No doubt there will be some adverts displayed in the forum, but I suspect it'll be easily ignored.

[MinionZombie]

Probably the best option if we want to retain a forum just for some nice little chit chat akin to what happens here now, is a free one hosted on a 3rd party site. There's some good options out there now. That way there's no install/maintenance hassle, and no expense. No doubt there will be some adverts displayed in the forum, but I suspect it'll be easily ignored.

I'd like a little rescue station HPOTD of sorts - something easy peasy where we can still have our familiar names and shoot the shit.

The quote from Dawn, about this being "an important place in their lives", feels pointedly apt.

[Neil]

Can I park this here for the moment?

Colour scheme aside see what you think - https://hpotd.forumotion.com/

[MinionZombie]

Can I park this here for the moment?

Colour scheme aside see what you think - https://hpotd.forumotion.com/

I'm moving my sock drawer as we speak! :thumbsup: HPOTD shall live again!

FYI - when updating your profiles, be sure to click SAVE at the bottom of each tab before you click on another one, otherwise the changes will be lost. Save the changes to the current profile tab being updated, then click the link to return to your profile and go to the next tab you want to update - rinse/repeat continuing forward. :)

[JDP]

This forum:

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-11f49853cefdb8bd2606cf13a83a019d

[Neil]

^ Looking likely at the moment... :(

Note: Link to hopefully its successor - https://hpotd.forumotion.com (which as a benefit works very well on mobile devices!)

[JDP]

Surprisingly, the forum has been working relatively well, considering its "moribund" current state. It still gives the "server error" message often, but it also still works the majority of the time.

[JDP]

Status Quo: pretty much the same. Still technically "operational", can see all sections, posts, make new posts, etc., but sometimes get the "server error" message.

[MinionZombie]

I'd recommend folks sign up to the new incarnation of HPOTD - just follow the link in the yellow text alert message at the top of every page. :)

[JDP]

This forum is like the Energizer bunny:

https://cdn.quotesgram.com/img/71/36/1080587909-Screen-Shot-2013-11-22-at-11_36_22-AM.png

[sandrock74]

This place can't die! It must rise from the dead and shamble along, like the very zombies it's about.

[MinionZombie]

This place can't die! It must rise from the dead and shamble along, like the very zombies it's about.

You can get signed up to the replacement forum now, if you'd like - https://hpotd.forumotion.com/ :)

[sandrock74]

You can get signed up to the replacement forum now, if you'd like - https://hpotd.forumotion.com/ :)

I have! This is the first site I joined online when I first started going onto the internet on a regular basis. It's in my blood; I can't let it go! lol

[JDP]

The forum has been working surprisingly well for the last few days, actually, I barely ever get any of the "server error" messages.

[MinionZombie]

I have! This is the first site I joined online when I first started going onto the internet on a regular basis. It's in my blood; I can't let it go! lol

Same here. I've been coming here since I was a teen and the screeching of a 56k dial up modem was all anyone had. :lol:

HPOTD is our Monroeville Mall.


The forum has been working surprisingly well for the last few days, actually, I barely ever get any of the "server error" messages.

It's on-and-off. Unfortunately I think it's a terminal problem, not a case of if but when. So it's good to have the new incarnation of HPOTD forum already up. Best for folks to get signed up now, or at the very least bookmark it and have the link.

[Tricky]

Well damn, I don't come on for a while and now it seems to be dying! I think I was around 21 or so when I joined here, my teenage love of zombie films strong in my heart and excitement at what new special effects were bringing to the genre (a lot of crap barring a few gems as it turned out!),now 42 years old with a mortgage, 9 years with the British Army under my belt, and very different opinions on a lot of things to what I posted back in those days!

[JDP]

The forum is still technically working, but now it's starting to give a new error message, a seemingly more worrisome one, something about the forum not being found at all. Next time I see it, I will copy & paste it in this thread (if the forum comes back again after it.)

[Neil]

Thanks...

[Neil]

OK! After a chat to my hosting company, it seems almost certain this forum (& probably the entire site) will be closing sometime over the next 9 months. So, please do register over on the new forum in case this one decides to disappear out of the blue one day - https://hpotd.forumotion.com

[sandrock74]

Man, that will be a sad day when this place disappears. (I'm registered at the new place.) It'll just feel odd not seeing this place anymore.

[Bran Salisbury]

OK! After a chat to my hosting company, it seems almost certain this forum (& probably the entire site) will be closing sometime over the next 9 months. So, please do register over on the new forum in case this one decides to disappear out of the blue one day - https://hpotd.forumotion.com

Will there be efforts to save all the archived news and information? This place is a treasure trove. It was also instrumental in providing a starting port for tracking down old articles and information for my documentary. It might seem silly but this site was a huge help and I'd hate for a future filmmaker to miss out on potential leads.

[Neil]

Not an easy decision to let the main site die with 27yrs invested in it :(

ps: As regards saving the information?:-
1) I assume even if the site goes down there will remain to be https://web.archive.org/web/20230615000000*/www.homepageofthedead.com
2) I have a full working copy of the site (not forum) on my personal machine.

[MinionZombie]

Perhaps some of the info could be copy/pasted into threads on the new forum?

[Neil]

Open to suggestions... As long as it's not loads of work etc...

[Neil]

From the information I'm getting, my hosting company will be enforcing a PHP upgrade later this month that this forum will not support. When that happens I suspect this forum will no longer work properly, or indeed at all.

So, THIS FORUM WILL NO LONGER BE HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!