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General discussion

CNET Download.com Watchlist missing

Jan 12, 2010 10:50PM PST

I've been with CNET now for 5 years and have always found them most reliable. However, recently they seem to have gone down hill, so I've switched and removed my Techtracker. For several day now I've been trying to access my watchlist in both Firefox and IE8. I had almost 100 programs listed, now CNET has screwed it all up and lost them all, as now all I get are these annoying messages each time:

"We're sorry, but the page you requested could not be found!" and "Note: There was a problem retrieving some product data. You may not see all products on your list. Please refresh the page!"

I've contacted CNET so-called support, but yet again, they've ignored my request. I've cleared out all cookies and temp. files along with other clean up operations on both browsers, as originally I thought it was yet another increasing number of problems with Firefox. I've also checked my RAM and hard disk, but no probs there either. I've given up on CNET. They just aint what they once were!!

Discussion is locked

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I have reported the issue...
Jan 13, 2010 8:06AM PST

This problem was first encountered over the holidays and patched last week, but evidently it has once again sprung a leak. I have reported the issue's recurrence, which should be resolved in the next few business days.

Sorry for the inconvenience.
John

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Hi Vanilaman
Jan 13, 2010 8:25AM PST

Sorry about your problems with the new watch list page. We are still trying to uncover the reasons for this problem, which affects lists with a large number of items.

In the meantime, you can still access your watch list from the old page. It's not pretty, but it will let you access your list, delete unwanted items, and update delivery preferences:
http://download.cnet.com/3656-4_4-0.html

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Pretty Doesn't Matter....
Feb 4, 2010 6:33AM PST

Thank you for the link to get to my CNET Download List. I've been trying to access it for a couple of months now! I have tried from my old XP system (IE6), my laptop with Vista installed (IE7), and my brand new Dell desktop with Windows 7 Ultimate (IECool. I have CNET on my Trusted Sites list and Allowed in my Prvacy list. I get the same response as the OP on all three computers.

I hope you intend to leave that page available indefinitely. I have no idea what you've done to Download and whether this has anything to do with TechTracker, which I have no intention of installing, but sometimes things should just be left alone when they work.

I have 52 programs on my Download List. When I get an update email, I've always looked over the list to see which programs I can delete (bought the program with its own automatic updates, read too many negative reviews, etc.), and which programs I finally have the time to try. The whole thing is useless if I can't access it.

I don't need "pretty", I need availability. Please keep the workaround url available. There are many more of us than you may think that can't access our Download Lists.

Gail

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Ditto: Pretty Doesn't Matter....
Feb 27, 2010 6:09AM PST

I am so glad that I finally can get back to my watch list!!! I've been in the same position as Gail has (it could have been me writing exactly what she wrote) and have been trying for months (maybe even over a year) to retrieve my list. I have a 158 programs on my watchlist (I know that's a lot) but many if not most are truly used on this PC. Now I can go back and clean up that list and try to dwindle it down some.

I feel like a monkey's been lifted of my back and going forward, I will not be receiving useless email alerts to update the products that I no longer use anymore.

Thank you so much for posting this here Gail! Also a thank you very much to Cnet for responding and providing us with that link! Just a suggestion ...do you think that URL could be somehow added to the error message until this problem resolves? I'm sure it would really prevent a lot users fustrations.

In all my dealings with Cnet in the past five years...this problem is the one and only problem that I have ever experienced. It's a great track record I know and don't get me wrong, all that you do for me is really greatly appreciated.

But I have to say that Cnet...being a MAJOR DOWNLOAD SITE and REVIEWER of PC software and hardware, that I am very surprised that you have allowed for this problem to exist for so long! And what's worse you have not informed any of your users about this work around. Very surprising! Is it a CBS thing???

Thanks again.

~PeAcE~