Very odd problem with URLs NOT in my sitemap...

Discussion in 'Google Sitemaps' started by ian_batten, Dec 25, 2006.

  1. #1
    Okay, so my sitemaps are playing up a treat.
    I removed a chunk of files from my server, and setup a new sitemap.
    The sitemap it at the following address: www.insectstore.com/sitemap.xml

    However, I am getting the following error in my sitemaps on google:

    [​IMG]

    I have re-submitted my sitemap several times, and I am still getting this message. These files don't even exist on my server, let alone my sitemap!
    Why is this happening?!
    Thanks in advance.
     
    ian_batten, Dec 25, 2006 IP
  2. websitetools

    websitetools Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,513
    Likes Received:
    25
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #2
    Old external links to your website.
     
    websitetools, Dec 26, 2006 IP
  3. ian_batten

    ian_batten Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    106
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #3
    But, this is saying that these URL's are being read from the sitemap...and saying the sitemap has an error because of these...
     
    ian_batten, Dec 26, 2006 IP
  4. websitetools

    websitetools Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,513
    Likes Received:
    25
    Best Answers:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #4
    You are correct... My bad... Mmm...

    A pretty far out guess: Are you by any chance using redirects? (E.g. if some of the files listed in the sitemap file redirect to non-existing files?)
     
    websitetools, Dec 26, 2006 IP
    ian_batten likes this.
  5. ian_batten

    ian_batten Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    106
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #5
    Nope, no redirect on these pages. All freshly added pages in the past few weeks.
    It really is most odd.
     
    ian_batten, Dec 26, 2006 IP
  6. imnajam

    imnajam Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,389
    Likes Received:
    113
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #6
    Just check out the date, and try resubmitting the URL.

    Google might be using a cached version of your sitemap or something may have went wrong, is that error coming repeatedly?
     
    imnajam, Jan 6, 2007 IP
  7. ian_batten

    ian_batten Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    106
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #7
    I have done those things, and have checked the sitemaps times over. Some days it says the sitemap is okay, and somedays says there are errors.
    Very, very wierd.
     
    ian_batten, Jan 6, 2007 IP
  8. imnajam

    imnajam Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,389
    Likes Received:
    113
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #8
    Have you contacted google officials, if you haven't contact them and let us know as well what they say!

    Btw, do you keep your authentication key/file on your site or just delete it after verification?
     
    imnajam, Jan 6, 2007 IP
  9. ian_batten

    ian_batten Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,991
    Likes Received:
    106
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #9
    Yea, I guess I will try and email them, although they will probably give me an extremely vague answer and then direct me to their help section :D
    I keep the authentication meta/page up all the time.
     
    ian_batten, Jan 7, 2007 IP
  10. imnajam

    imnajam Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,389
    Likes Received:
    113
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    185
    #10
    Ok than email them, you may also post in their related google group as well.
     
    imnajam, Jan 9, 2007 IP
  11. malcolm1

    malcolm1 Prominent Member

    Messages:
    7,148
    Likes Received:
    758
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    310
    #11
    somtimes the mistake comes from them also...so dont be to quick to hit the panic button. :)

    thx'
    malcolm
     
    malcolm1, Jan 12, 2007 IP
  12. MaxPowers

    MaxPowers Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    264
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    120
    #12
    If you are getting errors on some days (always the same ones) and no errors on other days, it may be a datacenter issue. It's possible that you are floating between different DC's and the day or two between status changes may reflect the refresh setting of a DNS server somewhere along the line.

    I'm not sure if they use multiple DC's for the webmaster program or how well they tie together. I know that backlinks and PR can change according to which server you connect to, but this is usually resolved across their system within days at the most.
     
    MaxPowers, Jan 13, 2007 IP
  13. hsrpete

    hsrpete Peon

    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    I am actually having the same problem. I have 67 links to missing pages on google, and that's after submitting a new sitemap. I have gone through all of my pages, and can not find anything that links to any of these old pages anymore, so it must be something from a cache, or linked page from elsewhere.

    It would be nice if the webmaster tools would tell you how they got that link. it says it's wither from your sitemap or inbound links... a direct click to show where/when/how would be nice.
     
    hsrpete, Jan 16, 2007 IP