Won't Validate because cached URLs no longer exist

hi. here's the problem.

I recently overhauled my website (about 4 weeks ago) and I have now just reinstalled the co-op ad_network to the new site template. The ads show up perfectly fine on all my pages.

HOWEVER, when I go to validate the site, co-op tells me that a URL that no longer exists does not have the adverts on the page so it won't validate. When I keep pressing validate, it keeps referencing ONLY the old urls saying that the ads are not on those pages.

I've done a site:www.site.com search at google and the vast majority of the old pages are gone, the new pages are fully indexed.

I have a google API key attached to my co-op account but it still won't validate

Any suggestions?
I tried to be concise!!

thanks in advance
Regards,
Mark

 

Put up a 404 page with the ads on it

 

hmmm, but there are hundreds of pages removed.
that is not an option I'm afraid.
Where is the co-op searching for these URLs? I'm presume it just spiders the google cache of my site? But it only seems to be searching the pages that have been removed.

grrrr

p.s. what is the difference between a static and dynamic text link in the co-op?
thanks

 

dynamic links change on every page load/refresh and static links dont

 

huh? Do you know what a 404 page is? Just build a standard 404.shtml error page in your root and put up the code on it, that should get rid of the errors from non-existant pages.

 

thanks fryman, that's probably the best way.
However, I just tried it and the ads aren't showing up on the 404 page:

Here's the html I'm using:

the php isn't parsing - the text links do not get displayed on the 404. When I view the source code of the outputted page I can still see the php code of the co-op network.

My site is made up of all php files (if that helps)

Any clues about this?
Thanks
Mark

 

I think a 404 page should have a .shtml extension, so you should be parsing that

 

Hmmm, well it is definately a .shmtl extension but it isn't parsing.
And I just checked my .htaccess file (although php and shtml files shouldn't need to use it) and this is what I've got:

I think that's how it should be right?

Any further ideas?
Thanks
Mark

 

I've also just included a line in my robots.txt file to prevent all .htm files from being cached. This should flush out the old files as they were all .htm

thanks
mark

 

In your addtype application I don't see any .shtml extension, I'm sure you need to add it, I had to do it with one of my sites

 

thanks fryman, I just tried that but strange things happened.
When I include the .shtml reference in my .htaccess file and then enter a non-existant URL, my firefox browser tries to download the 404 file rather than view it.

When I remove the .shtml reference from the .htaccess file and enter a non-existant URL, firefox views my custom 404 page properly (although still without co-op ads).

If you look at the co-op setup pages, they say this:

My site IS php based so that means I don't need the .shtml reference in my .htacces file right?

your continued help is appreciated
Thanks
Mark