When you buy a piece of Internet real estate, you inherit all the quirks.
After three weeks of the dashboard doldrums, I can finally write again without waiting five minutes to log in, and another 10 to access a draft.
On the phone with GoDaddy support ten times or more (maybe a billion) over the past several weeks. I had an opportunity to meet everyone on the team, or so it seemed.
Though none of the calls technically fixed the problem — slow dashboard osmoses — all the tech helpers were really nice. They took their time to show me around the GoDaddy dashboard because mine was on hiatus for reasons unknown.
What was the problem? It depends on who you ask. The Google said “my template.” GoDaddy said “my template.” But in fact, the template had never slowed dashboard access before.
I had a theory. It was either the Sucuri security software, activated around the same time the dashboard became sluggish. Or, Colonel Custard in the library with a candlestick.
Since I don’t know Colonel Custard and my house doesn’t have a library, Sucuri became the prime suspect.
None of the “so-called” experts agreed with my hypothesis. But after hours on the phone with tech support, learning how the GoDaddy dashboard worked, someone accidentally nudged me in the right direction. And I stumbled onto the “speed test” button, pressed it, and hoped I hit the jackpot.
Instead, a very important looking page, with lots of words, popped up before the test ended. Speed Test Button tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’ve got issues! Try again!”
I know I have issues. I don’t like hanging out in crowds or making small talk at cocktail parties. But Speed Test Button wasn’t talking about me. I had to remind myself. “It’s not always about you!”
Since learning that “something wasn’t kosher” in the dashboard, I signed up for speed test No. 2. Yes, there was a second speed test.
During speed test No. 2, I received a message from a higher-power, Speed Test Button, who told me, “I can’t find your site, dumb-ass, because the DNS address is wrong.”
“Holy crap! I’ve got a DNS problem!” I shouted. “What’s a DNS?”
I had no idea but didn’t care. I clicked the link that showed me how to fix the DNS thingy, copied the new address into another window with other DNS addresses. (I had never seen so many DNS addresses in my life.)
After I pasted the numbers into the window and saved the settings, I thought, “I can really screw things up if this is wrong.” But I hit save anyway because I knew GoDaddy could restore a backup of my blog if it imploded or disintegrated into nano-bytes.
I immediately hung a U-Turn back to my blog and logged into the dashboard rather quickly.
“It was the DNS thingy!” I shouted to my dog, who yawned and went back to sleep. “Woo-hoo! I didn’t break anything!” (that of which I was sure).
But what caused the DNS outbreak?
I have a theory and it involves Sucuri. I think the software install settings were wrong.
For three weeks, I had to sloth my way around my blog dashboard. I’d click on the posts list and wait while GoDaddy loaded the page, and waited, and watched the spinny thingy somersault in place in an endless display of its gymnastic abilities. Of this I soon grew bored.
Interestingly, I still can’t log in to my dashboard on Google Chrome unless I’m in incognito mode. Yes, I put on a wig and glasses and sign in to my account. Not really. It’s a double-secret setting in Google Chrome in plain sight on the taskbar.
What did I learn from my three weeks of DNS hell? Next time hire somebody to fix it.
Back to writing. I can stop dabbling in the nuances of tech support which is above my pay grade anyway.
Oh my. My head is SPINning!
Welcome to my world!
Keep posting these kind of articles it inspires to every internet newbie like me.
Continue your good work.
Thank you!
Hi, Lauren
Nice and very motivative post for the blogger like us, I really do like to read your articles.
Please keep writing with more valuable information.
Oh, this is very engaging i love this post read it twice. Thanks lauren, share more entertaining and informative article.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
Thanks for a informative and motivational post for bloggers.
Keep it up!
Hey Lauren,
I must say this is a disgusting experience when anyone faces a problem like this. I faced similar problem a year back. I don’t want to share the name of hosting company. Then, I have switched to Blue host and yet I haven’t face any critical issue. Thanks for sharing your experience. Have a nice day.
Yes, it was! Frustrating and immobilizing. I lost all ambition to write because of it. Actually, the issue wasn’t completely resolved until two weeks ago. A brilliant tech guy, Mayura (see his badge on the right column), fixed the problem. I should have contacted him sooner to alert him to the problem, but I foolishly thought it would fix itself.
Thank you for reading and commiserating.
Hi Lauren,
Thanks a lot for replying. Great to know that, you have overcome the issue. Sometimes we made few mistakes unconsciously and you can’t blame yourself for this. Because you didn’t do it consciously. But the great news is the problem is fixed. Have a nice day.
I can feel your pain, happened to me as well before I switched to name cheap hosting. P.S I feel sorry for your Dog.
Thanks for writing such a good article on tech supporter. It is not only bendy in techically . People always try direct method but most of time these trick don’t works. Your tips are helpful for the person to make good relationship.
Thanks
i am a writer too. i like to write something like this
I’ve honestly never been a huge fan of go daddy. I much prefer Namecheap. Nice post though =)
Thanks! Appreciate the info on Namecheap. Will take a look.
Thanks for sharing! I have also faced an issue with GoDaddy. I purchased a domain, the amount was deducted, but the domain was not showing up in the domain manager. But after an hour-long chat, they fixed the issue.
I’m glad they fixed your problem. They’re usually very helpful but sometimes a more technically able person is required. For that reason, I use a tech guy.
I’ll definitely agree to your hypothesis
Cause i got you totally! It was simple yet best explained thank you!
Very good information, Please keep writing just post, i like it very much.
can u suggest which is best for a begginer hostgator or groundsite??
Hi, haha very interesting post with humor and tech story, Godaddy is doing good now, as i am using this for blogger blog. i have a tech blog related with tech news, downloads, and buying guide stuff.
Great Share !!
Very Very Nice Blogging