West Virginia Vital Research Records NOT working in Chrome browser
WVCulture.org/vrr/ does not display results either direcly OR from FamilySearch.org
They responded to my query on 9 Nov 2022 with this:
The Department of Arts, Culture and History has been migrating to a new website. http://archive.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx is the new link to the homepage to select your search type. You may also need to check your browser settings to see that they allow http:// files instead of only https:// files. I also had folks tell me that Chrome and Firefox just wouldn't open the images for them but Edge and Brave would on Windows computers. But if you are on an Apple device, try Firefox instead of Chrome, according to a few folks. See if these will work for you. Bing or Safari may also work for you.
Answers
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I just tried to open your link in Chrome and it opened just fine. I am on a Windows 10.
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Most records searches for the state of West Virginia are redirected to the site: www.wvculture.org. For years, the images on that site have been available. However, recently (during the last two or three weeks) the images will not load. This does not seem to be a problem with the FamilySearch site or with the browser being used, but with the West Virginia Site itself. Is it possible for FamilySearch to contact the West Virginia Archives and History site and see if the problem can be resolved.
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The issue with images from WVCulture has existed on FamilySearch for many months, with most browsers. I use the WVCulture site directly to access the records since it has stopped functioning through FamilySearch.
Edge is the only browser I've found that will access the WVCulture images, using FamilySearch. I've tried 5 other browsers, but Edge is the only one that will access the images through FS.
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Actually, with further testing, I have found that the Brave Browser can access the images successfully. I cannot get Edge or Chrome to access the images.
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Record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FBPC-8TG
The problem appears to be on the wvculture.org end. Right now, the link changes to archive.wvculture.org and image is broken (the images are not stored in the archive).
Their site is reachable.
I'm not sure why you are taking us to the west virginia site. Their site indicates that the records were microfilmed by the Church (Genealogical Society of Utah at the time).
Unless there is a contract problem restricting access to the digitized images, we should be able to access the images through FamilySearch.
I attempting to update the source titles, because the marriage date of 22 August 1804 is a marriage BOND date. The actual marriage took place on the 23rd and indicated in the marriage records.
Help?
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The wvculture.org site must have changed after the FamilySearch index/records were published (I recall many threads on the subject since last year). Yes, the problem is that FamilySearch and wvculture.org need to get together and iron out if/when the record URLs can be pointed to the right place.
Depending on the type of source you created - if in your Source Box - you can edit the title of the source there (note: it will change the title for the source for each person profile that has it attached - if I recall correctly).
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Duck Duck Go seems to be working also as of 12/16/22.
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Based on many many attempts, when clicking on VIEW ORIGINAL DOCUMENT, to view vital records for West Virginia which Family Search send you to at wvculture.org, the link fails to bring up the record. I assume this is due to broken links. See for example https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRHF-YLG and https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM33-PX6 and https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/sources/LT8J-T2Z
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@Mary Ossi , it appears that the images you are trying to view are from the Collection, West Virginia Births, 1853-1930. The links on this collection send you to a partner site – West Virginia Division of Culture and History. They are the custodians of the records and provide the links to the images. If you are unable to view them through our site you may visit their site at http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx to search their records.
For more information about this collection, you might want to click HOW TO USE THIS COLLECTION, on on the Collections page, attached here for you convenience.
Please note the section, Known Issues, near the bottom of the page.
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For what it's worth - I've been able to access wvculture from familysearch by using a different browser. None of my usuals worked, but switching to Edge allowed me to access the WV records by way of FS.
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I have also run into this which has been driving me crazy. IE, Edge, Chrome normally do not work at my house on either of two computers. Or on Chrome on my phone using home or roaming WIFI internet access. Once recently , late at night I accidently hit a link to take me there and it worked in Chrome...for two images...then failed again. HOWEVER today I went to my public library to try it on their system for Family Search (they are an affiliate library) and it worked there consistently.
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Based on a comment above I just tried it in Edge going directly to the WVCulture.org website...failure.
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The Brave browser works for me with FamilySearch.
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OK, I spoke too soon. After a couple successful searches on Brave it stopped working. Makes me wonder what will happen if I go back to the library to use their PC's. I have sent the following to a contact noted on the wvculture.org website.
If you are not the correct person, can you pls forward to whoever is? It seems to be an IT issue of some sort with your online databases.
For genealogical research in WV your database of birth, marriage and death information is invaluable. Several years ago I used it extensively in tracking relatives; recently I attempted to use it again for a friend's family. For some reason I am unable to obtain images of the identified records. Rather all I get is this:
HERE I INCLUDED A SCREENSHOT OF THE PROBLEM
I have tried different browsers: Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge, Brave. I have used my desktop PC, a laptop, my cellphone data and the local library's PC's. I have tried it as a re-direct from FamilySearch and directly from your website. I have turned off my security programs, restarted the equipment, cleared caches...you name it. BUT:
- Once, after being unable to obtain images this past week, about 11pm I accidently attempted to access the site via Chrome on my pc and got images! Two successful views, then back to the failure to load.
- I downloaded Bravo browser yesterday. It worked a few times and then not again.
- Two days ago at the library I was able to access several images but am unsure of what I will find there if I try again.
It almost seems as if you have some kind of anti-bot program running that is overly rigorous.
HELP! Please....Thanks.
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I contacted wvculture.org a couple of months back and got the following message in return.
The Department of Arts, Culture and History has been migrating to a new website. http://archive.wvculture.org/vrr/va_select.aspx is the new link to the homepage to select your search type. You may also need to check your browser settings to see that they allow http:// files instead of only https:// files. I also had folks tell me that Chrome and Firefox just wouldn't open the images for them but Edge and Brave would on Windows computers. But if you are on an Apple device, try Firefox or Safari instead of Chrome, according to a few folks. See if these will work for you. Bing or Safari may also work for you.
I tried Brave and it seems to continue to work. I couldn't get Edge to work.
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Part of me is glad I'm not the only one who has been experiencing this. Another part of me is obviously sad this problem has persisted for so long with no resolve. I just sent an email to wvculture to alert them of this issue, as this has been a problem for months. I thought it was some incorrect setting on my Mac laptop or Chrome browser, but now that I've attempted it also on my PC and multiple browsers, and have found this message board, I feel somewhat vindicated. Having worked in digital media and website producing for years, I am sorry to say that when you are migrating your website, this still shouldn't be happening. The images need to be migrated as well. Sorry, but that is no excuse whatsoever, and a very uneducated response from whoever gave it to you. Also, that new website link does not work either. And allowing https vs http also does not work. I guess I'll try Brave, but really, this is a terrible workaround that shouldn't even be in place to begin with. I typically am NEVER the one to complain or post comments such as these in forums, but this website's collections have been invaluable to my research efforts. I really need someone to look into this.
...and Brave did not work either. -_-
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I have been using Edge and I have found at times it will open the file and at other times after trying to open in a new window it gives me the File or Directory not Found.
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Moderator note - Two conversations have been merged into this one
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Yes, I have the same problem. I used to be able to load the WVCulture.org stored images at home. Now I cannot. I have tried my desktop, laptop and phone...all no good though strangely, late one night I tried and was able to get two images, then it stopped. I thought perhaps my anti-virus etc, turned it off with no success. Tried different browsers as some suggested; Bravo got me two successes then stopped. Doesn't matter if I use the FS redirect or go directly to Vital Records on the WVCulture.org website so I don't think the problem is at the FS side. (BTW, why should FS duplicate storage when WV already has it and makes is sort of available? That was probably the agreement to allow access and photography.)
I don't know what the root cause is but....when I use my (Family Search affiliate) public library computers to access the images they open just fine. When I use my laptop and the library WIFI no success. I do know Family Search recognizes the difference between my library's WIFI and using their computers as initially I could only access the locked records with their pc's. After talking with the library IT guy he talked to FS and they changed something so now WIFI access lets me into. But I cannot imagine that the WV archives keep track of all the library IP addresses and only lets them through but I suppose there might be a way??
Jan 20th I sent the archive an email asking about this situation but haven't heard anything back. IF I ever do I will post it.
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@Tom Huber We will report the bad link in the West Virginia Marriages record collection to the group that maintains our record collections. Hopefully, they will be able to get this problem ironed out for us.
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SUCCESS! IMAGES DISPLAY! They replied with directions that helped to fix it...sort of! I normally use Chrome but these directions are for MS Edge. Once I got it to work I am OK with switching to a different browser just for this. Here is what I had to do...
- Open MS Edge.
- Open the three little dots in the upper right, select SETTINGS>DEFAULT BROWSER. Make sure "Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer mode (IE mode)" is set to ALLOW.
- Then SETTINGS>APPEARANCE. Scroll down to the buttons and turn"Internet Explorer mode (IE mode) button" to on.
- Close and reopen browser. You should never have to do that again.
- Go to WV vital records, and select the record you want to view. At this point I still get the page with no image. But I get a little IE icon up in the upper right. Clicking on that opens up the image.
HOORAY!!
😊
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THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!😀
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3/10/2023
Still cannot look at images using Bing, Chrome, Firefox etc on WV Archives. What is going on? I have windows 11. I could look at images using Windows 10...
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it has to be the site its self not working. I went directly to their page and still got a broken image icon pop up.
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The instructions are not working for me, I have given all permissions to the site. I can't find an option when I click on the dots for Default browser.
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The images on the site are served up in a non-secure way, meaning that either the subdomain images.wvculture.org is not verified as a secure domain, or the site is not configured to allow images to show up at a secure URL. This means that some browsers, in their recommended configuration, will not display the images.
For example, this image:
http://images.wvculture.org/589912/00110.jpg
In most browsers, the browser will automatically notice that your domain (wvculture.org) is secure and assume that the subdomain (images.wvculture.org) is secure. So, it will automatically change the URL to:
https://images.wvculture.org/589912/00110.jpg
But, since the subdomain either isn't secure (that is, certified to be owned by WV Archives and History), or configured to support either secure (https://) or insecure (http://) connections, the link looks broken.
The reason that some of us can see the images in some browsers and not others is likely related to different security configurations in browsers. I use Arc (based on Chrome) and cannot seem to open the permissions enough to get to the images, but in Safari on the Mac, if I turn off automatic secure browsing, I can see the images.
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In the last month or so I can't get the county or date to open up to select one. For the last year I've had to open up the originals by going thru internet explorer; now that doesn't work.
This is what comes up:
A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)
What does that mean????
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Looking on wvculture.org's website under their Vital Records section (https://wvculture.org/vital-records-interactive/), there's this notice:
"As a result of the tornados and power outages last week we have had to get a repair done to our VRR server. We are working on the issue. Sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience."
This has been up for the last month or so. Hopefully, they get their server up and running again soon.
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