Does anyone know why the same browser (version _and_ build number) and
settings would produce different results on the same Web site when run
in XP (home edition) and Win98SE?

The site belongs to my bank. On my '98 machine, I can log in to view
an online statement. On my new XP box, my password is not accepted.

The browser is Opera 7.23, with spoofing ("Identify as MSIE 6.0") in
effect, since Bank One's webmaster is either lazy or taking bribes
from Microsoft. The new system has a cable modem, but this can't be
the problem, because I get the same results when I disable the cable
modem and use the dialup ISP that the old machine connects through.

Everything else works. I've heard of browser sniffing, but OS
sniffing? I can't believe that any commercial Web site would
deliberately block any 32-bit flavor of Windows, so this has to be a
bug. But whose bug? The bank? XP? Some strange interaction between
Opera and XP?

The accusation that your bank's webmaster is taking bribes from Microsoft is
completely unfounded. It is also libellous.

However, gearing a Web site in favor of the Internet Explorer (the native
browser of the most-used personal computer O/S in the United States) is not an
unreasonable or unfathomable course of action.

Gearing a site to be "best viewed with Internet Explorer" would not be the cause
of your password being rejected with the use of Opera on XP.

"OS sniffing" is a perfectly ordinary tactic used to provide alternate content
for users of different OSes. It's neither malicious or uncommon.

Have you emailed the bank's webmaster to explain your difficulty? Perhaps the
bank's webmaster is privy to something in the Web site's construction that
causes your problem. Perhaps your bank's webmaster will provide insight. Have
you emailed the creators of Opera 7.23 to explain your dilemma? Perhaps they
are aware of a situation involving the use of Opera on XP where passwords are
rejected.

Good Luck!



"Stephen J. Rush" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
| Does anyone know why the same browser (version _and_ build number) and
| settings would produce different results on the same Web site when run
| in XP (home edition) and Win98SE?
|
| The site belongs to my bank. On my '98 machine, I can log in to view
| an online statement. On my new XP box, my password is not accepted.
|
| The browser is Opera 7.23, with spoofing ("Identify as MSIE 6.0") in
| effect, since Bank One's webmaster is either lazy or taking bribes
| from Microsoft. The new system has a cable modem, but this can't be
| the problem, because I get the same results when I disable the cable
| modem and use the dialup ISP that the old machine connects through.
|
| Everything else works. I've heard of browser sniffing, but OS
| sniffing? I can't believe that any commercial Web site would
| deliberately block any 32-bit flavor of Windows, so this has to be a
| bug. But whose bug? The bank? XP? Some strange interaction between
| Opera and XP?
|