Dear Tessa,
Before we attack that dreaded beast, FrontPage server extensions (which
is what all of the /_vti_bin/shtml.exe/...balablabla is about), let us
take a more dignified, and less aggressive, approach.
Open up FrontPage - not your web (if you have FP set to "Open My Last
Web When FrontPage Starts...", as it is by default, just go to File ->
Close Site...) - so that you have a blank FrontPage program sitting in
front of you.
Now go to File -> Open Site... and in the Open Site dialog box that
appears, type in your full website domain (e.g.:
http://example.com).
FrontPage ought to scratch its' head for a minute, and then a network
authentication (Connect To..) dialog box ought to appear. It wants your
username and password. Shall we give it? Oh, heck, you only live once;
type it in, and push Enter.
If all is working correctly, you should now have your LIVE website,
fully editable, before you. Then, using the Publish Web function,
publish your entire web to a NEW folder on your computer; please do not
over-write any work you may have already done. FrontPage is acting
normally.
The reason I said, "If all is working correctly..." is because when you
force-upload the FrontPage server extension folders to your website
(all of the _VTI... folders), you can inadvertently over-write the ones
installed by your hosting firm, which is a big NO-NO.
If you have done this, you will have to ask your web host to re-install
the FrontPage Server Extensions on your site before you can get some of
the amazing functions of FrontPage to work, although, for the most
part, your site will be viewable. Things like hit counters and form
results components may give you issues until re-install.
When you open your website using the File -> Open Site... technique,
all certification needed is handled by the 'Connect To...'
authentication dialog box, and the world is a better place.
I hope this has helped you, Tessa. Best of luck.
Nicholas Savalas -
http://savalas.tv