Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« on: May 01, 2014, 11:11:53 AM »
GWT is suddenly reporting lots of 404 urls that can't possibly exist, in this format:

[ External links are visible to forum administrators only ]

When I check in GWT to see where it is linked from, it says:

[ External links are visible to forum administrators only ]

However, looking at the sitemap this is definitely NOT in my sitemap.

Any ideas how google is finding/generating this?

Steve
Re: Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2014, 11:24:33 AM »
Sorry - didn't realize external links would be hidden, so here's an example:

GMT logs this:

[ External links are visible to forum administrators only ]

and says it's linked from here:

[ External links are visible to forum administrators only ]

which I can't see and there are about 600 more 404s logged
Re: Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« Reply #2 on: May 02, 2014, 06:55:33 AM »
Hello,

can you provide a screenshot of gwp page with error message and "linked from" details?
Re: Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« Reply #3 on: May 02, 2014, 08:26:39 AM »
Hi Oleg,

Here's a WMT screenshot of one of the reported urls.

Steve
Re: Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2014, 03:17:19 PM »
Hello,

possibly the links was there before but now it's correct? (the link was detected in Apr 29th)
Re: Lots of 404 in google webmaster tools
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2014, 08:09:14 PM »
I don't think they were Oleg. But it's interesting, because I now realise that google stores all old sitemaps and uses them to double check if links still exist...

Anyway, not to worry - you obviously can't see any reason for it to be there and nor can I.

Thanks anyway,

Steve