Redirect Old, Dead Webpages to home page?

[JTapp]

Does anybody know how I can make all old, dead webpages forward directly to my index.hml page?  Instead of getting the "Page Not Found" error message?  Thanks for your time.

[Xurion]

What was the extension of the pages you want to redirect? .html? .php? And what is your web server? Apache?

[JTapp]

I was hoping for a 'catch all'.  But there are two addresses out there that are dead and they are .html

I'm running Apache..

Thanks!

[soycharliente]

Is it because it appears on Google and the pages don't exist? Maybe a header redirect with PHP and/or HTML meta tag to stop caching.

[haku]

This article should help you. Do it for 404 redirects as well, not just 301.

 

http://www.vanseodesign.com/blog/seo/301-redirects-for-improved-seo/

[dbrimlow]

The easiest way is to put them in your htaccess file as follows:

 

Redirect 301 /myoldpage.php  http://www.mydomain.com/index.php
Redirect 301 /anotherpage.html  http://www.mydomain.com/index.php
Redirect 301 /the oldestpage.php  http://www.mydomain.com/index.php

 

It really is as easy as that.

 

Just remember that it is absolutely crucial to save your .htaccess and FTP it as ASCI and not binary.

[Xurion]

Doesn't .htaccess only work on apache?

[haku]

That's correct. Most people are on apache servers though. The OP didn't say which he was on.

[Xurion]

I know someone who was wanting to do a similar thing to .htaccess but isn't on an apache server. Do you know of an alternate?

[dbrimlow]

What server are they using?

 

What do they want to redirect? URL, old page to new page?

 

Are on windows server 2008? Windows 2003 IIS? .net? Do they use .asp pages?

 

Here are a few solutions depending upon the type:

 

IIS Redirect

    * In internet services manager, right click on the file or folder you wish to redirect
    * Select the radio titled "a redirection to a URL".
    * Enter the redirection page
    * Check "The exact url entered above" and the "A permanent redirection for this resource"
    * Click on 'Apply'

ColdFusion Redirect
<.cfheader statuscode="301" statustext="Moved permanently">
<.cfheader name="Location" value="http://www.new-url.com">

ASP Redirect
<%@ Language=VBScript %>
<%
Response.Status="301 Moved Permanently"
Response.AddHeader "Location","http://www.new-url.com/"
%>

ASP .NET Redirect
<script runat="server">
private void Page_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
Response.Status = "301 Moved Permanently";
Response.AddHeader("Location","http://www.new-url.com");
}
</script>

 

 

[Xurion]

Old pages are HTML but new pages are PHP. Not sure what server type but it isn't Apache.

[dbrimlow]

Old pages are HTML but new pages are PHP. Not sure what server type but it isn't Apache.

 

Well, if he uses php then it isn't Windows, either. There are dozens of web servers that php works with.

 

If he has access to the config.php file he can add something like:

if (isset($_SERVER['HTTPS']) && $_SERVER['HTTP'] == "on") {
header("Status: 301 Moved Permanently", false, 301); 
header("location: https://www.hiswebsite.com/index.html");
} else {
header("Status: 301 Moved Permanently", false, 301); 
header("location: http://www.hiswebsite.com/index.html");
}

 

Although that's bulky for individual pages. I'm sure there is an easier way.

 

I suppose he needs a regex

[Xurion]

He is running WIndows with PHP :/