Validation of viewstate MAC failed

Hi,

I installed the free version of Snapsis and noticed an instant increase in response times which was exactly what I was looking for. However I am now having real problem with my site, errors all over the place. I get a critical error when I try to logout and I can't install any modules on the pages, DNN just goes to 'view' mode every time I try.

This is the error I get when trying to add a Text/HTML module.

A critical error has occurred.
Validation of viewstate MAC failed. If this application is hosted by a Web Farm or cluster, 
ensure that configuration specifies the same validationKey and validation algorithm. AutoGenerate cannot be used in a cluster.

If I try again I get this message.

I have tried changing my web.config file back to the original but that hasn't helped. Not even convinced that Snapsis is the problem but I've been through the DNN forum and I'm completely stuck. Any help would be very gratefully accepted.

Thanks,

Gillian

Hi Gillian,

I don't think that is a PageBlaster issue, but if you remove the entry for PageBlaster from the web.config then it will not be involved.

Try holding CTRL and refreshing in Iternet Explorer or Shift+Refresh in FireFox to clear your local cache as well as the PageBlaster cache to see if that helps.

Another thing to consider is that you may be on a client computer that has a personal firewall that is mangling your requests.

Try from another computer, or have a friend try it to see if the have the same problems and that will help you narrow down if it is a local problem or one with your website/server.

Hi John,

Thanks for responding. I'm pretty sure it's not a PageBlaster issue because it really speeded up my response times. My problem is I deleted a Blog I had created, uploaded the latest DNN Blog Module, uploaded an XMod module, installed PageBlaster all in the space of half an hour and so I have no idea what is causing the problem. I'm new to DNN but everything was working great until yesterday.

I have tried logging on from another computer and get the same problem. I have also tried clearing the cache.

I get this message sometimes too:-

"A critical error has occurred.
The state information is invalid for this page and might be corrupted."

I can't post a question on the DNN site because I get an error saying that the Add/Edit post is currently unavailable. Just to me I think as other people are managing to add entires! Lol!

If I remove the Page Blaster code should I put the compression line back in?

Thanks,

Gillian

Meant to ask. What should the performance settings in Host be when using PageBlaster? Wasn't clear from looking at the forum if I had to change any of these. So mine are set to:-

Performance Settings

Hi Gillian,

The next thing to check would be to see if a new page with just an Html/Text module has this issue.  That will narrow down the suspects further.

I would be happy to look at this site to see if I can spot the problem.  If you want to you can reply to the notification from this post directly and send me a url so you don't have to post it here.

I've seen where a lot of people are experiencing that problem with new posts on the DNN forums.  I can't believe they haven't fixed it yet.

I have another forum for general DotNetNuke questions at:  http://www.snapsis.com/DotNetNuke-Support-Forums.aspx

I have also made recommendations for Performance here:

http://www.snapsis.com/DotNetNuke/Support/tabid/560/forumid/10/postid/4991/view/topic/Recommended-settings-for-DNN-Performance.aspx

Hi John,

Many thanks for the offer to take a look. I put the details you need into an email. I hope it reached you ok. If not please let me know.

Gillian

Hi John,

Very grateful for your help. I've been on and had a look around again myself. I can't do anything much in IE but it seems to work better in FireFox, I can at least navigate the site. I can't add modules to the pages though no matter what browser I use.

If I try to clear the cache through Host > Advanced Settings > Performace Settings, I get the MAC state error. Cleared my local cache too as I wasn't quite sure what the 'Clear Cache' link did.

When I try to logout I more often than not get 'Critical error - The state information is invalid for this page and might be corrupted.'

Would I be best to just ask my hosting company to restore a backup version of the site?

Thanks,

Gillian

Nope, didn't touch any of these settings until about an hour ago when I set them all to the recommendations in the link you gave me previously.

Actually just checked and none of the changes I made stuck because I got an error when I clicked the update button!