[ARCHIVED] Canvas home is not loading correctly. Site crashed on my PC

[aqm5164]

Just a few days ago, the canvas site crashed and won't load properly. I have three browsers on my work PC and none of them work. The site just displays huge icons. I called our IT help desk but he said all the settings are correct. 

The site works at home but not at work now.

My question is... WHY?

#crash

#site error

[kblack]

HI  @aqm5164  Welcome to the worldwide Canvas Community, and sorry that you are having this issue. The fact that it works from home but not at work definitely points to "something" being amiss in your workplace; perhaps some funky firewall setting or things of that nature.  But before you phone your local support again, the issue with huge icons has cropped up from time to time before in this Community.  The ever-resourceful  @stuart_ryan  created a really great document here:  What to do when Canvas looks 'big' or 'zoomed in'!  Please take a look at it; it sounds like you are experiencing what Stuart references in "case 2" of that page.  

I might also suggest that you make absolutely certain your work computer is up to speed on the latest browser versions, which are outlined here:  https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-10720-67952720329  I do not think that's the likely culprit, however, but rather the items that Stuart's article references.  

I hope this helps a bit, Adam!

[aqm5164]

Thanks Ken. Unfortunately, the problem stills persists.  It does indeed seem like it would be something to do with my employer but two things: a) the problem only started a few days ago, prior to that I used the site with no issues, and b) I spoke with the IT help desk and they said it is not because of any company restriction. When a site is blocked at work, a McAfree page comes up.

[kblack]

Odd.  That exact same screenshot was shown here, too:  How do you get a HUGE dashboard icon .  Though it was never completely answered, stefaniesanders‌ gives some additional links to yet other discussions.  I was sure Stuart's suggestions would have helped you, though, since (again) this seems to pop up every so often but without a predictable pattern.  You may have little recourse but to contact Canvas help via Help>>Report a Problem if it does not get solved before too long. I'm sorry I can't offer more help, Adam!

[stuart_ryan]

Hi  @aqm5164 ,

Thank you to  @kblack  for CCing me in! 

Out of curiosity, Adam, have you tried a different browser on your work machine? Or only one browser? (and if so, which browser is this). I would also be curious to know the version of the browser, and what version of your operating system you are using (as that would all point me to the next troubleshooting steps).

Look forward to hearing from you!

Cheers,
Stuart

[aqm5164]

Stuart,

I typically use Microsoft Edge (Microsoft Edge 38.14393.2068.0) on a PC with Windows 10.  After the initial occurrence, I immediately tried viewing Canvas on my Google Chrome( Version 67.0.3396.87) browser, but the same problem occurs.  When I was on the phone with our IT support, he tried to open it in Internet Explorer.  He also "cleared" the browsers and I cleared all the temporary files as is directed in the troubleshooting guide that Ken referred me to.

Thanks for your help.

[tom_gibbons]

I've seen the giant nav icons when CSS was being blocked by overzealous web filters. It happened when my institutional IT (at a previous school) updated the firmware in the wireless access points on the campus networks.

Are you seeing this on both wired and wireless networks at your institution? Are you seeing this behavior on all machines on the network or just yours? Is it for all users or just a subset of users? Figuring out if this is related to the machine, the network or the user group/software image will help to isolate what the problem actually is.

My guess is, since it happened suddenly, and is only happening at work, that it's related to a security update that someone implemented on the network. It's not that the Canvas site is blocked, it's that a resource that the site links to and uses to implement the page is being blocked--namely the CSS. It's not housed in the same domain as the Canvas instance. For example, my institutional instance of Canvas is located at http://canvas.unl.edu. The external CSS is located at https://du11hjcvx0uqb.cloudfront.net You can see why that might ring some alarm bells.

Are you taking your work machine home with you and it works fine on your work machine on your home network? Am I understanding that correctly?

[aqm5164]

Tom, I use different computers at home and work. 

I will dig more into the problem with your suggestions. I also thought it may be from a security update.

[stuart_ryan]

OOh very interesting  @tom_gibbons , I might have to see if I can replicate that, it would be handy to add to the guide. Out of curiosity, was that a local blocking mechanism or something outside the computer, such as an institution-wide firewall?

Cheers,
Stuart

[tom_gibbons]

Firmware update on the wireless access points, as I recall. It changed the filter settings for the network. Really anything that prevents access to the CSS would cause this. Or at least it did a few years ago.

[Robbie_Grant]

 @aqm5164 ,

Were you able to find an answer to your question? I am going to go ahead and mark this question as answered because there hasn't been any more activity in a while so I assume that you have the information that you need. If you still have a question about this or if you have information that you would like to share with the community, by all means, please do come back and leave a comment.  Also, if this question has been answered by one of the previous replies, please feel free to mark that answer as correct.

Robbie

[aqm5164]

Robbie,

The issue was never solved, but I no longer use that computer and no don't have the issue anywhere else.

Thanks

Adam

[r96359]

This issue of huge icons and CSS is till ongoing for my sons computer. It's been a year and this is still an issue. Would be great if it was resolved. I've tried everything suggested. Would appreciate the help. I have seen so many post on this but not a single resolution, This post is the closest I can see to id'ing the issue. Someone please respond with a fix if possible. Thanks!!