{{Quotation|'''The [[Demoman]]''', trying to use WebTV|What manner of witchcraft is '''this'''?}}

For some backstory, WebTV (known from late 2001 onwards as MSN TV) was an Internet access device utilizing a set-top box connected to a television set and a landline phone jack that connected to its own special service, allowing most of America to get on-line in 1996 without the need for a computer. This is a list of most common errors, notices and pop-ups a user could've (and still can on private servers) encountered when trying to use that awkward thing, because I need an excuse to support the community, and an excuse to use sub-pages here.

Note: These errors are ''mostly'' in their wording from version 2.5.5 on a 'Classic' WebTV box, but some errors from prealpha and Plus boxes will appear here. Other releases (like 1.0-1.3 and 2.7 onwards, the MSN TV builds) have different wording, and 'Plus' units use the term "WebTV Plus receiver" when referring to the box itself. That applies to most other units; Plus units use "WebTV Plus receiver" in place of "WebTV receiver" or "Internet terminal", and MSN TV builds only refer to the box as just a "receiver".

==Connection process==
Just for the sake of fun, this is what the full connecting tree is for a box.

Preparing to call > Dialing toll free > Waiting for answer > WebTV answered > Starting communication > Connected to WebTV > Preparing to call again > Preparing to call > Dialing XXX-XXX-XXXX > Waiting to connect > WebTV answered > Connecting > Connecting to WebTV

The dialing process varies wildly depending on what the server's script sent to a box wants to have there. For example, MSN TV builds refer to the service as MSN (obviously) and add A/N to the front of the access number. Prealpha builds used the terms "toll-free call" and "local call" to replace nearly half of the final connecting tree. Modern hackers in the community are able to modify these scripts to have whatever they want, for example, one member changed the script to be more "Matrix" esque, using terms like "hacking the mainframe" and "demanding authorization".

In addition, if the user is using their own ISP instead of WebTV, any mention of WebTV or MSN after "Dialing XXX..." will be replaced with "ISP".

Dialing XXX-XXXX > Waiting to connect > ISP answered > Connecting > Connecting to your ISP

Okay, now time for the errors.

==Box related errors==
These errors are related directly to the WebTV box itself.


'''If your WebTV receiver is no longer calling from XXX-XXX-XXXX, choose ''Moved'' to search for local numbers.'''

Box is unplugged from mains power. Since the boxes are not magic, they can't tell if the user is in the same place or not.

The options for this error are "Explain", "Same Place" and "Moved". (earlier releases worded them as 'I haven't moved' and 'I have moved')


'''Your Internet terminal needs to be repaired or replaced before you can connect to WebTV. Contact ''manufacturer name goes here'' customer service/customer support (or omitted) at XXX-XXX-XXXX.'''

Box connects to WebTV with damaged hardware, or if a WebTV Old Plus unit connects to WebTV while the hard drive is disconnected.

The only option for this error is "Power Off".


'''Your WebTV receiver was unable to check for new mail automatically.'''

Box tried to check for mail at the time the user specified on the server but failed for any reason. (NOTE: Seems to only appear on WebTV Plus units and MSN TV builds as my pre-2.7 Classic unit was not observed to throw this error when mail checking failed)
==Runtime "errors"==
These aren't "errors" in the traditional sense, but they occur at or after runtime.


'''Your Internet terminal is connecting to WebTV to check for the latest update.'''

Box's firmware is corrupted, so it is connecting to WebTV to reflash the latest firmware under the guise of the box being outdated.


'''Your Internet terminal is contacting WebTV to correct a minor problem. This usually takes a few minutes.'''

An Old Classic WebTV's ROMFS is corrupted or damaged, so it needs to connect to WebTV to un-corrupt it.


'''Your WebTV receiver is contacting WebTV to check for mail. It will power off automatically when the connection is finished. This usually takes less than two minutes. Powering off now will cancel the check for today.'''

Box is contacting WebTV to check if any registered users on the terminal have inbound, unread mail. If so, the red message LED on the box will light up. (NOTE: If this fails for any reason, the box will try again every 30 minutes until the 5th time around, where it will either power off fully or throw the mail watch failure error above)
==Dialing/connecting related errors==
These are errors that appear during the connecting process.


'''The phone line seems to be in use or disconnected. Check the line and try again.'''

Phone cord is either not plugged into the box (or the wall) or is busy; someone else is using it, or there's no dial tone running through it.

The options for this error are "Explain", "Options" and "Try Again".



'''The line to WebTV is busy. Please try again in a few moments.'''

Box couldn't dial WebTV for a number of reasons; the line is noisy, the number it dialed didn't pick up or if the user tries to use pulse dialing on a tone line and vice versa.

The options for this error are the same as above.



'''Your WebTV receiver is having trouble connecting. Try again in a few minutes.'''

Box fails to connect for whatever reason.

The options for this error are the same as above.



'''WebTV could not be contacted. Try again in a few minutes.'''

Only appears on WebTV Plus units. Box dialed WebTV but couldn't connect.

The options for this error are "Connect" and "Watch TV".


'''Couldn't dial properly/Couldn't dial WebTV Networks; Try again to connect. Please contact customer service if you still can't connect to WebTV.'''

Appeared in prealpha builds as a generic error.

The options for this error are "try again" and "phone settings".


'''ERROR 0425'''

Box's modem configuration is corrupted or the modem is damaged or not present; couldn't be initialized in any way. (NOTE: Can usually be fixed by entering power off code 32768)
==Server-side errors==
These are errors that appear on the WebTV service.


'''WebTV ran into a technical problem. Please try again.'''

Box tries to do something but fails.


'''Most Web addresses begin http://; WebTV cannot visit the address chosen.'''

User inputs a foreign URL; one beginning with https://, one having no hyperlink standard in front of it or an internal wtv- URL on an external-nondebug build.


'''The publisher of that page kept you waiting for longer than a minute.'''

Box took longer than a minute to surpass "Contacting publisher" when connecting to a website. (NOTE: Can also appear if the box dials a regular dial-up server instead of a WebTV server.)


'''This is a type of music information that your WebTV receiver cannot play.'''

User tries to play any audio file besides a .MID, .MP3 or .WAV, such as .OGG or .IT.


'''This page is too big to be shown completely.'''

Box cannot load every element of a webpage, usually seen on modern websites.


'''The publisher of that page has not authorized you to use it.'''

User tries to visit a website with modern authentication (such as Cloudflare or a CAPTCHA) that WebTV doesn't support, or a site that has the WebTV user agent blocked. (NOTE: Also appeared if a user tried to go to an internal WebTV Networks URL back in the day, and still appears on some private servers' internal URLs)


'''There is no Web page or other information available for the item chosen.'''

User goes to a non-existent or decommissioned URL.



'''The MSN TV service is now closed. The last day of service was September 30, 2013. We know it's hard to say good-bye. Thank you for your continued support of the MSN TV service over the years.  We hope that you have successfully made the transition to your next device. You can continue to access the Closure FAQ from a computer or smartphone at http://www.msntv.com/. There is still information that you may find helpful. Customer Support will also continue to be available for a short while. You can contact them at 800-469-3288 between 6 am - 8 pm PST. Thank you again and best wishes!'''

Seen on and after September 30th, 2013, when WebTV/MSN TV shut down. Remained visible likely into 2014 before all WebTV access numbers were decommissioned.


'''The WebTV Network is temporarily unavailable. Please try connecting later.'''

Service is having issues.


'''The WebTV Network is closed for scheduled maintenance. The Network will open by (time) Pacific time, (time) Eastern. Please try connecting later.'''

User connects to WebTV while it is down for maintenance. (NOTE: Not confirmed, only seen on a private server, but probably genuine as an MSN TV version exists)


'''Bad Request'''

Service is having issues. (NOTE: Only observed on an MSN TV build, likely another generic error alongside the technical problem error)
==Disconnection errors==
These errors appear if the user is disconnected from WebTV against their will; without using the Hang Up button in the Options bar or without powering the box off. Every single error here has the same options: Explain, Options and Reconnect.


'''The connection to WebTV has been interrupted.'''

Generic interruption, usually due to the line being yanked out of the wall or box or someone else picking up a phone on the same line.


'''WebTV has disconnected, freeing your phone line for another call.'''

Phone call comes in while user has call waiting set to "Disconnect if a call comes in".


'''The line to WebTV has disconnected.'''

Generic interruption.

'''Reconnect'''

Seen in the top left of the screen if the user hangs up themselves.
==Miscellaneous errors==

'''Incorrect password.'''

User tried to break into WebTV Tricks.

'''This is a type of content that WebTV cannot use.'''

User tries to load a file such as an .exe on a box.

'''The password you entered was incorrect. Please retype it and try again.'''

User inputs the wrong password at log-in.

'''Type in the telephone number of your Internet terminal's phone line. This will help us choose the WebTV access number nearest you.'''

Box couldn't fetch the user's phone number for whatever reason during preregistration, so the user has to input it themselves.

'''Some error occurred...'''

User tries to go to an Old Classic's "minibrowser" server on a Old/New Plus or New Classic.