Doug........help.

[Badger]

Good morning partner... I just got out of bed...

Ok, where to start ..

For the additional security of our members, over the last month we've been in the process of converting the site to encrypted SSL and HTTPS. It's not completely finished, but more details will be posted in a formal announcement later this month.

So, the the first thing to try is to change your bookmarked URL link in your IE browser for our home page:

From ..... https://www.milsurps.com or https://www.milsurps.com/index.php

To ...... https://www.milsurps.com or https://www.milsurps.com/index.php

Note that http:// becomes https:// which is the only difference. Make sure you clear your IE browser cache and its history, then restart your IE browser. Most browsers sense SSL pages automatically, but perhaps your XP/IE being so old, you have to change the link manually and force your IE browser to go to https://www.milsurps.com or https://www.milsurps.com/index.php.

If that doesn't work, then let's look at other possibilities.

I assume you do know that Windows XP and IE8 is no longer supported by Microsoft(click here). It's a 15 year old operating system and so you're kind of stuck with IE8 unless you upgrade to a later version of Windows.

I don't know the exact version of IE8 (Internet Explorer version 8) you're running with it, but I assume you did perform the latest update Microsoft offered for those still using Windows XP?

Download Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP (click here)

Also, here's an article from Microsoft that may or may not help..

You cannot log in to or connect to secured Web sites in Internet Explorer (click here)


For our site's SSL encryption we use an SSL certificate from a registrar named Let's Encrypt.

I use Firefox browser v50.1.0 on my Apple MacBook Pro and when I run an SSL Server Test (see pic), to check to see how it works with our SSL, the test comes back fine.

Attachment 79115
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Run the test yourself by clicking on the link below and where it says enter Hostname:, type in milsurps.com

SSL Server Test (click here))

I have heard anecdotally that Windows XP - pre SP3 (service pack 3), cannot handle SHA256 signed certificates from Let's Encrypt.

Work through the suggestions above and let me know the results..

To be honest my friend, I think it's time you seriously think about modernizing your Internet browser and make the move to Firefox or Chrome..

Regards,
Doug