There's an old SPG thread I wanted to refer to. (5 stay 50k ...) The search system can still find it, but if you attempt to view it, you get an "Invalid Thread specified" error page.

Kremmen, could you tell me what search term(s) you used to find the thread?

Thanks.

The obvious: "5 stay 50k"

(but isn't it rather more important that data has gone missing, not how I found the URL?)

Both are equally important from a troubleshooting perspective

The odd thing I'm finding is that I can't duplicate the search findings using your search parameters. In other words, the thread doesn't appear in the results when I search on "5 stay 50k" using advanced search, quick search of forum search. When you have a moment, would you mind trying again and see if the thread still comes up for that search?

I'm not sure, but I think the thread was likely deleted by the forum mods as part of a clean up process, hence, is no longer available for viewing. It seems though that, as you are/were able to retrieve it via search, this might be a search-related issue. If it was deleted, it should not have come up in your search results.

As the team is working on search at this time, I'll be curious to learn if you are still able to retrieve the thread via search. Could be that the window has since closed on finding deleted threads.

Appreciate your assistance on this, and your bringing this to our attention.

If I use that string (including the quotes) at the main search at the top, that thread comes up as the 8th and 10th results. If I use the forum search, exactly the same thing happens, as forum search is now doing global searches.

I certainly hope the forum mods aren't deleting threads at all, especially threads such as this, which was about the best Starwood promotion there has ever been. If I'd known there was any chance that FT would start deleting the historical record of exactly what FT is all about, I'd have been making my own backups.

Another error that appears if you do this particular search: All the other search results for that search string have sensible (and almost certainly correct) dates. This thread itself comes up with this in the "last post" column:

"Jan 9, 1970 9:14 PM by Kremmen"

Very odd. The thread in question has been deleted, so shouldn't be showing up in your search results. Could you take a screenshot and email it to me at [email protected]?

The Starwood forums mods do perform clean up operations that involves the deletion of threads. I can't speak to their specific process, but I'm sure they would be happy to answer any questions you might have if you send any or all of them a PM or email.

Not sure why this thread was deleted. It's been restored.

-AZ
A Starwood Forum Moderator