"cannot decode raw data" error, desperate for a solution

Please read this whole message before doing anything.

This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

Step 1

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.

Enable guest logins and log in as Guest. For instructions, launch the System Preferences application, select Help from the menu bar, and enter “Set up a guest account” (without the quotes) in the search box.

While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem(s)?

After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

Note: If you’ve activated FileVault in Mac OS X 10.7 or later, then you can’t enable the Guest account. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

Step 2

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login.

Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:

• Be sure your Mac is shut down.
• Press the power button.
• Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
• Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).

Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.

The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)?

After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.) Post the results of steps 1 and 2.

The web server is misconfigured. You'd have to work with the site administrator to get the problem resolved. If that isn't possible, the only thing I can suggest is to use Windows to access the site.

One other possibility that occurs to me is that you're on a network with a gateway that damages files when you upload them. If you get the same error with the Windows laptop, try a different network, such as a public hotspot.

Back up all data to at least two different storage devices, if you haven't already done so. The backups can be made with Time Machine or with a mirroring tool such as Carbon Copy Cloner. Preferably both. You must be absolutely certain that you can restore everything to the state it's in now.

Launch the Disk Utility application and select the icon of the internal drive (not the boot volume below it.) Check the SMART status of the drive in the lower part of the window. If it's anything other than "Verified," the drive has to be replaced.

Otherwise, boot from your installation disc (if running Mac OS 10.6.8 or earlier) or from your recovery partition (if running Mac OS 10.7 or later; command-R at startup), and reinstall. After rebooting, run Software Update. Test. If the problem is gone, you're done.

If the problem persists, boot from the installation disc or recovery partition again, launch Disk Utility, and partition – don't erase – the internal drive. This operation will destroy all data on the drive, so you had be better be sure of your backups. Create a single partition with the default options. Install the Mac OS again. When you reboot, you'll be prompted to go through the initial setup process. That’s when you import the data from one of your backups. For details on how this works, see here:

Setting-up a new Mac from an old one or its Backups Using Setup Assistant on Snow Leopard or Leopard

Setting-up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC Using Setup Assistant on Lion

Test. If the problem is still there, you have a hardware fault. Take the machine to an Apple Store for diagnosis.

Well. it's for sure safari related (10.7.3 and latest safari)

I get the same error on 1 computer but not on all my other computers (all mac's all running 10.7.3)

When I try chrome on the computer that has this problem with safari I can access the site without problems.

So something is really going wrong with safari..... Meaning I they (apple) need to fix this and in the meanwhile I have to stop using safari (after all the years I loved using it)