A system and method for receiving and validating user input for a computer resource entered into a computing system or network, and distinguishing valid and invalid portions of the user input. The invalid resource identifier, which ranges from a least specific portion to a most specific portion, is partitioned into a plurality of fields. At least one of the fields corresponding to the most specific portion of the invalid resource identifier is removed from the invalid resource identifier to create a modified resource identifier, wherein the modified resource identifier is used to attempt to access a higher level computer resource. The fields corresponding to the most specific portion of the resource identifier are removed until the modified resource identifier proves to be a valid resource identifier which can access a computer resource. The valid resource identifier is distinguished from the invalid resource identifier entered by the user, so that the user can easily determine a point at which the input is invalid.