Here's one of my boilerplate login e-mails:

Hi, xxx - I'm going to log onto Mudcat as you, and type the procedure as I do it so I don't miss a step. Since you've been having problems, I'm going to add another step and first ask you to clear your cache and history from your Internet browser.

First, if you think you've tried the registration process correctly and you still can't get in, clear all the old files out of your browser. If you like, skip this part and try the login process once more.

CLEARING YOUR BROWSER CACHE
In MSIE (Microsoft Internet Explorer):

• On the "tools" menu at the top of your browser, select "Internet Options."
• On the general tab, you will see a button that says "clear history" - click it.
• Still on "tools/Internet Options/general," click on the "delete files" button
• Then click on the "OK" button on the bottom of the grey box, and your browser should be clear of all old files. That should solve most problems.

In Netscape:

• Go to the "edit" menu on the top of your browser and select "preferences." In the box that opens, make sure you go first to the "Navigator" category, and then click the "clear history" button.
• Then go to the "Advanced" category, still in the same box, and click on the little "plus" sign before the word "advanced." the word "cache" will appear below "Advanced" - click on "cache."
• Click on the "clear memory cache" and then on the "clear disk cache" buttons. then click on the "OK" button on the bottom of the grey box, and your browser should be clear of all old files. That should solve most problems.

LOGIN PROCESS

• First, go to the Membership page at Mudcat: http://www.mudcat.org/member/EntryForm.cfm If a registration form comes up with your name and everything, that means you're all OK. Correct the registration information, if needed, and click the "submit" button.
  If the registration form is blank, please do not fill it out because you have already registered with Mudcat and should not submit a second membership.
• Second, click on the logout link to clear any corrupted Mudcat cookies that may be still on your computer:
  http://www.mudcat.org/member/logout.cfm
  You'll see a second link that says "to logout, click here - click it.
  Another screen will appear that tells you that you have logged out.
• Now, go back to Mudcat Membership:
  http://www.mudcat.org/member/EntryForm.cfm
  A blank registration form should appear - leave it blank and click on the reset cookie link:
  http://www.mudcat.org/login.cfm
• A LOGIN page will appear which asks for your Code Name - enter your code name exactly, with correct capitalization, and click the submit button. Your code name is:
  xxx
• Another box appears that asks for your password. Enter it exactly, and click on the "submit query" button. Your password is:
  xxx
• You should get a page that says: You cookie has been reset. You are now acting as [Your Real Name] with email address
  your.e-mail@yourprovider.com
  
  It also says: Click here to view or edit your personal data That's a link that lets you update your registration, and it might be a good idea to do that. Remember that you cannot change to a user name or an e-mail address that is already in use by somebody else.

Once you've reset your cookie, you're free to go to the lyrics/forum/chat page, or maybe it would be a good idea for you to check your personal page and send me a personal message to let me know you're back in.

...and as that beloved California car salesman Cal Worthington said, if that doesn't fix your registration, I'll eat a bug.

All the best to you.

-Joe Offer-

(hey, I'm no dummy. This took me a long time to type, but now I just copy-and-paste if for every person with trouble.)

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...but I've been eating bugs lately, and I don't like it. What am I forgetting?
-Joe Offer-