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Tech: How to fix Cookies & Registration

01 Jul 00 - 03:21 PM (#250158)
Subject: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

I think I'll make this a PermaThread and post a link in it in the FAQ. That means I reserve the right to delete or edit messages in this thread, and reserve this thread as a permanent reference for information on how to fix registration problems.
-Joe Offer-

01 Jul 00 - 03:29 PM (#250161)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

OK, so here's the story. Barry Finn lost his cookie, and I'm really frustrated about it because I can't seem to be able to help him. I talked him through logout and cookie reset/login, and clearing the cache and history in his browser. Those are my standard solutions (I'll post them permanently in this thread), but they aren't working. Can anybody suggest anything else to try? I'm thinking of having some computer geek make a house call to Barry in New Hampshire.
So, anyhow, I'm totally frustrated and bummed out and losing my self-esteem. Can anybody help?
-Joe Offer-

01 Jul 00 - 03:39 PM (#250167)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

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

01 Jul 00 - 04:23 PM (#250189)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Pene Azul

Joe,

Did Barry try manually deleting his cookies? It might also be worthwhile clearing his Temporary Internet Files* folder if he uses IE or his Cache** folder if he's using Netscape.

* usually c:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
** usually c:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\default\Cache

If he's using any cookie-blocking or security software, that could be the problem.

Shot in the dark,

PA

01 Jul 00 - 04:50 PM (#250200)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

Thanks, Pene. I think we're going to have to start doing house calls, so we can figure out exactly what's causing there problems. I think Roger in Baltimore has the same problem. I can't figure out why I've never had problems, and some people always have them.
Is there anybody else who has had perennial cookie problems? Tell us who you are, and we'll do our best to resolve them. Maybe if we work hard on this, we can come up with some definitive instructions.
-Joe Offer-

01 Jul 00 - 04:50 PM (#250201)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

It could be the browser settings that is blocking the cookie.

In IE5, the Internet Zone needs to have a security setting of Medium (the default) to accept cookies. Alternatively, if a Custom setting is used for this zone, the settings need to either allow cookies or to prompt the user to accept a cookie. The settings are accesed via Tools/Internet Options/ Security Tab.

In Netscape 4.7, the settings for allowing cookies can be found by Edit/Preferences and clicking on "Advanced" in the tree list.

Jon

01 Jul 00 - 04:53 PM (#250202)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

I should have said "Medium or lower" in my previous post.

Jon

01 Jul 00 - 04:57 PM (#250204)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Pene Azul

If nothing else works, he could try reinstalling the browser. Of course, all favorites/bookmarks, etc. should be backed up first.

It sure would be nice to find out what's actually going on though.

What browser/version/platform are Barry using?

PA

01 Jul 00 - 05:08 PM (#250211)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

One other comment regarding cookies. With IE5, it is possible to have some sites designated as trusted sites. This feature could be used to allow a select few sites to be able to send cookies while blocking the remainder of sites. I have just tried setting http://www.mudcat.org as a trusted site and asked to prompt for cookies. I reset my mudcat cookie and it worked OK.

Jon

01 Jul 00 - 09:07 PM (#250340)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Sailor Dan

Joe Offer;

maybe you can explain this to me. I sign in here as Sailor Dan, at work I sign in as Sailor Dan at work??? When I sign in at work I have to refresh the cat threads each time I come in. Why does that happen and how can I correct it.

Sailor Dan (this time at home)

01 Jul 00 - 09:21 PM (#250346)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

Hi, Dan - you submitted two different Mudcat registrations, using two different e-mail addresses. You have the one registration on your home computer. Instead of resetting your cookie at work and putting that very same registration on your work computer, you have a different cookie there. What I would suggest is that you choose one, and abandon the other and let me mark it "inactive" (we can't delete extra memberships, which is one of many reasons why we don't want people to submit two Mudcat registrations).
You may have to reset the cookie on your work computer every time you log on - that depends on the security settings you have on your computer at work.
If you want to abandon one membership or the other, let me know by sending me a personal message (click).
-Joe Offer-

02 Jul 00 - 09:07 AM (#250540)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jeri

Now one thing that may help is to do these things in order. This is specific to MSIE 5, since that's what I have. I don't know about other browsers. Some of the following was swiped from Jon Freeman and Pene Azul. (And I really hope I got all my HTML right!)

ADJUST SETTINGS
1. Go to Tools,then Internet Options, then click the Security tab (at top)
2. Click on the Custom Level button
3. Go down the list until you find Cookies
4. Both Allow cookies that are stored on your computer and Allow per-session cookies should have checks in either Enable or Prompt
5. Click OK ONCE, and you should be back at the Internet Options window.
6. Click the General tab at the top
7. Under Temporary Internet Settings, Click Settings
8. Under Check for newer versions of stored pages, select Automatically

CACHE CLEANING
1. Go to Windows Explorer
2. Go to Temporary Internet Files delete everything. Trust me.

RESET YOUR COOKIE
Follow Joe Offer's steps

If you're still out there in "GUESTland," please let us know exactly what went wrong. Did the computer tell you your cookie was reset, but you still look like a guest? Did it tell you something else? We need to know.

02 Jul 00 - 12:03 PM (#250589)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

Just one comment Jeri, all of the IE5 default securrity settings except "High" set the browser to accept cookies (high does not allow cookies). The default setting for the "Internet zone" is Medium and probably suits most users.

I do use a custom setting for the Intenet Zone but that is something to do with the default Java settings using Meium security.

Jon

02 Jul 00 - 10:12 PM (#250792)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: GUEST,Barry Finn

Hi Joe & thanks to all for your helpful hints. I did clear my cache, cleared history, deleted files from there, logged out, logged in, reset cookie, dropped my security to lower medium, had the flash that I'm now acting as a member or I'm acting as Barry Finn & I check out to see my profile & there's no me. Banned Barry

02 Jul 00 - 10:19 PM (#250794)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

Barty, I may have missed this in my haste but what are you running. eg, PC running Windows 98 and IE 5 as the browser.

Jon

02 Jul 00 - 10:23 PM (#250798)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Pene Azul

You're definitely in the database Barry. It seems so strange that you're getting the "acting as..." message, but still having trouble. These problems seem more common lately. I hope to see Max this week. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this.

What operating system (Win 95, Win 98, Mac, etc.), browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer, ...) and browser version are you using?

PA

02 Jul 00 - 11:50 PM (#250845)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: GUEST,Barry Finn

Thanks again for trying to come to my rescue. I have windows 98 & use internet explore (don't know which version). Barry

03 Jul 00 - 07:41 AM (#250970)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: GUEST,Bob Schwarer

Keep losing my cookie but no problem resetting so far. I'll see if I can find out what it is that tosses it.

Bob S.

03 Jul 00 - 07:44 AM (#250972)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: GUEST,Bob Schwarer

Says it's reset,but i guess it's not. Screwed up this time.

Bob S.

03 Jul 00 - 07:46 AM (#250974)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: bob schwarer

Ok, Second time reset it. ???????????????/

Bob S.

03 Jul 00 - 10:26 AM (#251057)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jeri

Barry, you get to the screen with the link "Click here to view or edit your personal data," you click on it, and there's no data in there? I'm completely serious about being willing to come to your house and help with this or any other computer stuff. My e-mail is jeric@tds.net, and you may still have my phone number (which may or may not work if I'm on line or messing around outside).

Click the "Refresh" button in Explorer and see if that helps. Also, do not hit the back button at any time during this process, as you will back up to the time when you had no cookie.

Just out of curiousity, if you check your cache (in c:/windows/temporary internet files, you should have files called "Cookie:barry finn@mudcat.org" and "Cookie:barry finn@www.mudcat.org" If you do, than your cookie's OK and the "refresh" button should work.

Not related to Barry's problem, but may help someone - if anyone has to reset their cookie every time they log in (or start Explorer), here's how to fix

Go to Tools
Click Internet Options
Click on Advanced tab
Go to and un-check the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed box
Click OK

06 Jul 00 - 05:25 PM (#253066)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Jon Freeman

I can't help wishing that Barry would take Jeri up on her offer if he hasn't done so already as I know Jeri is pretty computer literate and I feel it might be useful to have somebody with some experience actually having a look at one of these problem setups as it would probably would prove useful to all of us who try to offer help in the help forum.

Jon

07 Jul 00 - 03:38 PM (#253610)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: MMario

something I found out the one time I lost my cookie - if you have a bookmark from previously - and use it after the cookie has been reset, you may well go right back to being cookieless! I had two instances running one of which claimed I was "guest" and one which said I was me, at the same time on the same computer. Depended of how I went to the site.

28 Jul 00 - 02:28 AM (#266388)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Pene Azul

refresh

28 Jul 00 - 02:49 AM (#266392)
Subject: RE: How to fix Cookies & Registration
From: Joe Offer

So, Pene, is that "refresh" message an offer to take all the information in this thread and put it into a single, comprehensive, coherent message? I've been meaning to do that, but haven't gotten around to it.
I know Pene's busy, but I'd welcome a contribution from anybody. Jeri?
Thanks.
-Joe Offer-