Admin
12-13-03, 16:47
From time to time I get emails from correctly registered Forum Members who are experiencing problems logging into the Forum and/or posting reports in the Forum.
These problems include:
1. Can't log into the Forum.
2. Can't stay logged into the Forum.
3. Can't post reports in the Forum.
4. Getting "kicked out" after logging in.
5. Getting "kicked out" when changing pages.
6. Getting "kicked out" when trying to read Private Messages.
7. Getting "kicked out" when trying to respond to Forum Surveys.
8. Getting "kicked out" when trying to reset your password.
9. Getting "kicked out" when trying to reset your email address.
This problem effects a very small number of Forum Members, but it does appear to be a consistent issue. I recently conducted several hours of research into the problem on the vBulletin support forum, which is the company that published the software used to run the WSG Forum. Other forum operators have reported this exact same problem, and from their discussions I have identified the following potential remedies:
1. You need to switch to another Internet browser.
2. Your Internet browser's security settings are blocking cookies.
3. Your existing cookies are corrupted.
4. Your firewall and/or cookie monitoring software is blocking cookies.
5. Your Forum User Settings are incorrect.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for resolving each of these potential problems.
Please note that if you do not understand these instructions, then please call a friend who does.
STEP 1 - SWITCH TO ANOTHER INTERNET BROWSER
EDITOR's NOTE: This is the primary solution for Forum Members who have never been able to log into the Forum, or who are getting continuously "kicked out" after getting logged in.
The problem with AOL and other ISPs that use multiple proxies is that as you navigate through the site, the browser they gave you on their CD, etc. will, in some cases, be sending page requests to the WSG Forum from different proxy server IP addresses, so that the IP address that the Forum "sees" you using changes with virtually every page you visit.
The Forum software treats this as invalid session hash and, depending on what your permissions are set to and what you are trying to do, shows a "No Permission" screen requesting you to log in again and again.
If you are an AOL user, or anyone who uses a similar ISP service, I strongly suggest that you try using Internet Explorer instead of AOL's browser to access the Forum, as follows:
1. Logon via AOL (or your ISP service), then minimize AOL (or the browser they supplied).
2. Double-click (start) Internet Explorer on its own.
3. Enter "www.wsgforum.com" in the address bar at the top of the browser window.
4. Logon to the Forum using your User Name and Password.
5. Try posting a test report in the "Test Messages" section.
6. This usually solves the problem!
As always, get the latest and greatest versions of Internet Explorer.
Many Forum Members report that their login problems cease once they begin using Internet Explorer instead of AOL's browser.
STEP 2 - CHANGE BROWSER SETTINGS to ACCEPT COOKIES
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Select the "Tools" menu.
3. Select the "Internet Options" menu.
4. Select the "Privacy" tab.
5. Under the Settings area, select "Advanced" button.
6. Check the box nest to "Override Automatic Cookie Handling".
7. Select "Accept" for First Party Cookie Handling" (should be default)
8. Select "Accept" for Third Party Cookie Handling" (should be default)
9. Check the box next to "Automatic Session Cookies".
10.Select "OK".
11.Select "OK" again to close the dialog box.
STEP 3 - DELETE POTENTIALLY CORRUPTED COOKIES
EDITOR's NOTE: This is the most primary solution for Forum Members who have previously been successful in logging into the Forum, but suddenly one day find themselves having difficulty logging in.
Occasionally cookies will get corrupted with IE 6.0. To fix this you'll need to manually delete them. Here's how to do this in IE 6.0:
1. Close Internet Explorer.
2. Go to your cookies file, as follows:
a. In Windows XP or Windows 2000: c:\Document and Settings\[Your Windows User Name]\Cookies.
b. In Windows 98 and Windows ME they are in c:\windows\cookies.
3. Look for the individual cookies for the WSG Forum. The names should be in the form of:
a. Cookie:[Your Windows User Name Here]@wsgforum.com
b. Cookie:[Your Windows User Name Here]@www.wsgforum.com
c. ...and any derivatives of the above.
4. Highlight each of the individual cookies.
5. Click the right mouse button over the cookie.
6. Select "Delete" from from the popup menu to remove each cookie.
7. Close all browser windows and restart Internet Explorer.
In addition, I would highly recommend taking the additional precaution of deleting all offline content. Not to fear, you won't lose anything that won't be replaced the next time you visit the same websites. Here's how to do this in IE 6.0:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Select the "Tools" menu.
3. Select the "Internet Options" menu.
4. Select "Delete Files".
5. Select "Delete all offline content".
6. Select "OK".
Please note that deleting your cookies by logging off the Forum, thus displaying the "All cookies have been deleted" message from the Forum, WILL NOT WORK to solve this problem. You must delete the cookies manually, either by deleting the WSG Forum cookies individually, or by deleting all the cookies in your cookie folder.
STEP 4 - CHECK YOUR FIREWALL SETTINGS
If you have a firewall installed on your computer or your network, then you need to review your firewall software's settings to ensure that the software is allowing the WSG Forum to send information through the firewall in both directions.
There are dozens of firewall programs out there in the market, so I can't begin to provide step-by-step instructions for every one of them. Thus you will have to investigate this yourself.
If you are connecting to the Internet through a company firewall that you suspect may be causing the problem, then you will have to get with your network administrator to check these setting and effect any changes, although this may not be advisable.
If you do not have a clue how to check your firewall's settings, then please call a friend who does.
STEP 5 - CHECK YOUR WSG FORUM USER SETTINGS
1. Go to the Forum website.
2. Logon using your User Name and Password.
3. Select the "User Control Panel" link in the left side menu bar.
4. Select "Change Your Options".
5. Select "Yes" for "Automatically login when you return to the site? (uses cookies)".
6. Select "Yes" for "Browse board with cookies?".
I would like to hear from any one who has or is experiencing problems receiving emails from the Forum and who has employed any these methods in an attempt to resolve the issue.
I would also like to hear from anyone who may have further insight or technical experience in this issue, either with this or other forums or websites.
Please post here or send me an email at jackson@wsgforum.com (jackson@wsgforum.com?subject=Forum Login Problems)
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Jackson
These problems include:
1. Can't log into the Forum.
2. Can't stay logged into the Forum.
3. Can't post reports in the Forum.
4. Getting "kicked out" after logging in.
5. Getting "kicked out" when changing pages.
6. Getting "kicked out" when trying to read Private Messages.
7. Getting "kicked out" when trying to respond to Forum Surveys.
8. Getting "kicked out" when trying to reset your password.
9. Getting "kicked out" when trying to reset your email address.
This problem effects a very small number of Forum Members, but it does appear to be a consistent issue. I recently conducted several hours of research into the problem on the vBulletin support forum, which is the company that published the software used to run the WSG Forum. Other forum operators have reported this exact same problem, and from their discussions I have identified the following potential remedies:
1. You need to switch to another Internet browser.
2. Your Internet browser's security settings are blocking cookies.
3. Your existing cookies are corrupted.
4. Your firewall and/or cookie monitoring software is blocking cookies.
5. Your Forum User Settings are incorrect.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for resolving each of these potential problems.
Please note that if you do not understand these instructions, then please call a friend who does.
STEP 1 - SWITCH TO ANOTHER INTERNET BROWSER
EDITOR's NOTE: This is the primary solution for Forum Members who have never been able to log into the Forum, or who are getting continuously "kicked out" after getting logged in.
The problem with AOL and other ISPs that use multiple proxies is that as you navigate through the site, the browser they gave you on their CD, etc. will, in some cases, be sending page requests to the WSG Forum from different proxy server IP addresses, so that the IP address that the Forum "sees" you using changes with virtually every page you visit.
The Forum software treats this as invalid session hash and, depending on what your permissions are set to and what you are trying to do, shows a "No Permission" screen requesting you to log in again and again.
If you are an AOL user, or anyone who uses a similar ISP service, I strongly suggest that you try using Internet Explorer instead of AOL's browser to access the Forum, as follows:
1. Logon via AOL (or your ISP service), then minimize AOL (or the browser they supplied).
2. Double-click (start) Internet Explorer on its own.
3. Enter "www.wsgforum.com" in the address bar at the top of the browser window.
4. Logon to the Forum using your User Name and Password.
5. Try posting a test report in the "Test Messages" section.
6. This usually solves the problem!
As always, get the latest and greatest versions of Internet Explorer.
Many Forum Members report that their login problems cease once they begin using Internet Explorer instead of AOL's browser.
STEP 2 - CHANGE BROWSER SETTINGS to ACCEPT COOKIES
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Select the "Tools" menu.
3. Select the "Internet Options" menu.
4. Select the "Privacy" tab.
5. Under the Settings area, select "Advanced" button.
6. Check the box nest to "Override Automatic Cookie Handling".
7. Select "Accept" for First Party Cookie Handling" (should be default)
8. Select "Accept" for Third Party Cookie Handling" (should be default)
9. Check the box next to "Automatic Session Cookies".
10.Select "OK".
11.Select "OK" again to close the dialog box.
STEP 3 - DELETE POTENTIALLY CORRUPTED COOKIES
EDITOR's NOTE: This is the most primary solution for Forum Members who have previously been successful in logging into the Forum, but suddenly one day find themselves having difficulty logging in.
Occasionally cookies will get corrupted with IE 6.0. To fix this you'll need to manually delete them. Here's how to do this in IE 6.0:
1. Close Internet Explorer.
2. Go to your cookies file, as follows:
a. In Windows XP or Windows 2000: c:\Document and Settings\[Your Windows User Name]\Cookies.
b. In Windows 98 and Windows ME they are in c:\windows\cookies.
3. Look for the individual cookies for the WSG Forum. The names should be in the form of:
a. Cookie:[Your Windows User Name Here]@wsgforum.com
b. Cookie:[Your Windows User Name Here]@www.wsgforum.com
c. ...and any derivatives of the above.
4. Highlight each of the individual cookies.
5. Click the right mouse button over the cookie.
6. Select "Delete" from from the popup menu to remove each cookie.
7. Close all browser windows and restart Internet Explorer.
In addition, I would highly recommend taking the additional precaution of deleting all offline content. Not to fear, you won't lose anything that won't be replaced the next time you visit the same websites. Here's how to do this in IE 6.0:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Select the "Tools" menu.
3. Select the "Internet Options" menu.
4. Select "Delete Files".
5. Select "Delete all offline content".
6. Select "OK".
Please note that deleting your cookies by logging off the Forum, thus displaying the "All cookies have been deleted" message from the Forum, WILL NOT WORK to solve this problem. You must delete the cookies manually, either by deleting the WSG Forum cookies individually, or by deleting all the cookies in your cookie folder.
STEP 4 - CHECK YOUR FIREWALL SETTINGS
If you have a firewall installed on your computer or your network, then you need to review your firewall software's settings to ensure that the software is allowing the WSG Forum to send information through the firewall in both directions.
There are dozens of firewall programs out there in the market, so I can't begin to provide step-by-step instructions for every one of them. Thus you will have to investigate this yourself.
If you are connecting to the Internet through a company firewall that you suspect may be causing the problem, then you will have to get with your network administrator to check these setting and effect any changes, although this may not be advisable.
If you do not have a clue how to check your firewall's settings, then please call a friend who does.
STEP 5 - CHECK YOUR WSG FORUM USER SETTINGS
1. Go to the Forum website.
2. Logon using your User Name and Password.
3. Select the "User Control Panel" link in the left side menu bar.
4. Select "Change Your Options".
5. Select "Yes" for "Automatically login when you return to the site? (uses cookies)".
6. Select "Yes" for "Browse board with cookies?".
I would like to hear from any one who has or is experiencing problems receiving emails from the Forum and who has employed any these methods in an attempt to resolve the issue.
I would also like to hear from anyone who may have further insight or technical experience in this issue, either with this or other forums or websites.
Please post here or send me an email at jackson@wsgforum.com (jackson@wsgforum.com?subject=Forum Login Problems)
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
Jackson