How am I getting logged off???

[Budfred]

For the second time in the last few days I have returned to the Forum and found that I am logged off. I have it set up to log on automatically using cookies, so this shouldn't be happening. Any ideas about what might be happening or is anyone else having this problem?

Thanks,
Budfred

[Paleo Pete]

Same happens to me with Java and ActiveX turned off, one of the drawbacks of disabling the biggest security hole M$ ever dumped on the unsuspecting masses...then again, I don't get pop-ups, pop-unders, viruses or trojans installed behind my back, Gator never has a chance, nor do the various browser hijackers...it's worth the few little annoyances to be able to surf reasonably worry-free.

I find with Linux (Konqueror) once I log on with cookies, then shut them down I can leave parts of java on and the forums will still keep me logged on. Windows won't do that. Either it's on and the risks with it, or it's off and I re-enter my password a dozen times a night. I'm still tinkering for the right combination with Linux and haven't found it yet. Most pop-ups will prompt me and ask, so I can tell it no way, but one site opened 34 of them and was still going, just about locked this thing up. All were Macromedia Flash download ads. I'm beginning to dislike Macromedia just about as much as pop-ups themselves, it always opens about 5 windows.

If you have not turned Java and/or ActiveX off, I don't have any other ideas...I set Windows so it saves session cookies but not permanent ones, and can't get the forums to keep my password except by enabling Java/ActiveX all the way. Which lets all manner of demons have their way with my browser...

[Budfred]

I haven't disabled Java or ActiveX, so still baffled....

Budfred

[Budfred]

Damn thing logged me off again. I was just on about 30 minutes ago with no problem. Went offline, came back on and was logged off. This is really getting irritating.

Budfred

[Budfred]

And now it gets weirder. I got back on a while ago and was properly logged in. However, when I clicked on View New Posts, it gave me only one. I knew this wasn't correct since I had a bunch of email notices of posts. So I logged out and clicked on View Today's Active Threads. I then had to log back in to Reply to this and other threads. This is getting strange.....

Is anyone else having these kinds of problems??

Budfred

[kayofcircles]

Have no idea on your logged in problem, but do know from experience that I can't get the View New to work if I've been anywhere here in the hours/minutes before. I don't do the email notification stuff..I save links to the threads I am watching in a Draft. If I click on a link to a thread I've saved, thereby bypassing main forum page, and go to that thread first and check on it..the software here basically says, "Oh, well, you've been here this morning already and seen all the posts" and if I then click on View new..I get maybe one or two. So, I have to go to main forum page FIRST, click on View New, and once I am on the list of those, I can go ahead and click on some of my saved links because I can get "back" to the list afterwards.

[mjc]

Ok, if you are getting back to "View New" and only one or two are showing up, then you really are logged in and the cookie is being updated..........so {sits and scratches head}......what is up?

[Budfred]

Thanks for the response. I can't quite figure out what it is you are doing, but it sounds like a different process than what is normal for me. Usually when I visit the Forum after being away for a while I can click on View New Posts and it will give me a list of posts since the last time I was here. If I have been here recently, there may not be any new posts so I get nothing. I am now suspect that some of those times there have been new posts, but the system was doing what it did this time. In this case I know there were new posts because of Replies to thread I am subscribed to and these normally show up when I click on View New Posts.

The fact that this happened once doesn't bother me, but that it happened combined with the issue of getting logged off recently for no apparent reason worries me. I believe this has happened at home and at work on 2 different computers, so the problem seems to be on PCGuides end. I am beginning to suspect that it is the server overload issue that ixl referred to, but I am wondering if anyone else has experienced it as well.

Budfred

[mjc]

I'm not sure that server overload is a problem with this, but it could be if the overload is causing a misread of the cookie. It could just be a problem with the cookies themselves and the way the are read/delivered. In other words a bug with the forum software.....or they way they interact with certain browsers, but most of the problems with cookies seem to with IE....hmmm. (gives me an idea....)

[granny]

Yes, I am having loads of problems too! And I have had problems on and off since I joined this forum.

I don't think it has anything to do with cookies because I always have cookies turned off, and sometimes I can post, sometimes I can't.

I had no problem yesterday. Today, I log in then try to post a reply to some thread. It tells me that I am not logged in, so I log in again, but it keeps telling me that I am logged off. I just spent a frustrating 40 minutes trying to post a reply. (I have learned a long time ago to copy my posts to a word file before I try to submit them so I don't have to re-write them all over again.)

One interesting thing, though, I struggled trying to post using Netscape. I then loaded IE and tried to post with that and this time, it accepted my post. Both programs are set to refuse cookies. :confused:

[mjc]

Are you sure they are both set to refuse all cookies?

Session cookies should allow you to remain logged in until you close your browser.

The software this forum uses requires at least session cookies in order to allow you to log in, at all. And posting is tied directly to being lofgged in.

Contrary to the beleif of some, not all cookies are bad. Most cookies cannot be used for any kind of tracking, because they will only be read by the site that issued them. Cross-site reading of cookies comes into play with things like doubleclick and what not.

The data contained in the permanent cookie from this forum is your username & password (in a not easily readable form)and the last thread visited, session cookies keep track of what threads you have read and log in info in the absence of a permanent cookie.

[david eaton]

It's been happening to me too recently! I thought something my end was the cause and didn't bother about it, but have a totally new installation and it still happens sometimes. Win XP and IE6 if it makes any difference.

David

[granny]

Hmmm... Yes, I just checked and the permanent cookies are disabled, but the session cookies are enabled. Maybe you're right.

But this doesn't explain why I logged in, a few minutes ago, clicked on "reply" and got the page allright, wrote a post, then again got the message that I was not logged in when I tried to submit it. Is there a time limit on those session cookies?

From my experience, the problem seems to be intermittent and doesn't seem to have much to do with cookies, at least not all of the time.

Louise

[Budfred]

I occasionally find that I am not logged in these days, but most of the time it hasn't been a problem. I have logged in from about 5 different computers and they mostly have been able to keep me logged in. I do have cookies that go back to the originating server enabled on NS and at work all cookies are enabled, since the network won't let me control that on IE.

Budfred

[Mark Miller]

Amazing, i was just reading this post went to do something else and now for the ist time I had to log in. Never happened before?
Mark:confused:

[ErnieK]

I am (& have been fora few weeks) having these selfsame problems. I put it down to my end.

90% of the time I have to sign in. With same settings on computer the other 10% (like now) I do not have to sign in.

I can post, read my post and go through another 2 or 3 different posts and try to post a second time somewhere else (maybe 5-10minutes later) and I get message saying I am not logged in. This without leaving the forums.

[Vic 970]

I've had trouble from the start...,

my connection goes down after ten minutes inactivity, so if I reply to a post, I often lose my connection, then when I get back all the 'new posts' have gone (even though I didn't get around to reading them)

so what I do is come onto the site without loggin in, & read 'todays posts', then if I post a reply, I log in. after posting I use the back button 7 or 8 times to get back to where I was with my "not logged in" staus. Same thing for each reply.

It would be a lot easier if 'todays posts' were available, whether logged in or not.

[Budfred]

Vic 970,

You can probably turn off the setting to terminate your internet connection in 10 minutes or at least make it longer, assuming that it is not you ISP doing it. In your Internet Settings, it has the option to turn that off or set the number of minutes you want. If it is your ISP, setting your mail program to check for mail every few minutes will often keep them from booting you off.

Budfred

[Mark Miller]

Hi Bud,
What about if your broadband and never get knocked off. All of a sudden have to login even while on the site.
Mark

[Mark Miller]

I figured out my problem with logging in. Used spybot and somehow wiped out all my passwords, very wierd. Be careful with what you delete and use the excludes.
Mark

[Budfred]

Yeah, I've done that with Spybot. I don't let it delete my cookies anymore, I do that with another program that lets me pick and choose. I suspect I can get Spybot to do that too, but I haven't bothered to look.

Budfred

[Fruss Tray Ted]

In the instance of us 'tards that still use IE.

May it be possible that when you return to this site from a log-off or close browser, that the replacement cookie is being put at the bottom of your TIF's? In this way if you set IE's size limit too low that it is eliminated at some time causing the logoff? Especially if you don't dump them often enough. I have tried to find a cookie and independent TIF manager but...

Alright, be nice, I said it was fleeting didn't I ??? BTW, once in a while I delete the wrong cookie and get logged off. This is the only time I get 'bumped'. I have Windows remmember me and just doubleclick on my 'usermane' and my settings are restored faster'en a hummin'bird flaps it's wings.

Normally and still, and all the way back to this thread's origin, I haven't considered the few times I have been bumped a problem.

[LadyGrey]

"In the instance of us 'tards that still use IE."

FTT I'm heartbroken that you find this an acceptable thing to say here. Donnie is disabled and there is nothing funny or off hand about it. There is nothing funny about people with disabilities they stuggle very hard to do the simple things that we all take for granted. Donnie uses a computer quite well and it has taken him twice as long to be able to do so but he has never given up. I'm not mad at you or foaming at the mouth or any such thing just very very hurt. LG:(

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I was not pointing any finger to anyone but myself and maybe a few other procrastinators who still use IE(5.5 even! And I did not intend to relay the sense of the word (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=retard) in the manner it seems it was.

I use that word openly and often in music. But the sense I was inferring is in definition2, second line. NOT the one just above it. I would not use it in that way ever as I respect all upon this rock (http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/stories/nasm/earth.jpg) . I don't use the 'n' word either.

Once again, sorry to cause a misunderstanding and I'm sorry you're hurt. If Donnie was put off by this please apologise for me.

It's happened before (and will again I'm sure), I open my mouth only to insert foot... it was supposed to be jovial.

[kayofcircles]

I was wondering as I read through this thread yesterday if I haven't had the logging off problem BECAUSE I am still using IE 5.02 and not using the newer stuff like Skybot. So, 5.5? Nah, still back further than that. Strong believer in the "if it aint broke, don't fix it!" school, and lazy about getting some of this stuff done because there are far more pressing things to do in life than tweak and upgrade if you're not having problems. I do use the Cookie Manager, and IE 5 and am not having any problems here...as long as I click on the "view new" first and get the list, and then go back to it after posting or whatever. And one can, if necessary to go off searching for something, do the Control N thing in IE and get a duplicate window..just in case.

LadyGrey : I am most pleased see another female here on a regular basis, but it is mostly guys here and one of the disadvantages of the Net is that one cannot "see" facial expressions or body language, or hear tone of voice to get "context." What I am saying is that all the regulars here are nice guys, and they don't make hurtful comments on purpose...so one needs to assume they're joking. Okay? And just between females..one needs to give guys a bit of slack normally, huh?:D

[LadyGrey]

Hi Kay, I surely do respect and dearly love all the guys here!! I am one who has benifited from their knowledge and incredible unselfishness with their time! It just seems to me that everywhere I go someone is using offensive expressions or making fun of people who are different and I was so happy that here, on this forum, there really were great minds and great people. I guess it just kind of took me by surprise, I just never expected to see that here. I'm sorry if I've overreacted, just must have taken it the wrong way. FTT has just been one of my greatest helps and friends and it just blew my CPU there for a minute. He's a dear isn't he?! Any way, I've gotten off track here long enough and I'll remember what you said that really all things like that should be taken as a funny, not seriously. Guess I need to get back on my prozac!:D LG;)
FTT, you are a sweetheart and I'm sorry if I upset you in any way!!!

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Bud,
In keeping with the original topic, I just went through a harrowing experience. Not only could I not log-on, I could get nowhere on the entire internet. I could get online but not open any page whatsoever. Called up my ISP and they were experiencing crashed servers. Talk about jonesing!!! I felt like asking the rep over the phone what form of 'execution' he would prefer to endure if he (they) didn't get me my fix in a hurry!

LadyGrey,
Flattery will get you EVERYWHERE!!! So does this mean I'm out of the doghouse??? ((Ok Rover, you can have your fleas back.. :D )) But I also can understand what might be a hypersensitivity to certain things to various people for various reasons. No apology neccessary. If 'You're ok, I'm ok'. (Wasn't there a book by that name?)

Kay,
Thanks for coming to my aid 'Miss Version 5.02' :cool: I feel somewhat like you as not needing to fix something that ain't broke. BIOS upgrades after living with a work-around etc. getting a faster CD-ROM just because one's 'out there'. It seems some are never satisfied after purchasing a Yugo and forever trying to turn it into a Ferrarri! And case modding??? Sheesh!!! That's all I'll say on that one.

But then, oh Lord, a Porsche would be nice... but only if it'd fit in the back of my truck! A man's gotta have some priorities you know. Just can't remmember which order to put them in, let's see, snowmobile, Atv, camcorder, camper, flatscreen, ..., ..., ..., Oops, sorry, dreamin' again...

http://www.icelandicsheep.com/Page%20symbols/Ely_at_10_wks_scratching_small.jpg

[Lisubie]

Rather than being forcibly logged off, so far everytime I call the forums up, I am already logged in. And I see here in this thread that this is okay and controlled by a cookie. Being spacy I never really worried about logging out. Until today, and now it's not clear how or where, or if one should, and I don't find instructions in the FAQS like I would expect if it were important.

Where do I go here to find out about the log on, log off procedure? The only place I see to log off is on a 'post reply' screen. This of course, is wierd. Why should I want to logoff if I am ready to post a reply?

Is logoff normally done when the browser shuts? Is this cookie controlled too?

[ErnieK]

Lisubie
If you are coming back on a regular basis IMHO there is no need to "log out". But the easiest way to do so would be to just delete your cookies. That way when you come to the site there is no indication on your computer that you have been here before.

(I know - I Know- evidence is still sitting there for all to see where you have been, at desktop end. I mean at site end)

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean in parenthises? But also does deleting your cookies do the same as logging out? Does it have an effect on this (or any) site?

BTW The logout button is on the first page (list of forums page) of this site hiding down the bottom of the page where noone goes or dares to venture... :eek:

Don't know if this is proper or not but... As far as the need to logout I have never bothered. I just close the site with the 'x' button and either go offline or open up another site as needed. On Dial-up I always have the need to disconnect anyway to be able to reach the real world... This to me is logging out as well as anything. But if you are on a DSL or cable connection and are online 24/7 you may need or should want to logout, I'm not sure.

If there is a better reason to logout I am willing to learn and change my ways if needed. I'm just not pc literate enough yet.

Anyone able to shed any light on the blind? :cool: I would appreciate it whether I like it or not... ;)

[Mark Miller]

Hi FTT,
Just for your info, it's the same on broadband just hit the "x" or go to another site and you are done. I never log off, but if you clear all your cookies it will be like you have been nowhere on the net, so be careful. I've done and it was a pain in the butt
Mark:D

[Budfred]

You can also log off by going to the first page of the forum and Log Off is an option at the bottom under the forum lists. To log back on you can just click on Reply and it will ask for your login info. You can also go to "user cp" at the top of each page and that will also request you to log in....

[Lisubie]

I am not ashamed of being here - rather proud and pleased to be a (permanently logged in?) part! I'll never delete my cookies again!!!

[Budfred]

I find I get logged off occasionally even if I don't delete my cookies, so keep that password handy just in case. Also, you can selectively delete cookies so that you keep the one for PCGuide and get rid of the dreck. There are a number of cookies that are probably best to get rid of occasionally.....

[Lisubie]

How do you selectively get rid of cookies?

[Budfred]

It depends on what browser you are using. In Netscape, you open the cookies.txt file in the Users folder and delete any that you don't want. You save the file and start fresh. In IE (some versions), you go to Temporary Internet Files in the Windows folder and delete the ones you don't want, then close Windows Explorer. Make sure your browser isn't running when you do this. If neither of these work for you, post back with your browser type and version of Windoze and we can help you figure it out.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I mean, Cookies Manager (http://www.webattack.com/get/cookieman.shtml) Freeware, works great! I have pcg's in the saved area along with some others and all you have to do is open the program, highlight the delete side, then click ok. Done.

Works with a versions of Windows, not sure if IE is also needed.