Staying logged in

[MaxKlinger]

I have to log in constantly to be able to use the forums! I'll log in to the forums, then when I find a thread I want to post on, it'll ask me to log in before I can post. Then when I hit the "Submit" button, it asks me to log in again and takes me back to a blank posting window. What's going on here?

[fordman]

try clearing your cookies and then come back to the site.

[1971ford]

i have the same problem every month. i blame it on AOL dial up. stupid aol.
i just keep logging in every minute for a few days and then it will return to normal slowly.

[fordman]

AOL? a-holes on line?

[FORDification]

AOL and a few other Internet Service Providers constantly and frequently change the IP address assigned to you while you are actually online, rendering your session ID cookie useless. If you use AOL, you may need to log in to the Internet as you normally do and then switch to a different (non-AOL) browser before logging in to the forum. If you do not switch to a different browser, you will not be able to create and post messages, even when you have logged in successfully.

[1971ford]

switch to another browser

[fordman]

use fire fox or internet exploder.

[flyboy2610]

Netscape.

[1971ford]

how about anything but AOL! and earthlink.

[FORDification]

Log onto the internet like you always would. Then just minimize the AOL browser and start up a different one....like Netscape, Firefox, whatever...and surf the forums with that.

[1971ford]

nifty. i just minimized aol and started up internet explorer and it works, ill try that next time aol is being.. uhh aol

[MaxKlinger]

I don't use AOL, ever. My computer is actually owned by my company, so I'm not allowed to put Firefox on it (otherwise I would have done so a long time ago).

Do you think my security settings have something to do with this?

[1971ford]

you should still blame it on AOL!
there that bad.

[FORDification]

I don't use AOL, ever. My computer is actually owned by my company, so I'm not allowed to put Firefox on it (otherwise I would have done so a long time ago).

Do you think my security settings have something to do with this?

If your hookup has alternating proxy hookups, then it's definitely causing a problem, similiar to what AOL is doing. Also, if your security settings are not allowing a session cookie to be saved on your computer, that'll do it.

Cookies are small data files stored by web sites on your computer so that they can save and read information such as your log-in. You can set your browser to accept or reject cookies based on various rules. Below are instructions for setting cookie rules on some of the major browsers - other browsers are likely to have similar options.

Internet Explorer (version 6.0)
From the Menu Bar select Tools, Internet Options …
Select the Privacy Tab
Pull the slider down to Medium
Click OK


FireFox 1
From the Menu Bar select Tools, Options...
Choose the Privacy icon (see below)
Click the + next to the Cookies option to open those options
Tick the box labelled "Allow sites to set cookies" and other options as desired
Click OK to finish


Mozilla and Netscape 7
From the Menu Bar select Edit, Preferences...
Select the Privacy & Security option
Select Cookies
Select either Allow cookies for the orginating web site only (this is the most secure option)


Internet Explorer (version 5.5)
From the Menu Bar select Tools, Internet Options …
Select the Security Tab
Select the Internet icon
Click on the Custom Level button, scroll down the list until Cookies appear and click on Enable for both cookie settings
Click OK and OK again


Netscape (based on version 4.08)
From the Menu select Edit, Preferences
Click on Advanced category
Under Cookies select Accept all cookies and click the OK button


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AOL 9.0
From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
Select Internet [Web] Options
Select Use your Internet Explorer Settings to set advanced browser options.
Select the Privacy tab
Select Advanced
Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
Click OK to exit.

AOL 8.0
From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
Select Preferences
Select Internet Properties (WWW)
Select the Privacy tab
Select Advanced
Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
Click OK to exit.

AOL 7.0 with IE 6.x
From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
Select Preferences
Select Internet Properties (WWW)
Select the Privacy tab
Select Advanced
Deselect override automatic cookie handling button
Click OK to exit.

AOL 7.0 with IE 5.5
From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings.
Select Preferences
Select Internet Properties (WWW)
Select the Security tab
Select the Custom Level tab
Under "Allow Cookies that are stored on your computer" click "Enable"
Under "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)" click "Enable"
Select OK, Yes you want to save the settings

AOL 6.0
From the AOL Toolbar, select Settings
Select Preferences
Select Internet Properties (WWW)
Select the Security tab
Select the Custom Level tab
Under "Allow Cookies that are stored on your computer" click "Enable"
Under "Allow per-session cookies (not stored)" click "Enable"
Select OK, Yes you want to save the settings

AOL 5.0
Go to My AOL
Pick WWW
Click the Security tab
Go to Custom Level
Scroll down to find Cookie
Click "Enable"
Click OK

AOL 4.0
Click on Preferences
Select on the WWW button
Click on the Advanced tab
Select the "Accept all cookies" checkbox

[fordman]

ummm cookies.