Not Staying Logged In

tehidyman · Sep 09, 2011, 16:40:00

I have always been logged in whenever I enter IDnetter forum. For the last day or so I show up as a guest and have to log in again. Several other sites made me log in again yesterday and the BBC site needed re customising but all have now retained their settings. I see that this was a problem posted in 2006 but none of the solutions apply now. I am on the latest version of Firefox and XP. Any advice?

Rik · Sep 09, 2011, 16:44:22

Clear your cookies. Logout from the top menu button and then login from the login button. Check the 'forever' box, and it should solve the problem. Have you changed anything on your machine, eg new browser, any new software?

tehidyman · Sep 09, 2011, 16:57:28

Thanks Rik,

I checked the SMF cookie and saw it was only valid for 1 hour. Login on the forum comes up with name and password filled in so I was not getting the 'forever ' box to tick. Found it and checked and now find the cookie is valid to 2017. So problem solved.... Thanks

Rik · Sep 09, 2011, 16:59:33

Phew.

Tacitus · Sep 09, 2011, 17:27:34

Quote from: tehidyman on Sep 09, 2011, 16:57:28
I checked the SMF cookie and saw it was only valid for 1 hour. Login on the forum comes up with name and password filled in so I was not getting the 'forever ' box to tick. Found it and checked and now find the cookie is valid to 2017. So problem solved.... Thanks

Ref the other thread on not staying logged in, the above gave me a clue. What is happening with me using Mac Safari, is that despite ticking 'stay logged in' the SMF cookie is expiring after 60 minutes.

I can't see any way of altering this, since the cookie is bundled in with the iDnetters one and I can't check them individually.

Rik · Sep 09, 2011, 17:31:22

What cookies do you have for the forum, Tac?

Simon · Sep 09, 2011, 17:35:11

I think you can actually change the 60 minute setting, so how about trying 9999, or the maximum allowable interger, before ticking the box?

cavillas · Sep 09, 2011, 17:45:46

Quote from: tehidyman on Sep 09, 2011, 16:57:28
Found it and checked and now find the cookie is valid to 2017
What happens after apx quarter past eight then.

Rik · Sep 09, 2011, 17:49:56

We turn into a pumpkin...

Tacitus · Sep 09, 2011, 19:03:01

Quote from: Rik on Sep 09, 2011, 17:31:22
What cookies do you have for the forum, Tac?

PHPSESSID and SMFCookie904 Using 9999 for the time makes no difference - the cookie still expires after 60 minutes

Simon · Sep 09, 2011, 19:13:10

I'm wondering if the cookie isnt being allowed to be reset? Have you actually removed the old one, and allowed a new one to be set, Tac? Sorry if that's asking the bleeding obvious.

Tacitus · Sep 09, 2011, 19:44:12

Quote from: Simon on Sep 09, 2011, 19:13:10
I'm wondering if the cookie isnt being allowed to be reset? Have you actually removed the old one, and allowed a new one to be set, Tac? Sorry if that's asking the bleeding obvious.

Yes deleted all idNetters cookies logged out and logged in again by opening login window and setting time to 9999. 1-PW logged in at the top right and the cookie produced expires in 60 mins.

Simon · Sep 09, 2011, 19:47:41

I'm stumped, but as it's not affecting everyone, it does suggest a local cookie managing issue.

Tacitus · Sep 09, 2011, 21:34:27

Quote from: Simon on Sep 09, 2011, 19:47:41
I'm stumped, but as it's not affecting everyone, it does suggest a local cookie managing issue.

Yes, I've come to the same conclusion since it doesn't affect all of my machines.

Simon · Sep 09, 2011, 22:06:40

Any third party software on the affected machine(s) that might be attempting to handle / delete cookies? It would seem that the cookie is being accepted, just not in the way it's supposed to be.

Tacitus · Sep 10, 2011, 07:41:23

Quote from: Simon on Sep 09, 2011, 22:06:40
Any third party software on the affected machine(s) that might be attempting to handle / delete cookies? It would seem that the cookie is being accepted, just not in the way it's supposed to be.

I do use Safari Cookies http://sweetpproductions.com/safaricookies/ but the problem only seems to happen on this machine running Leopard. At least I think it only happens on this one, but perhaps I've noticed it more since I'm on this one rather longer than any of the others.

An alternative explanation is that of necessity - the machine is running Leopard - this version of Safari Cookies is an earlier one which is dependent on an early version of SIMBL. The others have later versions and (I think) SIMBL is also a later version or not used at all.

I've got round it by putting the Netters login and password in the Mac keychain. Doing that does create the 'right' cookie which expires 2017.

FWIW, the problem doesn't happen with TB which uses different forum software.