Cannot set forum preferences nor attach

Questions and Answers : Web site : Cannot set forum preferences nor attach
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

AuthorMessage
Profile Simon
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 22 Jan 06
Posts: 4
Credit: 0
RAC: 0
Message 235639 - Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 11:49:27 UTC

I have been a Classic SETI participant.

I am trying to attach and failing. SO I tried to post to the forum ... and that got no response from the server. In struggling, I tried to edit my forum preferences ... and cannot - no response from the server.

So, I have created this account just so I can post my question about my real account!

Account: lister@sandj.demon.co.uk
Cannot post to the forum, it times out after a few minutes. Trying to set my forum preferences does the same thing although all other account ettings seem able to be changed.

Who do I do to fix this account?
ID: 235639 · Report as offensive
J D K
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 26 May 04
Posts: 1295
Credit: 311,371
RAC: 0
United States
Message 235796 - Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 17:46:31 UTC
Last modified: 22 Jan 2006, 17:50:32 UTC

What other account CLASSIC OR BOINC??????
And the beat goes on
Sonny and Cher

BOINC Wiki

ID: 235796 · Report as offensive
Profile MJKelleher
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 1 Jul 99
Posts: 2048
Credit: 1,575,401
RAC: 0
United States
Message 235880 - Posted: 22 Jan 2006, 20:06:35 UTC
Last modified: 22 Jan 2006, 20:07:18 UTC

Attaching: What errors are you seeing when you try to attach?

Both: Take a look at this page in the Wiki on Troubleshooting Network Problems. Try the ping and tracert tests, and let us know what results you get.

MJ

ID: 235880 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 236443 - Posted: 23 Jan 2006, 20:38:57 UTC - in response to Message 235880.  

Attaching: What errors are you seeing when you try to attach?

Both: Take a look at this page in the Wiki on Troubleshooting Network Problems. Try the ping and tracert tests, and let us know what results you get.

MJ


I will go on to the problems attaaching to the project separately. For now, I am having account problems. The page giving me trouble is the one where you edit your forum preferences:

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/edit_forum_preferences_form.php

If I try to change anything, when I click on 'Update Info' I'm waiting for a few minutes until the browser fails. I can update any other account details.

Also, if I try to use the account to post to the forum, same effect. Click on Post and it does not come back.

The account is lister@sandj.demon.co.uk

It was a SETI Classic account and I have converted it to a BOINC account.

Once I have fixed the account problem relating to the forum, then I can use that account to post a message asking how to fix the 'attach to project' problem!
ID: 236443 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 236446 - Posted: 23 Jan 2006, 20:45:31 UTC - in response to Message 236443.  

Now that's interesting!

The original post is from 'Simon'. That's me using a temporary account just so I can raise the fault on the forum.

Just now I went into the forum as 'Simon'. I switched to another tab (I'm using FireFox, of course), and logged in to my account 'SandJ' which is the lister@sandj.demon.co.uk account I have had since 1999. I proved to myself I still could not update forum preferences (everything else can be changed). I then switched back to the forum tab and wrote the reply. That was marked as from 'SandJ' - presumably because the cookie changed when I logged in again, or some such.

Go figure!

However, I still cannot change the forum preferences (nor attach to the project) using the SandJ account.
ID: 236446 · Report as offensive
Profile Jord
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jun 99
Posts: 15184
Credit: 4,362,181
RAC: 3
Netherlands
Message 236453 - Posted: 23 Jan 2006, 20:54:01 UTC

I take it you want to use the SandJ account, as it has your Classic credits under it?

In that case try this:
In Firefox go to Edit->Preferences.
Privacy & Security.
Passwords.
Find the simon entry for the forums here and Remove it. (Watch out you don't use the Remove All button ;))
OK out.

Exit Firefox, to clear the memory and cookies.
Restart Firefox and log in here as SandJ.

That should clear all cookies.

If it doesn't, go to Preferences in Firefox again.
Privacy & Security.
Cookies.

Find the cookie entries for "setiathome.berkely.edu" and delete all of them.
Then log in to http://setiathome.berkeley.edu through the front page.
make sure you are using the login that uses the SandJ email address and password.
ID: 236453 · Report as offensive
Profile Simon
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 22 Jan 06
Posts: 4
Credit: 0
RAC: 0
Message 236506 - Posted: 23 Jan 2006, 22:38:15 UTC - in response to Message 236453.  

I take it you want to use the SandJ account, as it has your Classic credits under it?

In that case try this:
In Firefox go to Edit->Preferences.
Privacy & Security.
Passwords.
Find the simon entry for the forums here and Remove it. (Watch out you don't use the Remove All button ;))
OK out.

Exit Firefox, to clear the memory and cookies.
Restart Firefox and log in here as SandJ.

That should clear all cookies.

If it doesn't, go to Preferences in Firefox again.
Privacy & Security.
Cookies.

Find the cookie entries for "setiathome.berkely.edu" and delete all of them.
Then log in to http://setiathome.berkeley.edu through the front page.
make sure you are using the login that uses the SandJ email address and password.

ID: 236506 · Report as offensive
Profile Simon
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 22 Jan 06
Posts: 4
Credit: 0
RAC: 0
Message 236813 - Posted: 24 Jan 2006, 7:09:32 UTC - in response to Message 236506.  

Yes, I do want to use SandJ because of the Classic credits. I know it is of no importance to anyone else, but those 9.8 years of processing time are my only mark on the Earth, my tiny contribution to the advancement of science. Trash those and a little bit of me will die.

Right, I went through the FireFox settings. Be impressed: no passwords and only 8 cookies, and none of thoe from SETI. I am seriously anal about privacy (one of the reasons I use FireFox). Anyway, I tried again, I still cannot change the forum preferences.

So, load up Internet Explorer, clear all the temporary files , history and cookies. Tried it there. Ditto. I can change any and all account settings except the forum preferences. After a couple of minutes Internet Explorer says:

"The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings."

I also tried to send the above reply using it the SandJ account and Internet Explorer. No joy. This is being sent using Simon and Internet Explorer.
ID: 236813 · Report as offensive
Profile Simon
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 22 Jan 06
Posts: 4
Credit: 0
RAC: 0
Message 236816 - Posted: 24 Jan 2006, 7:13:32 UTC - in response to Message 236813.  

I have spent hours trying to post again. Two PCs, Firefox and Internet Explorer and struggling to get either account to work. WHat the hell is going on here? For neither of them can I set forum preferences now. Definitely no cookies or temporary files, rebooted, worked with and without firewall. Yet it seems to be just me with this problem.
ID: 236816 · Report as offensive
Profile Jord
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jun 99
Posts: 15184
Credit: 4,362,181
RAC: 3
Netherlands
Message 236835 - Posted: 24 Jan 2006, 8:04:18 UTC

Ok, open Firefox, Edit, Preferences.
Privacy & Security.
What are your settings here for the Cookie setting and Cookie retention setting?

ID: 236835 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 236882 - Posted: 24 Jan 2006, 12:17:08 UTC - in response to Message 236835.  
Last modified: 24 Jan 2006, 12:26:44 UTC

Ok, open Firefox, Edit, Preferences.
Privacy & Security.
What are your settings here for the Cookie setting and Cookie retention setting?

I'll try to answer those in a few hours. I am using a PC at work which is running Windows XP and is locked down tight. Here I can change the account's forum preferences (I've added a .sig to prove it) as well as post to the forum.

The 2 PCs I used at home are slightly different from one another, one has FireFox, one does not. Both exhibit the same behaviour which includes the temporary account I created not being able to post.

So, it's not the account at fault, and it is not just FireFox. This suggests it is something about my network at home, which is weird since Einstein@Home & LHC do work. Mind you, the SETI beta does not attach to project either.

I am some way from the PC, I shall check the Cookie settings at home. By default, my reaction is always to block cookies unless absolutely necessary to make something work that I trust and want to work. Presumably I should just try allowing them for *.berkeley.edu ?

Incidentally, on this PC here (the locked-down Windows XP one at work), if I do NOT select 'stay logged in', it just prompts me for my login id and password again. Also cookie related, I assume.

All in all, I used to hate cookies, I hate cookies and I think I shall come to despise cookies with a passion.
--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 236882 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 237085 - Posted: 24 Jan 2006, 22:27:24 UTC - in response to Message 236835.  

Ok, open Firefox, Edit, Preferences.
Privacy & Security.
What are your settings here for the Cookie setting and Cookie retention setting?

It's Firefox v1.5 so it's Tools, Options, Privacy, Cookies ... however...

Allow sites to set cookies: Yes
For the originating site only: Yes
Unless I have removed cookies set by the site: No
Keep cookies: ask me every time

and under Exceptions:
setiathome.berkeley.edu: Allow
setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu: Allow


--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 237085 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 237342 - Posted: 25 Jan 2006, 7:49:07 UTC - in response to Message 237085.  

I wish it was consistent. I managed one post from home yesterday to the forum and I've spent about two hours since then to do another one.
--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 237342 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 237538 - Posted: 25 Jan 2006, 22:27:44 UTC - in response to Message 237342.  
Last modified: 25 Jan 2006, 22:31:33 UTC

Sorry about this ... this messge was me trying to diagnose why I am having so much trouble posting to the forum.

--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 237538 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 237543 - Posted: 25 Jan 2006, 22:30:54 UTC - in response to Message 237538.  
Last modified: 25 Jan 2006, 22:33:32 UTC

I have discovered that when posting to the forum from home, I can do so provided the message is no more than about 1K. I tried a 2048 character message, click on 'post' and nothing happens. 1500 chars fails, 1000 chars succeeded and 1024 chars succeeded. The same is true when I edit a post.

Why might that be? I know that from work I can post very long messages.

And could it be related to why I cannot attach to SETI projects?

And I can set my forum preferences from my work PC but not my home PC. Again, it just sits there doing nothing when I try to post the changes back.
--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 237543 · Report as offensive
Janus
Volunteer developer

Send message
Joined: 4 Dec 01
Posts: 376
Credit: 967,976
RAC: 0
Denmark
Message 238003 - Posted: 27 Jan 2006, 0:07:16 UTC

Do you connect through some kind of firewall or restrictive proxy?
ID: 238003 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 238151 - Posted: 27 Jan 2006, 7:52:05 UTC - in response to Message 238003.  

Do you connect through some kind of firewall or restrictive proxy?

I am on a home network using WinGate for NAT. The PCs are running Windows ME. My internet connection is ADSL via a Thomson Speedtouch 330 modem thingie.

I am not running a software firewall that I am aware of. I do not know what is meant by "restrictive proxy" - I have done a quick Google search and I'm pretty sure there isn't one of those involved.
--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 238151 · Report as offensive
Janus
Volunteer developer

Send message
Joined: 4 Dec 01
Posts: 376
Credit: 967,976
RAC: 0
Denmark
Message 238192 - Posted: 27 Jan 2006, 11:16:10 UTC - in response to Message 238151.  
Last modified: 27 Jan 2006, 11:16:27 UTC

Do other websites have the same behaviour when posting large amounts of data?
If so you may want to have a look at the WinGate settings to see if there's something like Max post size or similar that could be blocking your connection.
ID: 238192 · Report as offensive
Profile SandJ
Volunteer tester

Send message
Joined: 25 May 99
Posts: 28
Credit: 734,831
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 238418 - Posted: 27 Jan 2006, 22:41:23 UTC - in response to Message 238192.  

Do other websites have the same behaviour when posting large amounts of data?
If so you may want to have a look at the WinGate settings to see if there's something like Max post size or similar that could be blocking your connection.


I don't know about other web sites but the WinGate clue helped in conjunction with the hints at MTU.

Problem:

Windows ME
Home local network
Using WinGate for NAT
These messages in the log:
Scheduler request to http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/sah_cgi/cgi failed with a return value of 500
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/|No schedulers responded
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/|Couldn't connect to URL http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/.Please check URL.
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/|Detaching from project

Solution:
Upgraded WinGate v6.0.4 to v6.1.1 which allowed me to change the MTU from 1500 to 2500 (2500 value picked at random)

Search in the WinGate help file for MTU, two hits.
DHCP Configurable Options: follow the advice to allow local MTU values.
Network Connections: Override interface MTU - I chose 2500 and its working for me so far.

I have attached to SETI@Home and the SETI Beta. As for being able to change my forum preferences: see the .sig
--
Can I change forum preferences?
Yes, and from home as well!
ID: 238418 · Report as offensive

Questions and Answers : Web site : Cannot set forum preferences nor attach


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.