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Help for Logging In

Problem: You enter your username and password, then click the "Log in" button. You enter the Members section and see the member page. But when you click any of the buttons at the top of the page, you get booted back to the login screen, and you have to log in again. This continues until you are ready to scream.

Explanation: This web site does not use any sort of tracking cookies, but during a logged in session, the server users cookies to maintain state between page requests. What this means is that when you log in, the server has to "remember" that you logged in, so it sets a variable (called a "session variable") in your browser's memory that lets the server know that you have already logged in.

Whenever you request a page that is protected by the login, the server checks for that session variable to see whether you have already logged in. If it detects the variable, it lets you view the page. Otherwise, it sends you to the login page and asks you to log in.

If your browser is set to disallow cookies, or if you have some software on your system that blocks cookies, the server can't set the session variable, and therefore can't remember that you've already logged in.

Solution: You can do any of the following:

  1. Set your browser to accept cookies. (see below)


  2. Set your browser to accept "session" cookies. (see below)


  3. Add the Ridley site to your list of "Trusted" web sites (IE only). (see below)


  4. If, after setting your browser to accept cookies, you still have problems logging in, you may be running a privacy program of some sort. While you are on the Ridley site, disable the privacy software that is blocking the cookies. Or, if possible, configure your privacy software to allow the Ridley site to set session cookies. Unfortunately, there are too many different types of privacy software to include instructions for doing this. But you can probably find instructions in your privacy software help files.
For detailed instructions on how to set your browser to accept cookies, find the pertinent paragraph below.

Configuring Netscape Navigator 4 (PC)

  1. Go to the 'Edit' menu on the Netscape Navigator window.
  2. Select 'Preferences.'
  3. Click on the word 'Advanced' in the 'Category' window.
  4. Either 'Accept all cookies' or 'Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server' should be checked.
  5. Go back to the 'Category' window and click on the '+' sign next to 'Advanced.'
  6. Click on 'Cache.'
  7. 'Page in cache is compared to page on network' should be set to 'Every time'.
  8. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Netscape Navigator 4.7 (Mac)

  1. Go to the 'Edit' menu on the Netscape Navigator window.
  2. Select 'Preferences.'
  3. Click on the word 'Advanced' in the 'Category' window.
  4. Either 'Accept all cookies' or 'Accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server' should be checked.
  5. Go back to the 'Category' window and click on the triangle next to 'Advanced.'
  6. Click on 'Cache.'
  7. 'Page in cache is compared to page on network' should be set to 'Every time'.
  8. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Netscape Navigator 6 (PC/Mac)

  1. Go to the 'Edit' menu on the Netscape Navigator window.
  2. Select 'Preferences.'
  3. Double-click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' window.
  4. Click on 'Cookies' under 'Privacy & Security'
  5. Select the 'Enable cookies for the originating website only' radio button.
  6. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Netscape Navigator 7 (PC/Mac)

  1. On a PC, go to the 'Edit' menu on the Netscape Navigator window. On a Mac, go to the 'Navigator' menu.
  2. Select 'Preferences.'
  3. Double-click on 'Privacy & Security' in the 'Category' window.
  4. Click on 'Cookies' under 'Privacy & Security'
  5. Select the 'Enable cookies for the originating website only' radio button.
  6. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 (PC)

  1. Go to the 'View' menu on the Internet Explorer window.
  2. Select 'Internet Options.'
  3. Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
  4. Scroll down until you see the 'Security' section.
  5. Click on 'Always accept cookies.'
  6. If the button for 'Prompt before accepting cookies' is selected, click on the button to turn it off.
  7. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.5 (Mac)

  1. Go to the 'View' menu on the Internet Explorer window.
  2. Select 'Internet Options.'
  3. Click on the 'Advanced' tab.
  4. Scroll down until you see the 'Security' section.
  5. Click on 'Always accept cookies.'
  6. If the button for 'Prompt before accepting cookies' is selected, click on the button to turn it off.
  7. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (Mac)

  1. Go to the 'Explorer' menu and select 'Preferences'.
  2. Under 'Web Browser' click on 'Web Content'.
  3. In the 'Active Content' section make sure that 'Enable Scripting' is checked.
  4. Under 'Receiving Files' click 'Cookies'.
  5. For 'When receiving cookies' select 'Never Ask'.
  6. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 & 5.5 (PC)

  1. Go to the 'Tools' menu on the Internet Explorer window.
  2. Select 'Internet Options.'
  3. Click on the 'Security' tab.
  4. Click on the 'Internet' icon in the upper pane of the 'Security' tab
  5. If there is a slider In the frame labeled 'Security level for this zone', move the slider up or down until it is set for the 'Medium' security level.
  6. If there is no slider in the frame labeled 'Security level for this zone' frame, click on 'Default Level'.
  7. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (PC)

  1. Go to the 'Tools' menu on the Internet Explorer window.
  2. Select 'Internet Options.'
  3. Click on the 'Privacy' tab.
  4. In the frame labeled 'Settings', move the slider up or down until it is set for the 'Medium' security level or lower.
  5. If there is no slider in the 'Settings' frame and you are using advanced settings:
    1. Click on the 'Advanced...' button.
    2. Check the 'Override automatic cookie handling' box.
    3. Select the 'Accept' radio button under 'First-party Cookies'.


      4. AND/OR

    4. Check the box labelled 'Always allow session cookies.'
    5. Click on the 'OK' button.
  6. Click on the 'OK' button.

Configuring Other Browsers

Other browsers must be set to allow persistent and per-session first-party cookies. See the document for your browser for instructions.

Make Ridley a trusted web site (IE)

  1. Go to the 'Tools' menu on the Internet Explorer window.
  2. Select 'Internet Options.'
  3. Click on the 'Security' tab.
  4. Click the 'Trusted Sites' icon.
  5. Click the button labelled 'Sites'.
  6. Where it says 'Add this web site to the zone', type in www.ridleyclassof74.com.
  7. Click the 'Add' button.
  8. Click 'OK' twice.
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