Groups »
Forums »
Answers »

Featured Groups

  • Bare Conductive
  • Drawing and Art
  • Sustainability
  • 123D
  • Fenix Intl, Ready Set Off The Grid
  • Kollabora
  • 3D Printing

COMMUNITY : HELP : BUGS


Can't Login

I can't login.  Yes I'm sure my username and password are right, my browser was even catching them.

If I'm viewing an instructable and click Add Comment, the login box pops up, I enter valid login details, and it just goes back to the instructable page without my being logged in.  If I try to do the same again, the cycle keeps repeating.

I don't feel there's anything I need to do, that the site has a problem.  I wanted to just notify site staff but when I click the contact link at the bottom of a page it takes me to the forum, which is yet another site bug... I don't want a forum when I click a contact link, I don't want help, I want to CONTACT site staff so they can fix the site problem.

sort by: active | newest | oldest
116
mikeasaurus says: May 25, 2012. 8:39 PM
I work here at Instructables, I'm sorry that you're having issues logging in but I'm sure we'll figure it out.

The two easiest things to do if you're having trouble with the site are:
  • Clear your cache and reload
  • make sure you have script-blocking add-ons disabled
We work on the back end of the site all the time, so sometimes there's a hiccup. Dumping your cache and reloading is an easy fix most times.
Leave me a reply here if you want me to reset your password.

Contacting service@instructables is the best way to resolve this and is checked by real humans, not robots, so please give us time to followup.
ac-dc (author) says: May 25, 2012. 8:42 AM
I admin 'sites for a large internet firm. I surf many sites every day too, I'm on the web an extreme amount of time as a profession as well as personal use. NONE of them have this bug. I NEVER have to clear cookies or cache just to login.

The problem happened again yesterday. I couldn't login, it doesn't even prompt or notify why it didn't login, the login box just disappears and it defaults to a different page than the instructable it was on when I tried to login. Note that this was after I had finally managed to login on the 10th when I posted this topic, it has already happened again. Are you seriously suggesting that every couple weeks or less that I have to delete cookies or clear my browser cache? I WANT my cookies and browser cache even if it would magically delete them without my intervention, they are there for good reason.

I was finally able to login by clicking the forgot-your-password link, following the link that was emailed to me and entering the new/reset password, then I changed the password back to what it was originally. I am quite sure I entered the password correctly the first few times I tried before giving up and resetting it.

The major problem in my mind is I'm reading from people who want to suggest I do something when I wanted to hear from someone who works with the developers about what they are doing to fix this bug. I want to inform the person(s) in touch with the admin and developers that this site bug should be fixed. It reflects poorly on the site when the most basic of functionality is broken to the point that there are login problems.

kelseymh, you wrote that it's the way to contact staff about bugs but now two weeks have gone by and nothing... doesn't seem to have worked out the way you claimed. On sites I admin I have contact links and give direct replies or at least refer the issue to a moderator or editor, etc. for direct contact, because it's the right way to treat people.

17
canucksgirl in reply to ac-dcMay 25, 2012. 7:43 PM
BUMP.

I'm only bumping your comments to get the attention of staff. I would be more than happy to help you, and explain why you may be having these issues, but you've asked for replies specifically from Admin or an Instructables Developer. ~ I can respect that...
11
Re-design says: May 25, 2012. 4:42 PM
I am also having problems logging in. I was unable to log in over a 5 hour period today. Using Vista and firefox 12 and another computer on XP home and firefox 12.

Other times I can log in and get randomly logged out.

Sometimes when I try to post and comment I get logged out and sent to a log in screen.

It appears to be extremely hard to get the the forums area if not logged in even just to look for an answer.

Three months ago I wasn't having any problems like this and now I'm having problems on two different computers.
17
canucksgirl in reply to Re-designMay 25, 2012. 2:05 PM
You and several other members are also posting 'negative times'. (It's only 2:05pm PST, but your posting time shows 4:42pm PST)...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For login/time issues with Firefox, check your browser settings.
To do this, go to Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies

If you're using the option to "Clear history when Firefox closes", make sure you do not have "cookies" selected (checkmark in checkbox) under "Settings".

In the "Accept Cookies" section, you can have it set to "Keep Until: I close Firefox", however, you will need to add an "Exception" in the "Allow" list for websites that you trust (and want to keep and update cookies for), such as Instructables. (Simply type in: instructables.com)

Also, remember NOT to use the "Private Browsing" option when visiting Instructables, because through private browsing, NO history, or cookie information is saved, and can cause login issues.

Let me know if that helped, or if you need additional suggestions. ;-)
11
Re-design in reply to canucksgirlMay 26, 2012. 2:22 AM
I don't clear history when firefox closes.
And I don't use private browsing.

But I think it's an issue with firefox since I don't "seem" to have the same problem using IE on the same computers.

Don't know about the negative time.
17
canucksgirl in reply to Re-designMay 25, 2012. 7:38 PM
Have you tried clearing the cache in Firefox? Clearing it out, and forcing the web pages to load fully (instead of partially through cached pages), can sometimes fix login and time out issues. The other option is to find the Instructables cookie, and delete it, and then log back into the website. You'll then get issued a new cookie, and in case there's been a problem since a recent update, or your cookie became corrupt, deleting it can help.

As far as the negative times, its not something that you can change. Its an issue thats been going on for a while, but since staff members read over the forums, I wanted to point out the problem to them.

To see what I mean about the time issues, just look at the thread of our conversation... I'm replying to you on May 25th at about 7:39pm, while you are already on May 26th. ;-)
11
Re-design in reply to canucksgirlMay 25, 2012. 7:50 PM
I'll try clearing the cache.

I don't know where the time stamp comes from. My computer clock is set right. Date is 25 th at 9:49 Texas time.
17
canucksgirl in reply to Re-designMay 25, 2012. 7:54 PM
Let me know what happens when you clear the cache (and the cookie, if the cache doesn't improve the situation).

The time stamp should be coming directly from the server. I suspect that they have added additional servers, and that one (or more) are set to an incorrect time, so depending on which server your connecting through, the login times will be set through that (versus your PC).
11
Re-design in reply to canucksgirlMay 25, 2012. 8:35 PM
Clearing the cache didn't help. I still have to go to IE to get signed on.
17
canucksgirl in reply to Re-designMay 25, 2012. 8:43 PM
Firefox has a whole page for troubleshooting login issues. I'll give you the link as it'll be faster and easier for you to follow there. The second link is another Firefox support page for extensions and plugins that can also be a source of login issues. I would go through all the recommended steps, but if you still need more help, let me know, as there are other things that we can try.

Firefox - Can't log in to websites

Firefox - Check Extensions and Plugins 
9
kelseymh says: May 10, 2012. 8:55 AM
The Bugs forum is the way to contact staff about bugs. They read it every day, even during non-working hours. They do not read all the random complaints posted as comments in other places, but they do read, log, and mostly respond to bug reports in the Bugs forum.

As for your specific problem, it sounds very much like you have an out-of-date cached page or I'bles cookie, which is causing confusion with the backend server. Try the following two things:

1) Clear your browser's cache (or "History").
2) Delete any cookies you have from instructables.com.

After that, log back in to I'bles, and you should not see the same probelm.
164
Kiteman in reply to kelseymhMay 10, 2012. 9:57 AM
All that, plus;

Keywords are important, since they help anybody who is suffering the same symptoms as you can find the topic and find out what the solution is.

I've added some more useful ones for you.
Pro

Get More Out of Instructables

Already have an Account?

close

PDF Downloads
As a Pro member, you will gain access to download any Instructable in the PDF format. You also have the ability to customize your PDF download.

Upgrade to Pro today!