# Automatic timeout? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 8, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092 "2008-10-08T23:31:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/1 "2008-10-08T23:31:10Z")
Is there now an automatic SDMB timeout if no activity occurs after a certain period? If so, what is the period? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/2 "2008-10-08T23:49:16Z")
You’re not the only one with random logouts, then? Shame that since the upgrade I’ve gone back to the old habit of ctrl+c before posting, just in case the message vanished into … ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/3 "2008-10-09T00:52:53Z")
[Me too.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10283421&postcount=281) ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/4 "2008-10-11T13:32:43Z")
Good to know this problem isn’t limited to us newbies, I suppose. I’ve had two substantial responses toasted so I’m now drafting all my posts in MS Word. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/5 "2008-10-11T13:36:44Z")
I just noticed this yesterday, and I was going to ask this question - thanks, **Cunctator**. Seems like about 30 minutes. What’s the deal? ---
**Author:** ![Offkenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Offkenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Offkenter)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/6 "2008-10-11T22:45:47Z")
I’m running in to this too. I haven’t noticed a time frame, but it seems that by the time I finish reading one thread, I have been logged out. Is it possible that a change has been made in the way that the session cookies are handled? I haven’t run in to any problems on other sites. I’m running Firefox 3.0.3 on Windows XP Pro. I suggest that anyone else with this problem post their OS type and browser info as well. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/7 "2008-10-12T00:13:56Z")
FF 3.0.3, XP Home. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/8 "2008-10-12T16:45:53Z")
> [@Offkenter](#): > > I’m running Firefox 3.0.3 on Windows XP Pro. I suggest that anyone else with this problem post their OS type and browser info as well. IE whatever-the-latest-number-is, on XP Home service pack 3. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/9 "2008-10-13T01:46:57Z")
It’s a system problem and something Jerry will have to look at – apparently our system settings are being overwritten by something else in the system causing this problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@Jamaika\_a\_jamaikaiake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamaika_a_jamaikaiake)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/10 "2008-10-13T23:56:56Z")
me too, FWIW ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/11 "2008-10-14T00:23:29Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It’s a system problem and something Jerry will have to look at – apparently our system settings are being overwritten by something else in the system causing this problem. Thank you, Jerry, for looking into this, and Tuba for letting us know this issue is on The List of Issues. ---
**Author:** ![Offkenter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f08c70/32.png) [@Offkenter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Offkenter)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/12 "2008-10-15T00:08:47Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It’s a system problem and something Jerry will have to look at – apparently our system settings are being overwritten by something else in the system causing this problem. Thanks TubaDiva! It’s good to know that you guys are on the case. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/13 "2008-10-16T14:26:06Z")
Any news? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/14 "2008-10-16T19:23:45Z")
Me too. Thank you **Tuba** and **Jerry** for keeping on it. Will check back here to see if there is anything I should do on my settings’ end. Firefox 3.0.3. Mac OS-X 10.4.11 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/15 "2008-10-16T20:33:13Z")
Good to know, as I’m having the same problem. I wrote a rather lengthy post earlier, and am **very happy** that I copied and pasted it into Word so that I could check the spelling. If I hadn’t done that the whole thing would have been gone. I usually have to log myself back in at least several times during each session on the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/16 "2008-10-16T21:17:40Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Me too. Thank you **Tuba** and **Jerry** for keeping on it. Will check back here to see if there is anything I should do on my settings’ end. > > Firefox 3.0.3. Mac OS-X 10.4.11 > > Cartooniverse Hmmm… in the context of your username, I did a double-take to see that it was Tuba and- instead of _Tom and Jerry_. 😉 :eek: I really need help, don’t I? - “Jack” ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/17 "2008-10-17T07:20:15Z")
I’m getting logged out consistently, too. Between reading one thread and another, between hitting the reply and actually posting the reply. I thought it was just my computer! ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/18 "2008-10-17T08:43:54Z")
No, it’s everyone. FF3, XP Pro. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/19 "2008-10-17T11:23:24Z")
Not everyone…I can’t remember the last time I was logged out. Firefox - XP Home SP3 ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092/20 "2008-10-18T00:33:27Z")
I think perhaps possibly I’ve found a fix, maybe, or at least something that might be interesting to someone.😕 I clear out my cookies/history/whatnot every night, and so, always have to sign in again the next day. _IF_ I remember that the SDMB sign-in-page no longer automatically defaults to “save my whatcha-call-it-as-signed-in” and **manually** check the “save-my-whatcha . . .” box, I don’t timed out. If I do forget, I have to clear the cookies, and then sign in, remembering to check the box, before this “fix” works for me. Did that make ANY sense at all, and if so, did it help? More importantly, does Jerry understand my babbling? If he does, I hope it helped narrow the possible reasons for the issue. (Thanks, Lurkmeister, for twigging me to why it may seem so random.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-timeout/467092.md?page=2)