Why is it every time I reply to a thread and enter in my user name and password, it says “No thread specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the webmaster” and then the rfeply I just typed is gone?? This is really annoying.
This is the tenth time I’ve tried to create this thread, I don’t even think it will go through.
I think perhaps you should put in your username and password before you reply. I could be wrong, though. Just thought I’d reply so your first post wouldn’t go unacknowledged.
Welcome to the boards!
The quick reply box at the bottom of the thread doesn’t work unless you’re already logged in. It sucks, but it’s a known issue, so there you go.
Where is a “quick reply box”? I am already logged in. I return to the straight dope and it says “Welcome back RatInDaKitchen!” Then I go to “About This Message Board” and open this thread, write my reply (where it says “Your Reply” - not “quick reply”), and it says at the bottom that I have to log in again even though it welcomed me back by name. When I do, it says, “Thanks for logging in, you will now be taken to your post…” and then it says “no thread specified.” I have copied and pasted this reply I’m writing right now about 50 times and it fails every time.
For the record, I cannot use “search” to look for this question already because of the same "you’re
No, no, no. There’s something in your preferences that does this. Something about cookies, I think. It used to happen to me all the time. It sucked.
The box you’re referring to is the quick reply box, as opposed to the normal reply page that you get to by pressing the reply button. But it sounds like you’re having issues above and beyond what is known not to work.
Paging Arnold Winkelried.
Rat, it’ll be okay. Step away from the computer, take a deep breath, listen to some music. I guess you’re about ready to take out your monitor right now, but be patient. Arnold will be along in a minute to help you work this out. In the meantime, I hope you checked “email notification” when you posted. If so, you’ll be able to read replies without being logged in (click the link in the email).
I’m just having visions of you giving up on SDMB entirely because of this. Take heart; when you get this ironed out, you’ll find it to have been well worth the effort.
I’ve been an administrator and a programmer for a similar type of message board, and have also done quite a bit of web design. I’ve got some things you can try, but without knowing what OS and browser you are using, I can’t be very detailed.
Try clearing your browser’s cache files. These are HTML documents and graphics that are stored on your hard drive when you visit a site. When you return to that site, your computer looks up those files and loads them instead of making you wait for them to dowload again. Active pages which change constantly, like the ones on this message board, have tags that tell your browser not to cache them, but sometimes it happens anyway.
Try clearing your cookies. The reason the SDMB knows it’s you when you come back is that it’s put a cookie, a small file containing information that the site can read and know when you’ve returned, on your hard drive. Sometimes these cookie files can become corrupted or damaged, so the site can’t read them properly. In some cases, cookies from one part of a site can interfere with those from another part. I had this issue with a chat site that also had a message forum. In that case, I had to rework part of the script for the message board to make them work right, but that’s probably not an option for you in this instance.
Make sure you have the latest updates for your browser. Oftentimes, older browser versions might not handle web pages correctly or pass cookies properly. In any case, having the latest version of your web browser nearly always improves your internet browsing performance and capabilites.
Try a different browser, most of them are free to use, at least on a limited basis, or by the use of adware. If you’re using an obscure browser, you might want to try one of the more well-suppoerted ones, like IE, Netscape or Opera. All of those are shown to work well with this message board. Even if you are already using one of those, it’s possible that some of the core files might have become corrupted. In that case, trying a different browser might clue you in that there is a problem with the one you are currently using.
Reinstall your browser. As I said above, there might be problems with your current browser that are causing it to behave strangely on some sites. Some browsers, like IE, also have built-in utilities to repair the current installation, so you might also want to try that as well.
Reinstall your OS, for similar reasons as stated above. Sometimes it’s all you can do if parts of your OS have become currupted or damaged, but if all else has failed, this can often fix problems.
If none of these ideas work for you, don’t panic. There’s lots of other things that could be wrong, but I wouldn’t know where to start until I know more information about the computer you are using, like what OS and version you have and what browser and version you are using. Good luck to you!
#1 and #2 don’t do anything.
#3, #4, #5: I have the latest Mac IE browser, but I just deleted it and reinstalled it. I’m not going to download another one just to post messages here.
#6: You must be fucking joking. Reinstall my OS so that I can post here. Methinks some of you take a message board too seriously. Reinstall my OS. HAH! At least I know you’re not lying about being an administrator.
Forget it. I see no point trying to ask questions when I can’t even post one fucking messagn you blame me?
#1 and #2 don’t do anything.
#3, #4, #5: I have the latest Mac IE browser, but I just deleted it and reinstalled it. I’m not going to download another one just to post messages here.
#6: You must be fucking joking. Reinstall my OS so that I can post here. Methinks some of you take a message board too seriously. Reinstall my OS. HAH! At least I know you’re not lying about being an administrator.
Forget it. I see no point trying to ask questions when I can’t even post one fucking messagn you blame me?
Yes, you’re welcome. :rolleyes:
Just looked at your settings, Rat, I think I found the problem.
And corrected it.
Please try now. You should be good to go without having to log in again. If you encounter problems, please send me an email (TubaDiva@aol.com), and I’ll see what else might be going on.
your humble TubaDiva
Administrator
Thank you TubaDiva - it is working now, I appreciate it.
Oh, uh, “thanks” Q.E.D for your erroneous instructions and suggestions that I should REINSTALL MY OS to fix what TubaDiva was able to correct sitting in front of her computer. Might I suggest you not chime in if you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about? That’s usually the way it works IRL and on other Messages Boards.
And might I suggest if one is looking for help, he not be so abrasive to those attempting to provide that help, just like one should act IRL? Actually, that’s not a suggestion at all; it’s a requirement. Behave.
I’d call you out in the Pit, rat, but it’s not worth the effort. Meh.
FWIW, there are situations where reinstalling an OS is a perfectly viable solution. It isn’t often, which is why that was the last* one in the list. My fault for not suggestion you check your settings. I had assumed you were at least bright enough to check that yourself. I stand corrected.
If I’m out of line here, my apologies to the mods.
I think I’ll just close this thread.