Access to the discussion forums involves the use of cookies. Cookies are small amounts of data that are stored in the browser so that a server can recall some of a user's data. Don't worry, cookies cannot gather information from your hard disk or steal personal information.

We are going to help you check if cookies are enabled in your browser. The instructions vary depending on the type and version of browser you have.

Internet Explorer
Follow these instructions in order to check which version of Internet Explorer you have installed:

1. Open Internet Explorer.

2. Click on Help on the menu bar.

3. Select "About Internet Explorer".

4. Internet Explorer displays a dialog box showing the version of your browser.

Once you have checked this, you can find out the status of your browser's handling of cookies and configure it. Read the instructions for your version carefully:

Internet Explorer 4.0

1. Open the browser

2. Click on View on the menu bar

3. Select "Internet options"

4. Click on the "Advanced" tab

5.  

6. Select the Web zone "Internet" Scroll down to the yellow exclamation icon under "Security" and select one of the three options to regulate your use of cookies

7. Click on "OK"

Internet Explorer 5.0

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Tools" on the menu bar

3. Select "Internet options"

4. Click on the "Security" tab

5. Select the Web zone "Internet"

6. Click on "Customize level" In "Settings", select Enable under Allow per-session cookies (not stored) and under Allow cookies that are stored on your computer Click on "OK"

Internet Explorer 5.5

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Tools" on the menu bar

3. Select "Internet options"

4. Click on the "Security" tab

5. Select the Web zone "Internet"

6. Click on "Customize level" In "Settings", select Enable under Allow per-session cookies (not stored) and under Allow cookies that are stored on your computer

7. Click on "OK"

Internet Explorer 6.0

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Tools" on the menu bar

3. Select "Internet options"

4. Click on the "Privacy" tab

5. Click on "Advanced"

6. Enable the checkbox "Override automatic cookie handling"

7. Click on "OK"

NETSCAPE

If you use a Netscape browser, you can determine which version you have installed through the screen that is displayed when you open the browser. In order to configure the cookies in any version of Netscape, follow the steps below:

Netscape Communicator 4.x

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Edit" on the toolbar

3. Select "Preferences"

4. Click on "Advanced"

5. Enable "Accept all cookies"

6. Click on "OK"

Netscape 6.x

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Edit" on the toolbar

3. Select "Preferences"

4. Click on "Advanced"

5. Click on "Cookies"

6. Select "Enable all cookies"

7. Click on "OK"

Netscape 7.1

1. Open the browser

2. Click on "Edit"

3. Select "Preferences"

4. On the left-hand menu: Choose the "Privacy & Security" category

5. Select the "Cookies" sub-category

6. On the right there are 4 choices, "Enable cookies for originating website" and "Enable all cookies" will both work.

7. Restart Netscape and then try to access our site again.

Other causes for problems accessing the forums:

• One possibility is that you may be running software that interferes with cookie usage. There are many filtering and blocking software packages available for Internet users these days, and many of them also filter cookies. If you are running software like this, then your computer may not receive or send cookies. This will cause sites you visit to assume you are not accepting cookies.

   

• Your machine may be behind a firewall or proxy server that prevents cookie transmission. This is most likely in a corporate environment. So, regardless of how your browser is set, cookies won't be sent or received by your browser. Since the cookies aren't making it through to your browser, the Web Site will assume you personally aren't accepting them.

  We suggest that you contact your system administrator for additional help or review your security/filtering software for cookie handling.