I'm back(with some difficulty!)

[Old Sparky]

The difficulty being that, because I couldn't remember how to 'copy & paste' (a long time since I used this facility!) I had to laboriously type out the 'reset password URL'.  This makes me wonder why, generally, such long strings of data are needed, including such data as 'php?action=rest, etc., etc.  Obviously all the 50 or more digits. characters, etc., 'tell the system what to do', but I'd be grateful for a brief explanation as to why it's all needed.   I'm also puzzled as to why some sites, this one included, insist on Case Sensitive Passwords, whilst others, including some Government websites do not have this rule.  If anything, I would have thought that Government sites, which deal with personal information would need more stringent requirements that what is, after all, a hobby/interest site.

[Terry]

The two most commonly used shortcuts are:

CTRL + C = Copy
CTRL + V = Paste

For more, see https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help...-shortcuts

[ppppenguin]

To copy:

Select the wanted text with mouse
CTRL+C
or
Right click and select copy
or
From the EDIT drop down menu select copy

To paste:
Put cursor where you want to paste
CTRL+V
or
Right click and select paste
or
From the EDIT drop down menu select paste

The reason the URL is so long is that it contains information unique to you and the job to be done. Since it's never intended to be typed in by hand the length is irrelevant.

Case sensitive passwords are the norm. I can't think of any examples that aren't case sensitive. Unlike email addresses which are never case sensitive. User names may or may not be case sensitive. Easiest to assume that everything is case sensitive and then it should all work OK.

[Mark Hennessy]

The URL has to contain a unique string so that you can be identified correctly by the forum software. Without it, a hacker could reset anyone's password.

When you look at a URL, anything that appears after the question mark is actually instructions or data for the forum software to process. Looking at the URL I see now, I see "showthread.php?tid=7284". Of that, "showthread.php" is a file on the server, "tid" means "thread id", and "7284" is the number that identifies this thread. If you changed the number for another one at random, you might see a different thread entirely (or an error message to say that the thread does not exist). The file "showthread.php" is part of the forum software - it looks at the number given, and queries the database ("Give me all the posts that have this thread ID"). The database replies with all the posts, and then showthread.php will surround the raw text of the posts with the requisite HTML so that your browser can display it.

There - you asked for it!

Regarding your problems with copy and paste, I would urge you - and I mean this respectfully - to try and overcome them. Copy and paste is so fundamental to using a computer that I'm actually slightly surprised that you're able to do the things you do without it. It's as basic as putting a tea bag and milk into a cup of tea. Well actually, for many years now, I've drunk hot water in preference to tea, but you see my point If nothing else, there might be computer classes nearby - perhaps in a local library or similar - that would help. You'd understand straight away if someone sat down with you and showed you what to do. And then, you'll wonder how you ever managed before. Copying and pasting a URL from an email to a web browser takes literally 2 or 3 seconds. There are several ways to copy and paste, so at least one of them should be easy for you to understand and remember.

Finally, regarding case-sensitive passwords, that is completely standard. I have never come across a system that allows you to have a password that is not case-sensitive. That is just how the password encryption works - if you type a capital version of a letter that was lower-case when you entered the password originally, then it simply won't work. I would be staggered if government sites were any different. It would involve some horrible software bodges to make it work any other way.

It's been a while since I've tried it, so remind myself of the procedure, I have just gone through the password reset routine on my test account.

First, I received an email. This email contained a link that I simply clicked on. No copy/paste needed. However, sometime email software can make a mess of long links. So as a backup, the email includes a second, much simpler link. For that to work, you need to manually copy and paste the activation code that is given into the page.

Here is the email (note the scrollbar):

Code:

<username>,

To complete the phase of resetting your account password at Golborne Vintage Radio, you will need to go to the URL below in your web browser.

https://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/member.php?action=resetpassword&uid=<userid>&code=50MarkWasHereLwwudW0BIREfA581d

If the above link does not work correctly, go to

https://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/member.php?action=resetpassword

You will need to enter the following:
Username: <username>
Activation Code: 50MarkWasHereLwwudW0BIREfA581d

Thank you,
Golborne Vintage Radio Staff

You'll see that I've redacted the username and user ID and changed the activation code (not that it matters, as it's a one-time-use code).

Having clicked on the first link, I was taken to a page that told me that my password has been reset, and details would be emailed to me. Sure enough, this arrived:

Code:

<username>,

Your password at Golborne Vintage Radio has been reset.

Your new password is: 3fDx4ojy

You will need this password to login to the forums, once you login you should change it by going to your User Control Panel.

Thank you,
Golborne Vintage Radio Staff

Obviously the password is randomly machine-generated so that it can't be guessed. I simply copy and pasted it into the logon form, but as it's only 8 characters, typing it manually would not have been difficult.

Of course, I have changed the password since, as the email advises. Upon doing that, I received this email:

Code:

<username>,

You are receiving this email because you, or someone with access to your password, recently changed your account password.

Username: <username>
Email address: <redacted for obvious reasons>

If you did not request this change, please get in touch with an Administrator.

Thank you,
Golborne Vintage Radio Staff
https://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum

Having done that, I have logged out and back in again, and all is well.

Note that my experience is at odds with yours - at no point did I see a message about case-sensitive passwords, and I entered a new password that was all lower-case, and the system did not object to that. So I don't understand where your comment comes from. Perhaps when you tried to enter the automatically generated password that was emailed to you?

Either way, passwords are case sensitive, and that's not going to change. Try capitalising one or more characters of your password when next logging on at UKVRRR and see how far that gets you!

Anyway, having spent an hour or so on this reply, making sure the password reset routines are working as they should along the way, I'll end by saying "Welcome back"!

Mark

[ppppenguin]

If it's any consolation, Ruth, my partner, who is normally OK with computers, hadn't realised until a few days ago that you can copy and paste files, just as you can with text. Previously if she wanted a copy of (say) a Word document she'd open it in Word and use "Save As". Perfectly valid but not awlays convenient.

As Mark says, sometimes a long URL will get mucked up when it's emailed. You can usually see that part of it is a link while the remainder isn't. It can sometimes be a little tricky to select the whole thing and paste it into a web browser. Especially if it has acquired an unwanted carriage return in the middle.

[Old Sparky]

Thanks, Mark and others, for the detailed explanation. I'm sure I'll find 'copy & paste easy to do when next I need it. Regarding case sensitive passwords, I'm sure you'r right, though the user Id & password I have for one Government site is not case sensitive. Mind you they have to phone you with an eight digit access code after you've logged in before you can fully access the site.

[Nick]

Thanks, Mark and others, for the detailed explanation.  I'm  sure I'll find 'copy & paste easy to do when next I need it.    Regarding case sensitive passwords, I'm sure you'r right, though the user Id & password I have for one Government site is not case sensitive.  Mind you they have to phone you with an eight digit access code after you've logged in before you can fully access the site.

Welcome back!

Please could you let us know which UK government website has case-insensitive passwords? Thanks!

[ppppenguin]

HMRC text you a 6 digit passcode when you login. I don't know what they do if you don't have a mobile phone. When I first registered for govenment gateway they issue (by post ISTR) a password which was a random looking collection of lower case letters and numbers. I've not actually looked for a place to change this password.

Old Sparky, for copy and paste, please don't wait until you really need it. Just practice within a Word document until it's automatic.

[Refugee]

I thought that government websites were all lower case for passwords.
The tax one reckoned it was quicker on line until a screen came up telling me I had to wait for the thing that was sent through the post.
I just did it by post anyway so that I could put the paperwork away right then.
They will have to do better than that for me to use there web site again.

[Old Sparky]

Jeffrey, HMRC phone a 6-digit passcode via landline. I've used their on-line systems for some years now, then printed off anything I felt needed to be kept as 'hard copy' Don't have my details to hand, but the password is indeed a random selection of (lower case) letters & numbers. I don't think there is an option to change it