What is "Invalid session?"

Firstly, although a few days late now, allow me to wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year!!!

I have been a member on a certain American forum for a few years now. (Extremely rightwing, so I'll not post the URL here, as I don't want to offend anyone). Due to bombing out, hacking, etc, the forum had to be redesigned a few times, but seems to be fairly stable now...

Only problem is that I had to log on every time with username and password, despite the fact that I'd tick the little box to stay logged on, but it didn't work, and I accepted that I'd just have to log on every time. Then a few days ago the forum - or as I thought, my computer - suddenly began playing up and I could no longer log on, or if I did manage to do so and try to post, the log-on would kick out and I get a message: "Invalid session. Please resubmit form."

The admins from that side checked to see whether the fault lay on their side - one of them has succeeded in logging in under my nick and password without any trouble, and he came to the conclusion that the fault lay somewhere in my machine. My webbie/programmer daughter, visiting us for a few days, did a lot of checking, cross-checking, etc, but could find no fault and said she is sure the problem lies somewhere in their programme. On their advice she also installed FIREFOX, (I'm using XP), but still no joy...

Just to satisfy myself, I also tried logging in from someone else's computer, as well as from an internet cafe, but still no luck - once in a while I get logged in, but the moment I try to post, up comes the message: "INVALID SESSION. PLEASE RESUBMIT FORM."

Seeing the other members (all USA) can log in without difficulty and I suddenly cannot, could there be a blockage/hitch between here (South Africa) and the USA? Maybe a hacker? I'm totally in the dark, not knowing how, or where else to look. And yet I have no trouble logging on to all the other USA sites I'm registered on and staying on - including yours - just this one particular site that is continuing to give me grief.

If you have any advice/answers, may I ask that you keep it as simple as possible, as I am a total moron where computers are concerned, in fact, when a funny message appears on screen, I go completely brain-dead, that's how bad I am...

"INVALID SESSION. PLEASE RESUBMIT FORM?"

What does that mean?

Very frustrating!!!

Thanks in anticipation.

 

May be totally unrelated, but food for thought:

If you hadn't said you were in South Africa, my best guess would have been that you are an AOL user. The invalid session error means the forum software has also considered your IP address when authenticating your then-current login to it, and also each time you attempt to post. AOL, in an effort to "load balance" their traffic, changes your IP address multiple times during a login-- as often as from viewing one webpage to the next. It's a known issue with some online forum software that I would have expected most, if not all, to have addressed by now. Perhaps your ISP uses a similar "balancing" technique.

 

Thanks so far, Doug, but I am not on AOL. South Africa's telecoms system is being monopolised by TELKOM who dictates to everybody else and exploits their customers at every hook and turn. If you want to know just how bad our system is, go take a look at the website that has been attacking them left, right and centre and read about the woes we SAn's are experiencing: http://www.hellkom.co.za/

Forgot to add that the site I am difficulty accessing is one powered or run by (I hope that is the correct term) PhPbb - blue and orange colours. Perhaps that will give you some lead? Will be glad to receive more info on this issue.

 

phpBB forums are the most notorious for the invalid session error. It's something the forum owner will have to address, since you have no other choice of ISP.

 

Doug, a thousand thanks! You've just finally convinced me that it is NOT my machine, but the forum itself that keeps shutting me out! I'll forward your quote to one of the geeks there - providing I can get in - and just hope they will do something about it...

I'm so :mad that I just want to :cry !!!