Techsurvivors

Archives => 2006 => Topic started by: Gregg on September 07, 2006, 08:54:31 PM

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Gregg on September 07, 2006, 08:54:31 PM

One of my webmail sites upgraded, relegating OS9 users to a "classic" webmail page. I got there, but it refused my user name and password. Then I couldn't get back to the page to re-enter them.

I reinstalled Cookie Cutter 1.0 but could not make it work. (written for Netscape). I fired up Mozilla and found the "manage cookies" option in Preferences. I deleted every cookie I could find that looked like it related to this web page. Got the login page back, but it refused the password again.

Can't think of anything else to try. The login works fine with Exploder on Windoze.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Gregg on September 08, 2006, 12:12:54 PM

Does this sound like a cookie thing?

Should I just eat 'em all and start over?

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 08, 2006, 02:32:41 PM

Could be cookies, but it sounds more like 'browser sniffing'. If you have a browser that can identify itself as something other than an OS 9 app, you might be able to log in. Cookies might also hold that info, of course. Hard to understand why some sites work like this, cutting off their nose...all that should matter is that the browser and the site are standards compliant. Period. And since it still works on FF on the Windows machine, I don't think it's an "ActiveX" problem. You might try an OS 9 version of the latest browser you can find.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: D76 on September 08, 2006, 09:35:34 PM

QUOTE(airbusdriver @ Sep 8 2006, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Could be cookies, but it sounds more like 'browser sniffing'. . . . You might try an OS 9 version of the latest browser you can find.

iCab in its preferences, under Networking, offers a buncha browser spoofs, including IE and Firefox. It's allegedly up to date  on web standards.
 
  I've got iCab 3.03 for OS 9, and when I spoofed a couple of browsers at  security-test sites, the web sites reported it as being the spoofed  browsers.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Gregg on September 09, 2006, 10:50:50 AM

I also have iCab 3.03 so I tried the spoof thing. (new to me) It let me onto the login page, but returned the same error as Mozilla did. This was using the FF Mac spoof. So, I tried Explorer Windows and could not get to the login page. Seems it's "one and you're done" with that site.

Now, to truly spoof, should I have quit iCab after changing the preferences? I didn't do that.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: D76 on September 09, 2006, 10:57:27 AM

QUOTE(Gregg @ Sep 9 2006, 11:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

. . .should I have quit iCab after changing the preferences?

I dunno for sure, but maybe, because it might have to load with that change in one of the files, the equivalent of Mozilla's .js file, or something.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: D76 on September 09, 2006, 01:31:36 PM

Gregg, Mozilla's XUL Fast Load file in the profile folder's slush pile had a bug. It's a text file that copies all Mozilla's connections and pathways to supposedly speed loading. (It doesn't, by the way.)

The file would corrupt easily, and stuff wouldn't work properly. The cure was to trash it because it'll rewrite itself the next time Mozilla starts. Old posts on the net about it are still there. I did a search for

"OS 9" "Mozilla 1.2" fast AND load OR fastload

and used 1.2 in the search because WaMCom's 1.3 wasn't around when this bug was rampant.

Try trashing the file. It might even bring your pictures back, if they're still missing.

My Mozilla shutdown AppleScript that trashes a pile of stuff includes that file, so it's never there the next time Mozilla starts.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Xairbusdriver on September 09, 2006, 04:26:19 PM

QUOTE

I tried Explorer Windows and could not get to the login page.

Well, who do they want to let in? I've never seen a 'log in' page that didn't give you at least three chances. Maybe you should just complain about that stoopid 'security' lock.

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Gregg on September 09, 2006, 10:32:35 PM

That's about all I can do.

They did send a couple of e-mails, which I read at work. I tried to reply to report my problem, but the address does not accept replies. The onlinc help is the usual list of FAQs - none of which ever address the question I have. I couldn't find any way to send a question, call for a fee, anything...

Title: Cookie Monster
Post by: Gregg on September 10, 2006, 09:10:12 PM

I was shocked to see the login page this evening when I tried again, just on a whim. It still would not accept my password. It was back into the can't load the page loop again.

So, I deleted the XUL file after quitting Mozilla, and went back in. Yep, got the login page again, but it wouldn't accept the password. Yes, I'm sure I'm using the same password that works on Windows Internet Explorer at the office.

I'm convinced there is nothing I can do to fix this problem. I also don't know of any way to let them know they have a problem. Oh, I guess I could call them and pay $25 or something.