Computer illiterate.

[Cathy]

Hi All,
can anyone help?
In the simplest terms possible, how do I enable cookies?
This thing has been giving me probs for the last few weeks.
I can't open some attachments (one from SP).
And trying to apply for new job online it won't let me past first page due to cookie thing.
Hubby has de-fragged, but it doesn't help.
It also seems slower than usual.

[Bob C]

how do I enable cookies?

For Firefox 1.5

Tools>Options, click on the padlock and then the cookies tab.
Check the "Allow cookies" box.

I also check the "For originating site only" box because I do not want third party sites to be able to set cokkies.

For Internet Explorer follow the instructions found in the "Help" screens for IE. I found them by opening Help and searching on "cookie".

Hope this helps.

Bob C

[Cathy]

Hi Bob,
thanks for reply.
Hubby thought he'd fixed it, but its still wrong.
Will have to wait until daughter finishes her term at uni.

[emanday]

Hi Cathy,

To allow cookies you need to change your Privacy Settings. This is the text from the Internet Explorer help file (The coloured comments are mine )...

Change your privacy settings
Cookies are files that are stored on your computer by some websites. They're usually used to keep track of information about you (for example, your user name, password, or the contents of your shopping cart). Internet Explorer privacy settings let you specify which cookies you want to allow to be stored on your computer.

To change your privacy settings

In Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
Click the Privacy tab, and then move the slider to the level of privacy you prefer.


Block All Cookies - Don't know anyone who uses this setting or the High setting.
Cookies from all websites will be blocked.
Cookies that are already on your computer cannot be read by websites.

High - I've never used this either
Cookies from all websites that do not have a compact policy (a condensed, computer-readable privacy statement) will be blocked.
Cookies from all websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your explicit consent will be blocked.

Medium High - This is a possible choice, but I find it too restrictive
Cookies from third-party websites that do not have a compact policy (a condensed, computer-readable privacy statement) will be blocked.
Cookies from third-party websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your explicit consent will be blocked.
Cookies from first-party websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your implicit consent will be blocked.

Medium - This is the setting I use
Cookies from third-party websites that do not have a compact policy (a condensed, computer-readable privacy statement) will be blocked.
Cookies from third-party websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your implicit consent will be blocked.
Cookies from first-party websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your implicit consent will be deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer.

Low - NOT recommended Cookies from third-party websites that do not have a compact policy (a condensed, computer-readable privacy statement) will be blocked.
Cookies from third-party websites that use information that can be used to contact you without your implicit consent will be deleted from your computer when you close Internet Explorer.

Accept All Cookies - Definitely NOT recommended All websites will be allowed to save cookies on your computer.
Cookies that are already on your computer can be read by the websites that created them.

[Russell]

Hi Cathy

Before you alter your settings could I suggest that you clear all cookies off your machine. That may speed up your PC's sluggish responses. Also means you can start afresh with the new settings saving only the 'safe' cookies.
Right click the Internet Explorer icon and select Internet properties. Go to browser history and left click 'delete'. This brings up the option to delete all cookies.
While you are at it you could also wipe all your browser temp.files which will speed up the whole Internet experience hopefully.

Russell

[emanday]

Thanks Russell. I forgot to mention that

[Russell]

I Knew that Mary

When you start a reply with several points to be made sometimes you by-pass the more mundane ones.

At the end of your reply a quick scan tells you that what you have said is OK but there is nothing to remind you about the other point(s) you wanted to make.

I find that I make a quick list of the various things I want to say before I start to reply then tick them off as I go............
I still miss things on some replies though

Russell

[emanday]

Russell,

I do usually compose my posts in Notepad first, but completely forgot about the existing cookies.

What probably didn't help my memory on that point is that I habitually clear out my own cookies and browser temp files every couple of days, a habit retained from the dial-up days of sloooooowww internet .

[Russell]

Hi Mary

That dates you a bit.
My time was pre-internet. Back to punch card programming and half inch tape on huge reels just to store some data

Could I request (pretty please!) that you write up some basic advice on computer housekeeping. The kind of stuff that keeps pathways short and uncluttered so that access times are reduced and undesirable cookies and attachments are being cleared out regularly (some of the tasks we do routinely but others might be a bit afraid to do)

If it was a PC based description one of our Mac users would be able append the routines for their system.
Anyone using Linux probably knows enough about it anyway.
It would probably save a bit of

Russell

[emanday]

I'll get right on that, Russell.

These are all things that I've been doing for years, adding new "duties" as software changes and the hackers get smarter (by that I mean tech knowledge - we already know they have no intelligence ).

Most of it I do automatically so I'll have to sit and think about my routine before putting it up.

Bear with me