Can't login

[APDamien]

I saw a bunch of messages regarding logins to my admin account, so I created a new admin account and logged off the old one. Then I found that I couldn't log into the new account OR the old one. I got the error message:
Your session timed out while posting. Please go back and try again.

Then I tried logging into my non-admin account from a different browser. And got the same message.

I suspect that the drop off in posts is due to this - that nobody can log in, and the only people who can post are those who never logged out.

How do I fix this problem?

[Kindred]

Clear your cookies.  That should help you

If not,  Use repair_settings.php to change the smf cookie name

Check your settings
Are you using www? Is that what your system is set to use?
Database driven sessions?
Local cookie or subdomain independent cookies?

[APDamien]

Clear your cookies.  That should help you

If not,  Use repair_settings.php to change the smf cookie name

Check your settings
Are you using www? Is that what your system is set to use?
Database driven sessions?
Local cookie or subdomain independent cookies?

I was going to clear my cookies,then realized that if I do that and it doesn't work, I won't be logged in at all. I might have to reinstall SMF and lose everything currently on the site.

The rest of your suggestions I have no idea what it means or how I would find out. I have the database login so I guess I could fix the DB if that's the problem, but I want to retain at least ONE open connection to the site.

[Kindred]

There is no reason for you to have to reinstall the site.

What is your forum URL?
What version of SMF are you using?

[APDamien]

Somebody on another site reported that they were able to log in after clearing their cookies, so I think I will try that tomorrow (PDT).

[APDamien]

There is no reason for you to have to reinstall the site.

What is your forum URL?
What version of SMF are you using?

https://apdamien.info/dolcettish/index.php [nofollow]
SMF 2.1.4

[APDamien]

I did clear my cookies, but I still can't login.

My non-admin account (in a different browser) still works okay, but I can't do any admin things. That's because I never logged out from the non-admin account.

But I noticed that there were a lot of failed logins to the admin account. Looked like somebody was trying to break into the site and do something nasty to it. So I created a second admin account, logged out from the existing admin account, and tried to login as the second admin. And got the message referred to above.

Then I tried to log back in with the original admin account, with the same results.

Luckily, I have one other person who's an admin and she isn't having any problems, so I'm asking her to take care of the few admin things that are needed - mostly granting people access to a section that isn't interesting to the majority of my users.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Ask your other admin to change the cookie name in Admin > Server Settings > Cookies and Sessions.  That will log everyone out, and they'll get a clean cookie when they log back in.

[Illori]

Ask your other admin to change the cookie name in Admin > Server Settings > Cookies and Sessions.  That will log everyone out, and they'll get a clean cookie when they log back in.

you dont need the other admin to do that, you can do it in repair_settings.php or in the Settings.php file directly.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Yes, I can, and you can, but OP's forum is already screwed up, and doing it in ACP is safest way.

[APDamien]

Yes, I can, and you can, but OP's forum is already screwed up, and doing it in ACP is safest way.

I downloaded Settings.php with Filezilla, changed the cookie name, and uploaded it again. Lo and behold, the problem is fixed.

I don't know what caused it in the first place, but at least I know what to do if it happens again. (Which I hope it will not.)

Being somewhat nervous, I first initiated a full backup of the site and downloaded it to my desktop. I guess that was unnecessary, but I and my users have put a lot into this site and I don't want to have to start from scratch again.

[Aleksi "Lex" Kilpinen]

A good backup is always a good idea, so even if you didn't need it you should keep that habit

[Kindred]

Yes, I can, and you can, but OP's forum is already screwed up, and doing it in ACP is safest way.

Say what? You do know that repair_settings.php chnages the EXACT same things that the SMF ACP does?

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Yes, I know, but OP was already familiar with ACP, and may not have used repair_settings, so it would have required more explanation.  Simplest way is best way.

[Illori]

you dont know the ops skills so you really cannot say one way or another is best for them. having options is always good.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

you dont know the ops skills so you really cannot say one way or another is best for them.

That's really my point.  Simplest solution is to recommend something OP is familiar with.  But problem is solved, so it ended well.