I'm Confused by My Password or User ID

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:52 am

I recently had some problems accessing certain sites. I ultimately resolved the problem by making some changes that I thought were purely local to my computer.

To make a long story short, I quite using my computer as the Administrator and created a User account on my computer. Since then whenever I log in online I do so as the User (not the Administrator). Until yesterday and then again just now.

I went to ebay yesterday and could access My Ebay. I was denied access because my password or username was incorrect. But it was not. At least from my point of view.

I don't know why but I changed to the Administrator and was able to log in to My Ebay. The same thing happened again today. I can access ebay from here but only if I have logged onto this computer as Administrator.

It appears that Ebay is checking on which computer (or user) is attempting access. Yes, it is a password protected account but I have the password.

Billdit · Post by **Billdit** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:05 am

Sign on as OWNER... show that hunk o plastic and stuff who's boss... Then ask someone to give ya a new one for Christmas... new ones work ok for a month or two...

dgale · Post by **dgale** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:54 am

I can't see why you shouldn't be able to log into your E-Bay account from anywhere or any status as long as you know the correct user name and password. Is your computer have the login info auto-saved? I could see where it might have incorrect info auto-saved for one account but not the other? Anyway, I'm 99% this is not an issue with E-Bay but some setting on your computer that is limiting permissions or access to users that are not limited to the administrator.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:13 am

I have a group of sites that I visit regularly on which I use the same user ID and password; ebay being in that group. Ebay is the only site that has caused me any grief when I try to access from the user account.

The wood working sites that I visit are all accessible from either the user or the administrator accounts using the same user ID and password.

I do agree that this all has something to do with set ups over which I have (or are suppose to have) control.

I am just thankful that neither IT nor CS is the basis of my livelihood.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:18 am

dusty wrote:To make a long story short, I quite using my computer as the Administrator and created a User account on my computer. Since then whenever I log in online I do so as the User (not the Administrator). Until yesterday and then again just now.

This part has me wondering... are you trying to log on to web sites using the same username and password you use to log in to the computer?

If so... it doesn't work that way. Your computer user account and your user account at various web sites are all completely separate from one another.

What is probably happening is that, on your Administrator computer account, you have cookies from those sites that are letting them know who you are. When you use your User computer account, those sites don't know who you are until you log in to them (using the user account at the web site, not the one on the computer). Then you'll get the cookie and they'll know who you are upon return visits.

You can verify this with your Administrator computer account. In your web browser, clear your cookies and cache and go back to those sites. You'll have to log in to them again as if you were visiting them for the first time. Just be sure you know those passwords!

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:24 am

[quote="dusty"]I have a group of sites that I visit regularly on which I use the same user ID and password]

In that case then, maybe you "fat fingered" your password at some point? Maybe when you set or changed it at eBay or when you tried to log on from the User account?

I don't think eBay is denying you access for any reason other than you're not providing them the right password. The right password is "saved" on your Administrator account so you have access.

From your Administrator account, go to eBay, sign out, then try to sign back in and see if you have any trouble. But be warned, if it still won't take your username/password, you'll have to go through the password recovery/reset steps with eBay. That shouldn't be too much of a hassle, though.

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 12:34 pm

A while back I solved MY log in/password problems by downloading "Roboform" - a password manager and web form filler. It not only saves your login information for sites you visit but also generates complex passwords which are difficult to hack. I recommend it highly. You might want to check it out. I find it more useful lately because many web sites (esp. banks and other financial institutions) now require changes in passwords on a fairly frequent basis.

This software works on IE, Firefox, Chrome, Safari, AND cell phones.
It also synchronizes all your devices from a master file stored on the Roboform server in encrypted form.

I have NO association with Roboform other than as a happy user of the software.

I apologize for hijacking this thread. My intent was merely to provide information which some members may find helpful.

dickg1 · Post by **dickg1** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:21 am

I have forgotten my password on some sites so many times that I changed it to "incorrect". Now when I log in and enter the wrong password the site comes back and tells me that my password is "incorrect".

:D:D
Dick

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:46 am

I think it's just "fat fingering" or such Dusty. There is nothing about your user account on the PC that will affect your logging into ebay.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:21 am

On another site I learned a good Password trick.

Pick a something you can remember perhaps your zipcode, pet name, nickname, city, state, and then append the first three letters of the site name you are using it on.

Example Shopsmith password using a zipcode would be 22343sho. Same idea for wood magazine site 22343woo

If you use the same logic for every password you will be able to remember it.

Sure if you are 007 you might something a bit more secure but I believe they mentioned in the article that if you used 8 or more letter number combinations it probably won't get broken by someone wanting to mess up your Shopsmith signon.