Help Your Browser Work With The Chat Room

 

It’s actually quite easy to enter and use the Long Ridge chat rooms.  However, a few people find that they have trouble, that no matter what they try, things just don’t work right.  Most of the time, it is because security options on your computer prevent the chat room software from working properly. If your security is set to a high level, you may click on the ichat plug in and end up using the Java version without realizing it.  If you read the ichat instructions and they don’t seem to apply to what you are seeing, take a look at the instructions for Java.  If you see text on the buttons (ask a question, etc.), you are using Java. 

 

 Before you even try to set up your new identity and visit the chat rooms, you should do two things.  You need to make sure that your computer accepts ‘cookies’.  These are information packets that a website downloads to your computer so that you can log on.  Some people refuse cookies for security reasons.  You also need to enable ActiveX.  This allows your computer to exchange information with the LR website.   Start by checking to make sure your computer can accept cookies. 

 

Accepting Cookies

 

Open your browser.  Click on Tools.  Now click on Internet Options.  You will see several ‘tabs’.  Click on the Privacy tab.  You will see a slider set to low, medium, or high.  If it is set at the highest level, your computer may not accept cookies at all.  Move the slider until it registers Medium.  That is sufficient security for most computers, but if you need increased security you can reset that slider after your chat session.  When you have changed your privacy slider, click OK until you return to your browser.

If your browser asks you if you are sure you want to change these settings, click Yes.

 

Now you need to make sure that your computer can accept Active X…this means that you allow your computer to exchange information with the website as you chat. 

 

Enabling Active X

 

Again, from your browser, click on Tools, the Internet Options, but this time click on the Security tab.  Here you will see a button  labeled Default Level and one labeled Custom Level.  Click on the Custom Level button. A window will open with a list of options, each followed by a choice of Disable, Enable, and Prompt.  Scroll down to find ActiveX Controls and Plug Ins.  Either click on Enable or Prompt for each of these boxes.  If you choose prompt, you will be interrupted with small dialog boxes as you enter the chat site, reminding you that Active X is involved and risky and asking for an OK to proceed.  When you see these boxes, simply click ‘ok’ or ‘yes’ to proceed. 

 

When you finish changing your Active X settings to Prompt or Enable, then click on OK, do NOT click on Reset.  You will be asked if you are SURE you want to change the security settings.  Click Yes.  Click OK until you return to your browser page and the security window vanishes. 

 

You have now made sure that your computer can accept cookies and you have enabled Active X.  Before you enter the chat site, do visit the basic instructions and read them over.  It takes only a minute or two and can save you more frustration.  Click here, to take a look: http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/rx/st01/ichat_chat_room.shtml