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How do I duplicate USER DELETED problem?

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72 replies

by java guru

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There is a problem where posts can sometimes lose the poster's identity. I am trying to track this down, but I have not been able to duplicate the problem.

The user alias is sometimes "lost" when a user first joints TR/etc. This does not count. If the user alias is updated (I think it takes 5 minutes now), then it does not count.

TONS of points to the first person who can tell me how to RELIABLY DUPLICATE it.

72 replies

by joseph moore

The only way I have been able to post answers as "User Deleted" is to click the Answer button, and take a long time in composing my answer.
It seems if you take longer than 30 minutes (from what I have experienced) before you click the Submit My Answer button, then when the answer is submitted and you can see the question again, you are listed as "User Deleted"

My guess to this is a timeout on the TR web server. I remember that IIS has a timeout feature for connections. Maybe that is the problem here for TR site.

hope this helps

by joseph moore

I have clicked the Answer button in the past, then researched an answer, then gone back to the answer page, filled in the answer, then clicked Submit.
And on those times when I do take a long time (longer than 5 minutes, I am sure of) it comes up User Deleted. I think we all have seen that work that way.

by java guru

I think this hole has been closed already. I was tinkering with the expired session problem all day today and could not make it happen. Everytime I tried to post, it sent me back.

Can you make it happen still?

by maxwell edison

I suspect one of two ways - or possibly both.

The first way this used to happen is when someone was logged in for a long time without any activity. It seemed to log the user out after about 5 minutes. This was frustrating at times when a long answer was required. However, this problem seems to have gone away.

A second way this seems to have happened is with a new user. If a new account was created, and that account immediately posted a question, Used Deleted appeared instead of the member’s true alias. Whether or not it eventually reverted to the correct alias, I don't know.

So those are the two things I've heard and/or observed.

Good to see you still paying attention to us, Java Guru. Thanks again for bring back the "missing link".

Maxwell

by maxwell edison

I would suspect that a new user who is not yet recognized by the TechRepublic database is the primary culprit.

Maxwell

by java guru

Has this happened to you recently?

The first was an expired session problem related to the original design of the forums. I think all of the checks are working. If you know a path where you can sneak through, let me know.

The second is a DB problem. The user alias is replicated to the forums DB. This is not always real-time, but it does not result in a loss of data if it is late. The "User Deleted" in this case is temporary.

You welcome. ; )

by maxwell edison

Maybe a clue:

User Deleted related to proxy error 400:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumdiscuss/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=39875&src=search

400-series errors indicate a client error

----------

Interesting “verification” of the new user creating the User Deleted instead of the real alias. (It appears that someone was taking advantage of the quirk to simply gain points.)

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=88360&src=bc

----------

More User Deleted Q&A discussions:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=75925&src=bc

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=59978&src=bc

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=75899&src=bc

Look at answers 7 and 8 on this question. One from User Deleted and the next from the Real McCoy

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=91843&src=bc

Another where real alias laterturned into User Deleted:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=58304&src=bc

---------

Interesting Statistics on User Deleted:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/user_stats.jhtml?alias=User+Deleted&uid=

But different than this User Deleted statistics:

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/user_stats.jhtml?alias=User+Deleted&uid=22007545

----------

REMOVE those SPACES from the pasted URLs

Maxwell

by java guru

FYI - it happened 14 times yesterday. We are leaning towards an "expired session" problem, but we cannot pinpoint it.

To get the points, you have to tell me HOW to duplicate it reliably.

Enjoy.

by ctrl-alt-delete

Approximately 5 hours after I created that "User Deleted Test" alias (a new membership) It still appears as simply "User Deleted". However, and this is interesting, the first comment I posted only minutes after I posted the answer does indeed show"User Deleted Test" even though the answer appears as just "User Deleted".

The question now is how long will it take for the answer to show correctly.

5 hours and counting......

Maxwell (a.k.a. User Deleted Test)

by java guru

You are onto something, but I am not sure what. Notice that when you put your cursor over the user alias ("User Deleted"), that it has a uid #. That is the user id. This particular message knows who posted it. This is a problem with the alias not updating. Weird, but not as critical a problem.

The problem I am trying to solve is where you see "uid=" when you have your mouse over the alias link. This indicates that the message in the database does not know who submitted it.

FYI - there were 8 of these yesterday.

Geesh, this is elusive.

by maxwell edison

I also suspect - in addition to that new member issue - that there is someone who really has an alias of User Deleted. I further suspect that he/she is haing "fun" with it from time to time.

By the way, that User Deleted Test in answer number three was me.

Maxwell

by maxwell edison

If I try to change my screen alias to User Deleted, I get the message:

The alias that you specified is already in use.

by java guru

True, there is someone with the alias of User Deleted. I am tempted to change their alias manaually. lol.

by thechas

Hi Java Guru.

The one time that I noticed getting a user deleted when I posted to a question, I received a file not found error after hitting the Submit My Answer button.

When I hit back to get back to the answer question page, and then hit Submit again, I was identified as User deleted.

While I think that I have been identified as user deleted other times, that was the only time I noticed it, and paid attention to what had happened.

I was on an AMD K7 750, running Windows 98, and using a Intel/Ambient PCI modem.
The browser I was running was one of the RC (I think 2) for Mozilla.

HTH

Chas

by pschuvie

Well I can't tell you about the original questioner USER DELETE, noticing several others after this question posted, but I can tell you about one that is really annoying me.

see: https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=95608

I wrote the long answer, and got the warning box, click to acknowledge, go to text, cut text to clipboard for followup comment, click submit and I'm not there no user name no comment button. Funny thing was it showed that 10K bug icon where my name should have been. Refreshing, etc did not bring it back,(did not wait 5 minutes as I don't have that attention span) went ahead and posted balance as new answer.

I recall even rechecking to see if I was logged in etc. It was really weird and I filed a complaint, have filed 2 of them, but only got that most annoying "answer in order received you are 20000 now serving 2 auto responder cr*p.

Another thing I just noticed in trying to find the referenced link, IS there somethingwrong, not working with the notifier. I am not getting notifications to the extent I should be, there has been much activity on some posting this last week and I only have about 3 notifys. ANY insight.

It is good to see you again.

Hope this helps
Hmmm would lots be maybe more than 15k? I need many more to get ahead of maxwell ;)

by pschuvie

By the way is this bounty posted by UserDeleted Stoppers the widely unknown anonymous bug tip line?

by bohicam1

I have found that if you take too long to answer a question, your response will be from "user deleted". There could be a time out issue here from when a user first starts an answer to when he actually submits. Perhaps it works the same when posting a question.
Good luck!

Mike

by alpha-male

Actually, I *don't* think the timeout hole is fixed. I just had it happen to me when I had to walk away from my desk to solve an problem...and returned about 20 minutes later. I finished my answer, submitted it and it listed me as User Deleted.

by shanghai sam

Is it possible that the problem is somehow generated on the client side, that is the users logged in?

Perhaps if you assembled a list of users to whom this has happened, and you compare all their “vital information”, you might come upwith a common denominator. You could then address that issue from your end. For example, maybe it will only happen to members using Internet Explorer 4.0, or a certain version of Netscape, or through a common ISP, etc.

That may be a stretch, but I haven’t experienced the problem, at least in a long time, and so far (on this thread) the following members have shown that they are still being “timed out”:

pschuvie@telocity.com

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=95608

Florinel

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=95915

Alpha-Male

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=96449

And in reference to answer number three,I’m not sure what it is I’m supposed to see when I put my curser on top of the alias name. I don’t see either a “uid #” or “uid=", all I see is the arrow turn into a hand. What am I missing?

(And you must admit, I did duplicate the User Deleted as you asked – but that’s ok, I don’t need the points.)

Maxwell

P.S. I pressed the “Answer” button at 14:17 MST, and I pasted my answer and pressed the “Submit” at 14:42 MST (25 minutes of inactivity)

by maxwell edison

Answer number 10 was timed-out at or before 25 minutes, and the User Deleted alias does not reflect that it was me.

Java Guru, it does indeed look like it's still a timed-out issue.

And yes, I think you should change that "legitimate" User Deleted alias. Be creative with what you assign it!

Maxwell

by maxwell edison

Comment from Java Guru on 6/19/02:
FYI - it happened 14 times yesterday. We are leaning towards an "expired session" problem, but we cannot pinpoint it.

To get the points, you have to tell me HOW to duplicate it reliably.

----------

To duplicate it "reliably", log into the forum, have 25 minutes of inactivity in the "Answer a Question" screen, then post the answer.

Maxwell

by maxwell edison

Java Guru,

I'm glad that I waited 25 minutes and not 15 or 20.

As far as "leaving DKlippert in the dust", any additional space between us would be temporary. He'll catch up, probably fairly soon, because he's answering more questions while I'manswering fewer. And he seems to have an impressive - and very accessible - list of sources, so he can provide some quick and accurate answers.

I haven't been playing much golf lately, and I plan to change that. So instead of chasing those sometimes elusive answers here, I'll focus instead on chasing a little white ball, at least for a while.

Fore.....

Maxwell

by java guru

Thanks so much for your help. Maybe this will keep DKlippert off your heals for a minute.

by penguinsrule

I'm fairly certain that someone has an alias of USER DELETED - I remember this from some time ago..

Rick

by jordana

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by jordana

So, I clicked on Answer, typed in my response, waited 25 minutes and then posted it. I posted as a blank user with 10K points.

Jordan

by alpha-male

I don't really give a flip about the tech points...I was just trying to help.

Excuse me for the effort.

by alpha-male

Giving it a little more thought, I figured I'd like to add this:

We had heard the problem came at 25-30 minutes several times. I was methodically testing to see *exactly* where the error occurred and where it could be consistantly repeated. I'm sorry that wasn't of any value to you. In fact I had a few other ideas I was going to freely devote my spare time to test, but your comments coupled with seeing so many answers rejected depite giving useful information (sometimes the exact answer the user employed) and other times just being rejected without any explanation or answer to questions or requests for more details has managed to pretty much annoy me. The "precious" tech points don't mean a thing. I was here because I enjoyed being ableto lend a hand. It's what I do for a living and in my spare time. Its enjoyable to me because of the satisfaction I get from knowing I helped. I am starting to see now that the efforts aren't really that appreciated...by many users and even by thoseat TR. So....tell you what. You can have my tech points back and you're free to delete my account.

by java guru

Don't get so upset. We appreciate your effort, but you were spending your time proving an idea that had already been proven.

Do you have a sense of humor? I do. Or at least, I think I do. Perhaps you do not appreciate "my" humor.

Sorry.
Maybe part of it is that I do not know how the forums work. I was saving the "Acceptable" for the idea that was the bullseye. Is that a misuse? I don't know. I am just now looking into how the TechQA/Discussions work. I know nothing about theuser behavior. Consider me a n00b. ; )

by a. square

This is just a test.
I've updated my Profile for TechRepublic.
Hit the Back button a couple of times to get back to the question.
Click to view open questions... & this one's on top.

Thinking that a change in profile assigns a new UID...

by java guru

*************************
No more answers, please
*************************

We have been able to duplicate the problem and can now start working on it. It was in an area that was supposed to be fixed, therefore we have a problem.

I dismissed several answers related to the timeout because it was supposed to have been fixed. Due to that, I have a list of 7 people I want to give points to. Two of them will probably get more points because they were able to duplicate the problem in thispost. I am checking with "management" to see what I can do about the points. Hopefully I can work it out in the next 24hrs.

My apologies to anyone if you were overlooked or do not get the credit you deserve.

by java guru

OK. Here is the scoop:

There are 6 people who gave the correct answer. Two of them were actually able to duplicate the problem. These two HAVE BEEN GIVEN a double bonus because they were able to prove it to a hard headed person (me). Here is what I did below. I GAVE everyone who gave a correct answer 15,000 TechPoints. The two that were able to beat me down will get double (30,000) because they had to drill through steel reinforced granite.

I hope this makes everyone happy and I have not forgotten anyone.

< ALIAS >
maxwell edison (15K TechPoints + 15 K TechPoints from question)
JordanA (30K TechPoints)

bohicam1@yahoo.com (15K TechPoints)
Alpha-Male (15K TechPoints)
pschuvie@telocity.com (15K TechPoints)
Joseph Moore (15K TechPoints)

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