In order to gain access to all functions of the Forums, you will need to register. Registration is free and allows you to do a range of things, including:

• Post new threads
• Reply to other peoples' threads
• Edit your posts
• Receive email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify
• Send private messages to other members
• Set up a 'buddy-list' to quickly see which of your friends are currently online

To register, you will need to specify a username and password, and a valid email address. Entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam', as you can choose to hide your email address, and email messages sent to you through the Forums do not reveal your address to the sender in any case.

• Click here to register now.

After registering, your account needs to be Activated by you, by following the instructions in the Activation email you are sent after registering. Activation allows us to ensure that you have entered a valid email address.

• Click here to Activate your account now.
• Click here to recover your Activation ID if you have lost it.

The use of cookies in the forums is optional, but may enhance your experience of the site. Cookies are used to enable functions such as showing whether or not a thread or forum you are viewing has new posts since your last visit, or to automatically log you back in when you return to the site after being away for a while.

When you register, you will be given the option to 'Automatically Log In'. This will store your username and password in a cookie, stored on your computer. If you are using a shared computer, such as in a library, school or Internet cafe, or if you have reason to not trust any other users that might use this computer, we do not recommend that you enable this option.

This board also gives you the option to use a cookie to track your current session, ensuring that you remain logged-on while browsing the site. If you choose not to store this information in a cookie, the session data will be sent through each link you click. Choosing not to use a cookie may cause problems if your computer's connection to the Internet uses a proxy server and you share links with other users behind the same proxy. If in doubt, we recommend that you select 'yes' to enable the cookie.

After you have registered, you may alter your cookie settings at any time by changing your Options in the Preferences menu.

To Log Out and clear the cookies, click here.

Consult your browser's documentation for details on completely deleting all cookie files.

It is your resposibility to keep the information in your profile up-to-date. You should especially ensure that your email address is kept current. You can alter any of the fields in your profile, except your user name. Once you have registered your user name, it becomes yours for life.

• Click here to edit your profile.

After you have registered, you may set your signature. This is a piece of text that you would like to be inserted at the end of all your posts, similar to having headed note paper.

If you have specified a signature, the forums will automatically append your signature to any messages you post. You can disable signatures on a per-post basis by deselecting the 'Show My Signature' checkbox when you compose your message.

You may turn the signature on and off on posts you have already made by editing the post and altering the state of the 'Show My Signature' option.

• Click here to edit your profile.

If you forget your password, you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link on any page that requires you to fill in your password.

This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address. Your password will then be reset to a random string of characters, and that new password will be immediately emailed to you.

(We can't email you your current password because your password is stored using a one-way encryption algorithm, for your security. All we can tell you is the encrypted version. So instead we generate you a new password and tell you what that is.)

User status titles are set by forum administrators.

The buddy list is used to keep track of the friends you have made in the forums. By going to your Preferences page, you'll be able to see which of your friends are currently online, and be able to send them a private message. Adding people to your buddy list also allows you to send private messages to multiple people at the same time. You may add any member of the forums to your buddy list by clicking the button in a member's posts.

Your Ignore list is used for those people whose messages you wish not to read. By adding someone to your Ignore list, messages posted by those individuals will be hidden when you read a thread.

• Edit my Buddy List.
• Edit my Ignore List.