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Welcome to the 'Registration and Membership' section of the h2g2 FAQ. This is where you can find information about registering as an h2g2 Researcher, what advantages this gives you, and what promises we make about your privacy.
If you want to see a complete list of questions answered by the h2g2 FAQ, you can go to the h2g2 FAQ Index at any time.
Contents of this Section
Why should I register?
Joining h2g2 is completely free and lets you write your own Guide Entries, join in Conversations with other Researchers, keep your own personal Journal, and you get your own Personal Space from which you can keep track of all your activities on h2g2.
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What will h2g2 do with my personal details?
Your personal details on h2g2 are covered by the same privacy statement as the whole of the BBC's websites. You can read this privacy statement here.
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How do I register?
If you aren't already logged on, you'll find a 'Register' button on every page of h2g2. Click on this and you'll be taken to a page that asks you to set up the details for your account, and to accept our Terms and Conditions. There's nothing scary in the Terms and Conditions, but do read them thoroughly.
Next you'll be transferred to the Welcome Page, which explains what h2g2 is all about. This page is really worth reading.
If you're using a computer on which someone else is already registered and you want to register under a different account, then click on the 'Logout' button and the 'Register' button will re-appear. You can now register as normal, and you can set up different login details for each account so you can both use the same machine to access h2g2. You can find out how to do this here.
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How do I log on to h2g2 after I've registered?
Once you've registered, your browser should be set up with a cookie so that it always knows who you are: whenever you visit h2g2 you should get a little welcome message at the top of the screen showing your h2g2 Nickname.
If you're having problems getting your browser to remember who you are, then your browser might be refusing cookies - you can find out how to get round this here.
If, however, you left the 'Always remember me on this computer' button unticked when registering, then your browser will not remember your details between visits. In this case you can follow the link from the front page to the Login page where you can simply enter the BBC user name and password for your account, and can log in that way.
This is useful if you use someone else's computer or a computer at an Internet café, where you wouldn't like to leave your account details for someone else to use.
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What if I want to use my h2g2 account on a different computer?
If you want to use a different computer, you simply need to follow the link from the front page to the Login page, where you can enter your details to log on.
Note: if you don't want the browser to remember who you are between visits - if you're using someone else's computer or you're in an Internet café, for example - then make sure you don't tick the 'Always remember me on this computer' button, and close the browser window (or click on the 'Logout' button) when you have finished.
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I've registered on this computer, but h2g2's not recognising me. Why?
There are a number of possibilities here. If you have re-installed your operating system or your browser, or you are using a different browser to normal, then your cookie will no longer work. Don't worry; you can log in by following the link from the front page to get to the Login page.
If this doesn't work, then it is possible that your browser does not support cookies, in which case we strongly suggest you upgrade to a version that does as you will not be able to use h2g2. You might also like to check that you haven't turned support for cookies off - check your browser's preferences.
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How do I change my password?
You can change your password from your Personal Preferences (click on the 'Preferences' button to get there). You can find out more in the Preferences FAQ.
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I've lost my password. How can I retrieve it?
We do not have access to passwords, but if you get your password wrong you will be asked the 'Secret Question' that you gave us when you set up your account.
To get a new password allocated visit the New Password page and follow the instructions. If you are logged in, you can find a link to this page from your Preferences page.
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It's given me a name of 'Researcher' plus a long number. That's a bit dull, isn't it?
It sure is, so the chances are you'll want to change the name by which the h2g2 Community knows you (your 'h2g2 Nickname'). You can do this by clicking on the 'Preferences' button and typing your new name into the 'Nickname' section - hey presto, you'll have a new Nickname. Your Nickname is the name that will appear in your Personal Space and in any Conversation Postings you make, and it can be any name you like (though please don't create a rude Nickname, or we'll have to remove it). If you want to remain anonymous, that's fine by us too - just leave your Nickname as the default 'Researcher XXXXXX'.
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I'm changing my email address. How do I change my h2g2 account to reflect that?
Log in and click on 'Retrieve My Details'1 near the top of the page on your Personal Space. To change your email address hit the 'Make changes' tab. Your new email address will need to be verified.
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How do I cancel my account?
To cancel your account, please log in and click on 'Retrieve My Details' near the top of the page on your Personal Space. If you go to the bottom of the page, you'll find 'Remove services - cancel membership' - if you click on that button you will be taken through some simple steps that will enable you to cancel your membership.
Please note we will not remove Edited Guide entries or any postings you might have made, unless they break the House Rules.
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1 The 'Retrieve My Details' tab is visible in the following skins: Goo, Alabaster and Brunel. It is not visible in the Plain skin.
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