Index | About h2g2 | Registering | Exploring | Preferences | Personal Space | Conversations | Guide Entries | Journal | Contributing | Moderation | Editorial Process | Review Forums | Technical | GuideML | Cool Things | Legal | Miscellaneous

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?
• What will h2g2 do with my personal details?
• How do I register?
• How do I log on to h2g2 after I've registered?
• I had an account with h2g2 through the BBC, but it won’t let me log in to it - what’s happening?
• What if I want to use my h2g2 account on a different computer?
• I've registered on this computer, but h2g2's not recognising me. Why?
• How do I change my password?
• I've lost my password. How can I retrieve it?
• It's given me a name of 'Researcher' plus a long number. That's a bit dull, isn't it?
• I'm changing my email address. How do I change my h2g2 account to reflect that?
• How do I delete my account?

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.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

What will h2g2 do with my personal details?

Your personal details on h2g2 are covered by the Not Panicking Ltd privacy statement. You can read this privacy statement here.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

How do I register?

If you aren't already signed in, 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.

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 'Sign Out' button, then click 'Go back to the page you were on' 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.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

How do I log on to h2g2 after I've registered an account?

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, however, you left the '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 Sign in page where you can simply enter the 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.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

I had an account with h2g2 through the BBC, but it won’t let me log in to it - what’s happening?

For about ten years, h2g2 was run by the BBC, and used the BBC’s site-wide login tools. In early October of 2011 Not Panicking Ltd took over the running of the site, and implemented a new login system. If you have a BBC-era account that you would like to use, you need to transfer it, using the form you’ll find here. You can also use that page to recover pre-BBC accounts.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

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 Sign in page, where you can enter your details to log in.

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 'Remember me on this computer' button, and close the browser window (or click on the 'Sign Out' button) when you have finished.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

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 Sign in 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.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

How do I change my password?

You can change your password by clicking on 'Settings' at the top of the page. From here you can click on 'Change your password'.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

I've lost my password. How can I retrieve it?

We do not have access to passwords, but if you get your password wrong click 'Forgot your password?' and you will be asked for your user name or email address. Enter this and click 'Continue'. You will then be sent an email with your username and instructions on how to create a new password.

I'm changing my email address. How do I change my h2g2 account to reflect that?

Sign in and click on 'Settings' at the top of the page. You can change your email address from here.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]

How do I delete my account?

To delete your account, sign in and click on 'Settings' at the top of the page. You can delete your account from by clicking on the link marked in red at the bottom of the page.

Please note we will not remove Edited Guide entries or any postings you might have made, unless they break the House Rules.

[Back to top of section]
[Back to the main h2g2 FAQ Index]