Troubleshooting
Forgotten User IDs and Passwords
Accessing e-data requires both a User ID and a password.
Forgotten User IDs: Extension staff members are able to look up the User IDs of volunteers and 4-H members in their respective counties. Contact your local county Extension office if you've forgotten your user id.
Forgotten Passwords: For security reasons county Extension staff members cannot look up a volunteer or member’s password, but may direct that user to the Friends of Penn State (FPS) Account Password Reset page to reset his/her password. Users must type in their User IDs to have their passwords reset. Volunteers and members who have forgotten their passwords should not attempt to create new FPS accounts. The only way to resolve the problem of a forgotten password is to follow the Reset Password instructions on the FPS site.
If the volunteer or member no longer uses the email address that they entered to set up their FPS account or they cannot remember the answer to their password reminder question, they may contact PSU ITS for assistance. The ITS helpline number is: 814-863-2494. ITS will verify the user’s identity and assist them with resetting their password.
The Friends of Penn State Account is not a part of the e-data system, but is provided by the University as a means for non-staff members to access a variety of Penn State resources, including e-data.
Your Computer Settings
- If you have difficulty scrolling down a page in e-data the problem may be related to your computer’s screen resolution settings. For optimum e-data viewing, screen resolution should be set to 1024 x 768 or higher.
- If your browser is set to block pop-ups, you may be unable to view all of the pages and reports on the e-data site.
- Those using Internet Explorer 8 or 9 are encouraged to use Compatibility Mode for the best e-data experience.
- The e-data site requires a current browser with Javascript and cookies enabled. Other browsers and browsers without Javascript and cookies enabled will see graphical errors or may be denied access completely. Due to the technology used in creating the site, Internet Explorer 6 and above will provide the most satisfying experience. Some of the reporting functions on the site require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Clearing your Browser's Cache and Deleting Cookies
Before assuming the e-data site isn't working correctly, you may want to consider clearing your web browser's cache and deleting cookies. Many e-data problem reports aren't e-data problems, but are related to the web browser's cache and cookies. The College of Agriculture’s IT department provides instructions for clearing your web browser’s cache.
Directions for deleting cookies vary based on the web browser version you are using. Below are basic directions for deleting cookies in Internet Explorer version 8.0:
- Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.
- On the General tab, under Browsing history, click Delete.
- Select the check box next to Cookies. If you only want to delete cookies, clear any other check boxes.
- Click Delete, and then click OK.
