Just a couple suggestions...

[Skunksmash]

I just thought it might help the admin's out if someone totally new let them know how my experience was, first impression wise. Well, first of all thank  yall moved from EZboard, i tried probly 4 or 5 different times over the course of 3 or 4 years to register there so i could participate in the forums. Never was successful. I even sent yall a couple emails trying to get help, but i got no response. I am not quite an average computer user, i work on computers and build computers as a hobby. That being said, i even had trouble registering this time. It seems the password that i set (and had to confirm) was not the right one when i went to log in for the first time. The very first thing I had to do was reset my password. Off to a bad start.

Just a small complaint, but having the advertisement for the site as the second post in all threads... not very cool. We know where we are, we know we are on your website. We do not need to be reminded constantly. Not only that, it is at the top of every page anyway. It is confusing to see that all the time, if only for an instant before i realize that is not a reply to my thread. It looks like a member has posted something. I am talking about what is right below this very post. Don't take my suggestions the wrong way, i am just trying to help.

There is one thing i would like to ask as well. With the Vbullitin message board program, i can just do a search for my username under "Advanced Search" and pull up all my threads, and all the threads in which i have posted. This is an easy way to check all the stuff i am interested in. How can i do that here?

[Captkaos]

The advertisements in the second post are staying.  YOU many know you are on our site, but many people on the forum dont and they post this company has this and that company has that, when they are on a site that sells parts.
As for having trouble registering, I have been the owner of the site since 2003, and all requests for both boards have been handled by me personally as I am the sole owner/operator of the company, and I don't know of any that have not been solved and I have responded to all of them that I received.  I keep all my emails so I can look that up.
If you entered a password on registration it gets stored in the database just as you have typed it and then you have to confirm it with your email link, this keeps bots autogenerated accounts, and spammers out, this is going to stay.  I look at EVERY username that joins on the site.

If your read down below you will see the advertisement discussion and all other discussions of other users.

If you want to see what posts you have click on your username in this post (or go to you profile) and under Info select show posts.

[VileZambonie]

Registering for both boards is pretty straight forward and easy. Perhaps you need to check your spam filter in your email settings. Your verification email may have gone in there hence why you wouldn't be able to activate your account.

[Skunksmash]

The first thing i did a couple different times in an attempt to register was clear my spam filter/folder. Maybe i have just been unlucky. I am a member on... i dont know maybe 15 different forums that i visit regularly. This has happened to me before with vbulletin, but usually it works pretty well.

[Blazin]

I have been a member here for six or so years. I have never had any problem even back when I first signed up on the old board. When we switched to the new board passwords went quite smoothly.
The posts advertising this board don't bother me any. When they first got put on I wondered what they were all about, but when I asked Chris cleared it right up no problem. I think he does a great job running this site alone except a few of us helping out with moderating.

[JRConnieK10]

I agree w/ Blazin I'm fairly new here and got signed on and regestered with no problem and I am pretty computer stupid. The advertising plugs are a great reminder of where we are and Chris keep up the great work and that goes for all those who help moderate and keep it very family and user friendly.

[smitty77]

It must be something on your end Skunksmash.  I am also a member of 8 or so forums, and this one was as easy to register on as the others.  IIRC, the activation e-mail was sent automatically to my Hotmail account in about a minute, whereas I've had to wait days for an admin on another board to activate my account.

As for the advert, I don't even notice them anymore.

As far as the vBulletin issue goes, I could take it or leave it as it also has its quirks.  There's pros and cons to any software, though SMF and VBulletin seem to be better than phpBB.

Welcome to the community!
Smitty