MediaWiki Frustrations

Ok, am having problems with Media Wiki. Firstly when I open the link to the sandbox from CCL wiki it brings up a main page that says 'There is currently no text in this page'. I thought maybe it was because I wasn't logged in (although the CCL wiki did say you should be able to browse the page without being logged in). So I created an account and clicked the link in the email I received to confirm my email address. But it will not let me login using the account I have just created, it comes up with a message saying 'There is no user by the name 'Gill', but that is the account I have just had confirmed! Bit frustrated now, wondering if the settings on my IE browser at home are causing the problem? Will just move on to the next task and try the Media Wiki site on work computer and see if it works there, or if anyone has any ideas please comment!