Tools to Verify Integrity of CSC Folder?

[MR-KEN]

Are there any tools available to verify the CSC (Client Side Caching)
directory? I have a user that swears that files aren't showing up properly
when working Offline (his My Documents is set for Offline File Caching). He
has XP SP2. I know that you can rebuilt the database, but I wanted to know
if there was a way to verify that data.

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hello MR-KEN,

Thank you for posting.

From your post, my understanding of this issue is: You would like to know
if there is a tool available to verify the Client-Side Caching database
(directory), because your user can not use offline files normally. If this
is not correct, please feel free to let me know.

Based on my research, there is a tool called "Client-Side Caching
Command-Line Options (CSCCMD) command-line tool (Csccmd.exe)", but only
version 1.1 which isn't available for public yet can verify CSC database.

To obtain "CSCCMD tool Version 1.1" and more information about how to use
this tool, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;884739

I also duplicate related information as follow for your convenience:

(1). You can use the CSCCMD tool to manage offline files in Microsoft
Windows 2000, in Microsoft Windows XP, and in Microsoft Windows Server
2003. The latest version of the CSCCMD tool is 1.1. Version 1.1 includes
new functions and features that were not available in the earlier versions.

Note: Users who use the CSCCMD tool must have good knowledge of client-side
caching functionality.

(2). To obtain the CSCCMD tool, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.
For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers
and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web
site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

(3). The CSCCMD tool uses the following command-line switches to examine
CSC database:

csccmd.exe /CHECKDB [/QUICK]

Enumerates through the cache and displays any database error flags. If the
database error flags value is 0, no error has been detected. If the
database error flags value is not 0, an error has been detected and the
value represents the internal error state. The /QUICK option skips the
enumeration and just displays the database error flags.


Hope this helps. If an error is detected, you could re-initialize
(rebuilt) the database as you said. Please visit the following Microsoft
Web site or refer the following detail if you need:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;230738

If you suspect corruption in the database, then the files should be deleted
using the Offline Files viewer. After the files are deleted out of the
Offline Files viewer, a synchronization of files may then be forced using
Synchronization Manager. If the cache still does not appear to function
correctly, an Offline Files reset can be performed using the following
procedure:

(1). In Folder Options, on the Offline Files tab, press CTRL+SHIFT, and
then click Delete Files. The following message appears:

"The Offline Files cache on the local computer will be re-initialized. Any
changes that have not been synchronized with computers on the network will
be lost. Any files or folders made available offline will no longer be
available offline. A computer restart is required.

Do you wish to re-initialize the cache?"

(2). Click Yes two times to restart the computer.

Please let me know if you have any other concerns, or need anything else.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Tom Che

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
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--------------------

 

[MR-KEN]

Tom,

Thanks for the information. I do use version 1.0 of the CSCCMD program to
allow users to force themselves offline. I'll look at getting version 1.1.
I think this information is a good start for me. I'll keep you posted if
anything new arises.

-Ken

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hi Ken,

I appreciate your update and response, and I am very glad to hear that you
have got useful information from us. If you have any other questions or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. It is always our pleasure
to be of assistance.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Tom Che

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

--------------------

 

[MR-KEN]

Actually, I am having an issue... A common issue that I have seen in the
past but I can't figure out an easy way to correct the problem.

The database in the CSC is fine and all files are there (the size reflex
similar to that of the server share). If you do a synchronize, it completes
successfully, but is very fast. If you view offline files, they are all
there and state that they are synchronized. However, as soon as you go
offline, you see the files, but when you open a Word document for example,
Word opens up then reads, "Can't find file". If you go back online, open
that same file, then go back offline, you can open it.

I tried using the /Fill switch, but that doesn't seem to be of any help. I
know that if I just delete the whole contents of the CSC directory, I will
be able to do a full re-synchronize, but for remote users, that isn't
feasible. How can I get the Offline process to "see" the CSC database?

I'm totally baffled by this.

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hi Ken,

I appreciate your response and let me know the further situation.

Based on my research, there are tow most possible situations which could
cause the issue:

- The shared folders or files are "Read Only" for offline user

In this case, if you couldn't open an offline file, you may try to copy the
file to another folder from source directory or "Offline Files Folder",
then read or write it normally. Or you may give the user Write permission
on the shared folder.

- The synchronization is incomplete before going offline;

You usually still couldn't open the file even though duplication in this
case. Please refer to the following steps:

1. Delete the file cannot be opened;

2. Go to online.

3. Synchronize the folder containing the file manually.

To prevent this issue, please make sure that completely synchronize shared
folders before going offline. There are two ways to synchronize shared
folders manually:

A. In the "Offline Files Folder"

Click "View Files" button in the "Offline Files" tab of "Folder Options",
and then select "Tools" -> "Synchronize..." from menu in the pop-up
"Offline Files Folder" window.

B. In the source directory

Right click the folder containing the target file in Windows Explorer, and
then click "Synchronize" option.

Hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other concerns, or need
anything else. It is always my pleasure to assist you.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
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--------------------

Subject: Re: Tools to Verify Integrity of CSC Folder?
From: "MR-KEN" <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>

<[email protected]>

 

[MR-KEN]

None of that is the issue... I was able to re link items by using the
CTRL-SHIFT, then clicking on Delete Files... in the Offline Files tab. This
allowed me to access MOST of the data, but it still need synchronize as some
items there were available online did not appear when offline (even though
all the data in the CSC directory should have been there).

Thanks for you effort.

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hello Ken,

Thank you for your reply and I have known the further information.

This is a quick note to let you know that I am researching this issue on
and on. I will get back to you as soon as possible. I appreciate your
patience.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Tom Che

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
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--------------------

Subject: Re: Tools to Verify Integrity of CSC Folder?
From: "MR-KEN" <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>

<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hi Ken,

Sorry for delayed reply.

Based on my lots of research in our internal knowledge bases and internet,
I can not find any similar issue. However, there are some general
solutions you can try:

1. Disable "Offline Files" in "Folder Options", and then restart the
system. Delete "%SystemRoot%\CSC" directory, and then re-enable "Offline
Files". Test the issue again.

2. If this issue appeared recently, you can try System Restore.

Please refer to the following KB article to perform a System Restore to
restore the system to a previous good state:

How to restore the operating system to a previous state in Windows XP
<http://support.microsoft.com/?id=306084>

If the issue still exists, please let me know the following points so that
I can perform further research on this issue:

1. Does this issue occur on many Windows XP SP2 computers, or only one?

2. What type of file cause this issue usually?

Please take your time in trying my suggestions and let me know the results
at your earliest convenience. I appreciate your patience and I look
forward to your reply.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,
Tom Che

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
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--------------------

Subject: Re: Tools to Verify Integrity of CSC Folder?
From: "MR-KEN" <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>

<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>

 

[MR-KEN]

Tom,

Thanks for the info. Your Step 1 will certainly work, but again, not a good
option for a remote user.

The sole problem here, is that you have a full and intact CSC database, but
even though the files are there when in Offline Mode (that is to say that
you see them in "My Documents", they have folder Properties, and if you
located the fill in the CSC database, you can open it) you can not open them
by clicking on the icon in "My Documents". For some reason, the Offline
Folder process in not correctly "linked" with the CSC database.

You should be able to easily duplicate this by simply copying a CSC folder
with data to another machine. When you are Offline, you can see the files
but cannot open them. If you go Online, open a file, close it, then go
Offline, you can open that file. It is as if the file is being "re-linked".

Anyway, this issue seems to be more prevalent with remote users...

 

[Tom Che [MSFT]]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for your reply!

From your reply, my understanding of your concern is: The solution to this
issue works certainly, but you don't think it is appropriate for remote
users, because of the complexity of these steps. If this is not correct,
please feel free to let me know.

However, if we could tell remote user how to do in detail, he would finish
it by himself possibly. How do you think about this?

For example, you mentioned that the Step 1 in my previous post will
certainly work; maybe we can provide more information to the remote user
like the following steps:

1. Start Windows Explorer by clicking start -> All Programs -> Accessories
-> Windows Explorer, or using shortcut Win+E.

2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.

3. Select View tab, and then click Hide protected operating system files.

To Reset the Database Offline
-----------------------------
Simply delete the %SystemRoot%\CSC folder and restart the computer. After
the system is back online, the CSC folder structure is rebuilt.

To delete CSC folder: input "%SystemRoot%\CSC" (without the quotation
marks) in the Address bar in Windows Explorer, then click CSC folder in the
left frame, press the SHIFT+Delete key combination to permanently delete
the CSC folder.

To Reset the Database Online
----------------------------
1. Disable offline files. This operation must be done first because files
are in use.

a. Start Windows Explorer.

b. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.

c. Click Offline Files, and then uncheck Enable Offline Files check box.

2. Delete the CSC folder and its contents as resetting the Database Offline.

3. Re-enable Offline Files. A new CSC folder structure is automatically
rebuilt.


All data previously cached within the Offline Files is no longer available
because the cache has been restarted. Files previously cached for offline
use have to be re-cached. Manually cached files need to be manually
re-cached, and auto cached files need to be re-accessed from their share
location to be auto cached.

However, the contents of the CSC folder can be restored using a previously
known valid CSC folder from a backup or even a copy from another system.
This allows the database to be rebuilt while preserving the cached data
(the accessibility of the cached files depending on the file's access
rights). The process of rebuilding the folder structure and restoring its
contents is the same as mentioned above except, after deleting the CSC
folder, manually copying over an existing one.

Restoring the Offline Files cache to its prior contents and especially
replacing it with that from another system can result in Offline File usage
anomalies and should this be encountered, the cache should be completely
reset and rebuilt manually.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact us. It is always our pleasure to be of assistance.

Have a nice day!

Sincerely,
Tom Che

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
=====================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

--------------------

Subject: Re: Tools to Verify Integrity of CSC Folder?
From: "MR-KEN" <[email protected]>
References: <[email protected]>

<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<#[email protected]>
<#[email protected]>