Two problems -- possibly related.

[Gary Burton]

I am running WinXP Home SP2 and running MSIE 6.0. I just noticed two
problems that I have probably had for a long time. I believe that both of
these problems are "toughies" - even for you guys. Please take a crack at
either or both of them if you can. I'm sorry the explanations are so long.
I want to give all the clues I can.



1) My browser files have gotten very confused. My C:\Documents and
Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp\ is full of junk, but some of it is
active system files- which shouldn't be there.

One folder under "Temp" is called "Cookies". Another folder under "Temp" is
called "History" and contains "History.IE5". Both of the "Cookies" and
"History.ie5" that show up under "Temp" contain an "index.dat".

There is also a "History" folder one level up (where it should be) that also
contains a "History.ie5". The "History.ie5" in my "Temp" folder seems to be
an exact duplicate of the one that is in the correct place. Both
"History.ie5" folders contain an "Index.dat" file.

There is also a "Cookies" folder two levels up (where it should be). It
seems to be an exact duplicate of the one in the "Temp" folder, including
the "Index.dat" file. At one time, I deleted all the other files in
"Cookies", but they reappeared later.

For both the "Cookies" folder and the "History.ie5" folder the time stamp on
the "index.dat" file is 10 minutes later in the "Temp" folder than in it's
rightful folder. Also, the "History.ie5" under "Temp" contains a later
history entry than the folder that is in the right place. If I try to
delete everything in the \Temp folder, I discover that the "index.dat" files
are in use. They may also be in use in the correct folders, but I haven't
wanted to try to delete them in order to find out.



2) Someone on the IE6 newsgroup advised me to log on in another
administrator account, delete the offending files discussed above, and edit
references if necessary in the registry. Now, I can't log on in my other
administrator account.

I am the only user on this machine, and I have another machine
just like it. I normally don't see a logon screen on either machine. I
should be able to boot into safe mode, and select "Administrator". I can do
it on my other machine, but not on this machine - the one with the goofed up
browser files. If I boot into safe mode on this machine, it goes right to
the desktop. Both machines are set to use the welcome screen and to use
fast user switching.

Neither machine has an "ASP.NET" account. I believe I deleted them a long
time ago to get automatic logon. That may have been a mistake, but I don't
think it is affecting this because one machine gives me access to the
administrator account in spite of it.

Even if it isn't related to the first problem, I would like a
solution to this.



You guys have helped me a lot in the past. I have also helped a
few people, but you guys put me to shame. Please come through again!

 

[steam3801]

I am running WinXP Home SP2 and running MSIE 6.0. I just noticed two
problems that I have probably had for a long time. I believe that both of
these problems are "toughies" - even for you guys. Please take a crack at
either or both of them if you can. I'm sorry the explanations are so long.
I want to give all the clues I can.



1) My browser files have gotten very confused. My C:\Documents and
Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp\ is full of junk, but some of it is
active system files- which shouldn't be there.

One folder under "Temp" is called "Cookies". Another folder under "Temp" is
called "History" and contains "History.IE5". Both of the "Cookies" and
"History.ie5" that show up under "Temp" contain an "index.dat".

There is also a "History" folder one level up (where it should be) that also
contains a "History.ie5". The "History.ie5" in my "Temp" folder seems to be
an exact duplicate of the one that is in the correct place. Both
"History.ie5" folders contain an "Index.dat" file.

There is also a "Cookies" folder two levels up (where it should be). It
seems to be an exact duplicate of the one in the "Temp" folder, including
the "Index.dat" file. At one time, I deleted all the other files in
"Cookies", but they reappeared later.

For both the "Cookies" folder and the "History.ie5" folder the time stamp on
the "index.dat" file is 10 minutes later in the "Temp" folder than in it's
rightful folder. Also, the "History.ie5" under "Temp" contains a later
history entry than the folder that is in the right place. If I try to
delete everything in the \Temp folder, I discover that the "index.dat" files
are in use. They may also be in use in the correct folders, but I haven't
wanted to try to delete them in order to find out.

Download a claen-out program like ccleaner (freeware) and run that.
You'll lose a bit of history and "recently used lists", but a small
price to pay.

2) Someone on the IE6 newsgroup advised me to log on in another
administrator account, delete the offending files discussed above, and edit
references if necessary in the registry. Now, I can't log on in my other
administrator account.

I am the only user on this machine, and I have another machine
just like it. I normally don't see a logon screen on either machine. I
should be able to boot into safe mode, and select "Administrator". I can do
it on my other machine, but not on this machine - the one with the goofed up
browser files. If I boot into safe mode on this machine, it goes right to
the desktop. Both machines are set to use the welcome screen and to use
fast user switching.

Neither machine has an "ASP.NET" account. I believe I deleted them a long
time ago to get automatic logon. That may have been a mistake, but I don't
think it is affecting this because one machine gives me access to the
administrator account in spite of it.

I'm guessing that the previous advice given intended to mean create a
new account, delete the offending details - and that's it! It was not
intended that you could go back to your old account.

Solution : the same : create a new permanent account, with Admin
priveledges. Copy all your data files from the old My Documents
accounts to your new account, import your emails from the old
account(s), copy your OE address book, etc. Then delete the old
accounts. Also go into Documents and Settings and make sure the whole
of the folders under the old name(s) have gone, delete them if
necessary.

 

[Gary Burton]

Download a claen-out program like ccleaner (freeware) and run that.
You'll lose a bit of history and "recently used lists", but a small
price to pay.

I downloaded and ran ccleaner. The offending folders are still there,
including their index.dat files. I had elected to remove the index.dat
files, temporary internet files, and history files. I did not ask it to
delete my cookies, but it did so, without deleting the index.dat files. The
cookies may have been deleted because I used the applications section to
delete the cookies from FireFox. Maybe they are stored in the same place.

I'm guessing that the previous advice given intended to mean create a
new account, delete the offending details - and that's it! It was not
intended that you could go back to your old account.

No, he said that I may have to do some registry edits when I log on again as
the original user.

Solution : the same : create a new permanent account, with Admin
priveledges. Copy all your data files from the old My Documents
accounts to your new account, import your emails from the old
account(s), copy your OE address book, etc. Then delete the old
accounts. Also go into Documents and Settings and make sure the whole
of the folders under the old name(s) have gone, delete them if
necessary.
--

This sound scary to me. I'll have to think this over.

Thanks!