caching problem

[A.N. Durden III]

Caching performance on my Vaio Laptop has become very poor. Basically, it is
not retaining the data (text/images) from the various web pages that have
been visited. The data seems to be retained for a few minutes, but beyond
that each page has to completely reload again. The TIFs still appear in the
cache, but the page still has to reload again as opposed to instantaneously
popping up from the cache. I have selected the option to automatically check
for newer versions of the page. I have experimented with various different
cache sizes, but currently have it set at 50mb.

I have tried all the obvious things:

1) delete TIFs, offline content and cookies via internet properties.

2) delete TIFs folder, history folder and cookies folder from the local
settings folder in my profile after logging on to a different administrator
account. New folders are created after rebooting but the same problem
persists.

3) running disk clean-up.

4) running sfc /scannow

5) run Adaware and Spybot

6) I should mention that I am using a large hosts file. I have DNS client
service and DHCP client service disabled to avoid system slow downs. I am on
a dial-up connection (34.6 kbps), but despite this most of my websites still
come up remarkably quick. They're simply not being retained in the cache. I
have been experimenting with the DNS client service and DHCP client service,
enabled and disabled, but haven't really been able to tell any difference. I
also use Zone Alarm Pro, but the cache cleaner is disabled.

This is driving me crazy, and I don't know anything else to try. Could
somebody please advise. Thanks,

A.N. Durden III
Albany, GA.

 

[A.N. Durden III]

Forgot to mention, I am using XP Home edition.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
You've been thorough enough.
Two other possibilities come to mind:
1. Malware that Ad-aware and Spybot missed. They don't catch everything.
Go to The Parasite Fight - Quick Fix Protocol:
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Work through the preliminary steps, read this message
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075 and post a HijackThis log for
analysis at http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 Be patient- they're
busy.

2. Another program interfering with IE. Try disabling third party programs
like, privacy/security, toolbars, ad-blockers, antivirus- anything that
might be interacting with IE.

Don
[MVP- IE/OE]

 

[A.N. Durden III]

Thanks for the suggestion Don, but that didn't work either. The IE cache is
still impaired; will not retain data. I disabled or even uninstalled such
programs as Spyware Blaster, Zone Alarm, McAfee Virus Scan and Spybot in an
effort to isolate a conflicting program, but no luck. It used to work fine
with all these programs anyway. Maybe about a month or so ago I noticed that
it wasn't caching the pages properly. Have been working on it ever since.
(see previous post) I have switched to Netscape for the time being until I
can figure out what's going on with IE. No problem with Netscape. Short of a
complete uninstall/reinstall of IE, if there anything else that can be done
to repair the caching performance?

Hi,
You've been thorough enough.
Two other possibilities come to mind:
1. Malware that Ad-aware and Spybot missed. They don't catch everything.
Go to The Parasite Fight - Quick Fix Protocol:
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Work through the preliminary steps, read this message
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075 and post a HijackThis log for
analysis at http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 Be patient- they're
busy.

2. Another program interfering with IE. Try disabling third party programs
like, privacy/security, toolbars, ad-blockers, antivirus- anything that
might be interacting with IE.

Don
[MVP- IE/OE]

Caching performance on my Vaio Laptop has become very poor. Basically, it is
not retaining the data (text/images) from the various web pages that have
been visited. The data seems to be retained for a few minutes, but beyond
that each page has to completely reload again. The TIFs still appear in the
cache, but the page still has to reload again as opposed to instantaneously
popping up from the cache. I have selected the option to automatically check
for newer versions of the page. I have experimented with various
different
cache sizes, but currently have it set at 50mb.

I have tried all the obvious things:

1) delete TIFs, offline content and cookies via internet properties.

2) delete TIFs folder, history folder and cookies folder from the local
settings folder in my profile after logging on to a different administrator
account. New folders are created after rebooting but the same problem
persists.

3) running disk clean-up.

4) running sfc /scannow

5) run Adaware and Spybot

6) I should mention that I am using a large hosts file. I have DNS client
service and DHCP client service disabled to avoid system slow downs. I am on
a dial-up connection (34.6 kbps), but despite this most of my websites still
come up remarkably quick. They're simply not being retained in the cache. I
have been experimenting with the DNS client service and DHCP client service,
enabled and disabled, but haven't really been able to tell any
difference. I
also use Zone Alarm Pro, but the cache cleaner is disabled.

This is driving me crazy, and I don't know anything else to try. Could
somebody please advise. Thanks,

A.N. Durden III
Albany, GA.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
I've never used this freeware program, but I've never heard anything
negative about it:
Cache Sentry from
http://www.fileplanet.com/118375/110000/fileinfo/Cache-Sentry
You might give it a try. Cache Sentry got some good reviews a few years
ago. Maybe IE controls the cache better now and Cache Sentry doesn't seem to
improve performance.

Or, try a different setting in Settings> Check for newer versions of stored
pages.

Other than that, I don't have any other ideas. Sorry

Don
[MS MVP- IE/OE]

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

The TIFs still appear in the cache, but the page still has to reload
Are you sure? Cache-checking may be done but as long as the file
being checked is current you should not have to download it again.

Check to see if you are using HTTP 1.1 protocol.
Is a proxy involved? The default is HTTP 1.0 for it.
I think it would depend on the proxy and how it responds
to cache-checking. Ditto for the server in any case.

anything else that can be done to repair the caching performance?

Set Work Offline before you visit a page which you think is cached.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

Thanks for the suggestion Don, but that didn't work either. The IE cache is
still impaired; will not retain data. I disabled or even uninstalled such
programs as Spyware Blaster, Zone Alarm, McAfee Virus Scan and Spybot in an
effort to isolate a conflicting program, but no luck. It used to work fine
with all these programs anyway. Maybe about a month or so ago I noticed that
it wasn't caching the pages properly. Have been working on it ever since.
(see previous post) I have switched to Netscape for the time being until I
can figure out what's going on with IE. No problem with Netscape. Short of a
complete uninstall/reinstall of IE, if there anything else that can be done
to repair the caching performance?

Hi,
You've been thorough enough.
Two other possibilities come to mind:
1. Malware that Ad-aware and Spybot missed. They don't catch everything.
Go to The Parasite Fight - Quick Fix Protocol:
http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
Work through the preliminary steps, read this message
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=4075 and post a HijackThis log for
analysis at http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 Be patient- they're
busy.

2. Another program interfering with IE. Try disabling third party programs
like, privacy/security, toolbars, ad-blockers, antivirus- anything that
might be interacting with IE.

Don
[MVP- IE/OE]

Caching performance on my Vaio Laptop has become very poor. Basically, it is
not retaining the data (text/images) from the various web pages that have
been visited. The data seems to be retained for a few minutes, but beyond
that each page has to completely reload again. The TIFs still appear in the
cache, but the page still has to reload again as opposed to instantaneously
popping up from the cache. I have selected the option to automatically check
for newer versions of the page. I have experimented with various
different
cache sizes, but currently have it set at 50mb.

I have tried all the obvious things:

1) delete TIFs, offline content and cookies via internet properties.

2) delete TIFs folder, history folder and cookies folder from the local
settings folder in my profile after logging on to a different administrator
account. New folders are created after rebooting but the same problem
persists.

3) running disk clean-up.

4) running sfc /scannow

5) run Adaware and Spybot

6) I should mention that I am using a large hosts file. I have DNS client
service and DHCP client service disabled to avoid system slow downs. I am on
a dial-up connection (34.6 kbps), but despite this most of my websites still
come up remarkably quick. They're simply not being retained in the cache. I
have been experimenting with the DNS client service and DHCP client service,
enabled and disabled, but haven't really been able to tell any
difference. I
also use Zone Alarm Pro, but the cache cleaner is disabled.

This is driving me crazy, and I don't know anything else to try. Could
somebody please advise. Thanks,

A.N. Durden III
Albany, GA.

 

[A.N. Durden III]

Thank-you for the reply Robert. I didn't realize there had been any more
activity on my original thread, so I posted a new thread earlier today with
additional information under the subject of "cache problem still
unresolved".



To answer your questions:

1)>>> The TIFs still appear in the cache, but the page still has to reload
Q: "Are you sure? Cache-checking may be done but as long as the file
being checked is current you should not have to download it again."

A: Yes, I'm sure. That's whats so infuriating about it! Even though I know
the file being checked is current, IE still goes through the motions of
slowly downloading the entire page again! Unless, as I discovered last
night, if I have the page refresh type set to "never". Then the page (file)
pops right up as soon as I click on it. The other three options make the
page reload every time. But I also found (as you suggested) that by setting
'Work Offline' before visiting a page, the cache data is retained and can be
viewed instantaneously. However, as soon as I go back to 'Work Online', the
data from the file has seemingly just drained away, and the page has to
reload again.

2) "Check to see if you are using HTTP 1.1 protocol.
Is a proxy involved? The default is HTTP 1.0 for it.
I think it would depend on the proxy and how it responds
to cache-checking. Ditto for the server in any case."

A: When I checked, it was set to use HTTP 1.1 protocol. I tried the HTTP
1.1 proxy protocol, but was unable to discern any difference. I set it back
to the default HTTP 1.1 protocol and left it alone.

If by chance you read my new thread from earlier today, I am somewhat
concerned about a report provided by the 'System Information" service on my
laptop in regards to the Internet Explorer cache summary found under
"Internet Settings"


Page Refresh Type: Never
Temporary Internet Files Folder: (correct path is listed)
Total Disk Space: Not Available
Available Disk Space: Not Available
Maximum Cache Size: Not Available
Available Cache Size: Not Available

I'm wondering if there is some correlation between the indications of "Not
Available" and the problems I am having with the TIF cache. My other laptop
functions normally, and System Information reflects the correct Disk/Cache
size and space numbers. However, I can't find any documentation on how to
interpret the data from this system tool.

I fully expected the problem to be resolved after I did a complete system
restore using the Sony recovery wizard. **Much** to my dismay, the same
problem continued to be manifested, even after the recovery wizard
reinstalled all the original software with default configurations. Sony
knowledge base was no help, but I haven't talked with them directly.

So, I'm still trying to figure out what's going on here......


A.N. Durden III
Albany, GA.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

Caching performance on my Vaio Laptop has become very poor.
Basically, it is not retaining the data (text/images) from the
various web pages that have been visited. The data seems to be
retained for a few minutes, but beyond that each page has to
completely reload again. The TIFs still appear in the cache, but the
page still has to reload again as opposed to instantaneously popping
up from the cache. I have selected the option to automatically check
for newer versions of the page. I have experimented with various
different cache sizes, but currently have it set at 50mb.
I have tried all the obvious things:

1) delete TIFs, offline content and cookies via internet properties.

2) delete TIFs folder, history folder and cookies folder from the
local settings folder in my profile after logging on to a different
administrator account. New folders are created after rebooting but
the same problem persists.

3) running disk clean-up.

4) running sfc /scannow

5) run Adaware and Spybot

6) I should mention that I am using a large hosts file. I have DNS
client service and DHCP client service disabled to avoid system slow
downs. I am on a dial-up connection (34.6 kbps), but despite this
most of my websites still come up remarkably quick. They're simply
not being retained in the cache. I have been experimenting with the
DNS client service and DHCP client service, enabled and disabled, but
haven't really been able to tell any difference. I also use Zone
Alarm Pro, but the cache cleaner is disabled.
This is driving me crazy, and I don't know anything else to try. Could
somebody please advise. Thanks,

A.N. Durden III
Albany, GA.

Which of the radio buttons at the top of Tools | Internet Options | Settings
is selected?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Thank-you for the reply Robert. I didn't realize there had been any more
activity on my original thread, so I posted a new thread earlier today with
additional information under the subject of "cache problem still
unresolved".



To answer your questions:

1)>>> The TIFs still appear in the cache, but the page still has to reload

Q: "Are you sure? Cache-checking may be done but as long as the file
being checked is current you should not have to download it again."

A: Yes, I'm sure. That's whats so infuriating about it! Even though I know
the file being checked is current, IE still goes through the motions of
slowly downloading the entire page again!

If IE is correctly sending out a request to check the item in its cache
and the server is sending back a fresh copy unnecessarily it is not IE
to blame for you having to wait to receive an unnecessary (unchanged)
copy. Blame the server for not letting IE use the copy it has.

Unless, as I discovered last
night, if I have the page refresh type set to "never". Then the page (file)
pops right up as soon as I click on it.

Of course, because you are preventing the server from getting into
the picture.

The other three options make the
page reload every time. But I also found (as you suggested) that by setting
'Work Offline' before visiting a page, the cache data is retained and can be
viewed instantaneously.
Ditto.


However, as soon as I go back to 'Work Online', the
data from the file has seemingly just drained away, and the page has to
reload again.

That could indicate a different problem, in the HTML content.
Use View Source and look for a Meta Refresh order.
<example>
<meta HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" CONTENT="0; URL=...">
</example>

IE treats that as if you re-entered that URL in your Address bar
after the specified delay. I'm not sure whether or not the same
cache checking is redone with that request. If it is, I think it still
would be up to the server to decide if your copy was still current.
E.g. in that case (assuming the URL= was the same as the current
location) it would appear as a timed pressing of F5 by the user;
if cache checking was not done it would appear as a timed
pressing of Ctrl-F5 by the user (FWIW I don't think that is
what happens). Take an HTTP packet trace if you want to find out
for sure.

In IE6 you can disable Meta Refresh using a Miscellaneous
Security option.

2) "Check to see if you are using HTTP 1.1 protocol.
Is a proxy involved? The default is HTTP 1.0 for it.
I think it would depend on the proxy and how it responds
to cache-checking. Ditto for the server in any case."

A: When I checked, it was set to use HTTP 1.1 protocol. I tried the HTTP
1.1 proxy protocol, but was unable to discern any difference.

Well, are you using a proxy or not?
If not, there would be no difference...

I set it back
to the default HTTP 1.1 protocol and left it alone.

If by chance you read my new thread from earlier today, I am somewhat
concerned about a report provided by the 'System Information" service on my
laptop in regards to the Internet Explorer cache summary found under
"Internet Settings"


Page Refresh Type: Never
Temporary Internet Files Folder: (correct path is listed)
Total Disk Space: Not Available
Available Disk Space: Not Available
Maximum Cache Size: Not Available
Available Cache Size: Not Available

I'm wondering if there is some correlation between the indications of "Not
Available" and the problems I am having with the TIF cache. My other laptop
functions normally, and System Information reflects the correct Disk/Cache
size and space numbers.

Perhaps your laptop is the abnormal one.
FWIW my Cache Summary is the same as yours.

BTW just so everybody else is on the same page
they could Run...

msinfo32 /category IECacheSummary

If you are interested in investigating what the differences
are in your two machines you could try using RegMon
to try to detect any significant differences in the two when
you Run... that command on each.


Good luck

Robert
---

 

[A.N. Durden III]

Robert,

sorry, not to be clear; but no, I'm not using a proxy. I tried disabling the
meta refresh, but continued to observe the same symptoms, so turned it back
on.

It doesn't seem right, but I find things seem to be working best by leaving
the page refresh type set at 'never'. It seems to be the only way to take
advantage of the cached pages. I'll F5 the page if I think it needs to be
refreshed. The other three options force the page to download again every
time. Thanks for your help.

 

[A.N. Durden III]

Mr. Saunders:

I think you're making reference to the page refresh types, which as I'm sure
you gathered from my last post, is currently set to 'never'.

 

[A.N. Durden III]

but if anything else comes to mind, please don't hesitate to check in......