Index.dat (within the TIF cache) corruption, when visiting certain sites?

[Bill in Co.]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most of
the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View Files",
and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still there on
the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously seems to
track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out the
index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000 total
files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files (with no
cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for me,
when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, and
lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site), right
after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows explorer).

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and system
files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder from
Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[Bill in Co.]

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and system
files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder from
Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most of
the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View Files",
and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still there on
the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously seems to
track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out the
index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000 total
files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files (with no
cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for me,
when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, and
lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site), right
after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows

explorer).

 

[Gary Smith]

I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4). It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and system
files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder from
Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most of
the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View Files",
and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still there on
the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously seems to
track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out the
index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000 total
files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files (with no
cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for me,
when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, and
lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site), right
after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows

explorer).

 

[Bill in Co.]

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.

I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and system
files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder from
Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents & Settings\username\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most of
the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View Files",
and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still there on
the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously seems to
track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out the
index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000 total
files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files (with no
cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for me,
when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows

explorer).

 

[Bill in Co.]

Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.

I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most
of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View
Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still
there on the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously
seems to track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out
the index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files
(with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for
me, when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows

explorer).

 

[Bill in Co.]

Well, but in my case, it never returned to normal. Which implies that the
cache is mostly unavailable (for IE), since IE relies on that index.dat file
for its caching.

So it can be a fairly serious problem, since I'm on dialup, and reloading
all the pages (when I go back to previously visited websites) is pretty time
consuming.

Hi Bill,
I did observe the behavior you described (with IE6) Closing and reopening IE
didn't "fix" the TIF view/number of files. Sometime later (same session- no
restart) the TIF view/file count had returned to normal.

My advice is to not pay too much attention to index.dat files. ;-)

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.
Gary Smith wrote:
I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't
resolve the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site
(which seems to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I
don't know), and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the
TIF problem appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware
of it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and
after, and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a
total file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will
be dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)
Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder
should accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most
of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing
them (under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View
Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still
there on the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file
mysteriously seems to track of MOST of them? (I have verified that
by swapping out the index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files
(with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent
for me, when I go to the Wikipedia site,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the
hard drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows
explorer).

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi Bill,
I did observe the behavior you described (with IE6) Closing and reopening IE
didn't "fix" the TIF view/number of files. Sometime later (same session- no
restart) the TIF view/file count had returned to normal.

My advice is to not pay too much attention to index.dat files. ;-)

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.

I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.

Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)
Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most
of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View
Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still
there on the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously
seems to track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out
the index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files
(with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent
for me, when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows

explorer).

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I've been trying to pay attention to this thread. (It's a complement that
you asked for my input.)

First, you do know, don't you, that cookies are not really stored in TIF and
that's just a Windows illusion?

I would restart in safe mode as Administrator and delete the TIF folder for
your Windows User.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.

I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.


Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't resolve
the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site (which seems
to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I don't know),
and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the TIF
problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware of
it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and after,
and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a total
file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will be
dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF
folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder should
accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to
some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most
of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing them
(under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View
Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still
there on the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file mysteriously
seems to track of MOST of them? (I have verified that by swapping out
the index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files
(with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for
me, when I go to the Wikipedia site, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared
when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the hard
drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows explorer).

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
Given the complex nature of the whole caching system in Internet Explorer, I
*suspect* that you're seeing a reporting glitch and that IE is still able to
access cached files. You aren't running with a huge Temporary Internet Files
folder, are you? Even on dial-up, the TIF folder should probably be kept
well under 100 MB.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Well, but in my case, it never returned to normal. Which implies that the
cache is mostly unavailable (for IE), since IE relies on that index.dat file
for its caching.

So it can be a fairly serious problem, since I'm on dialup, and reloading
all the pages (when I go back to previously visited websites) is pretty time

consuming.

Hi Bill,
I did observe the behavior you described (with IE6) Closing and

reopening

IE
didn't "fix" the TIF view/number of files. Sometime later (same session- no
restart) the TIF view/file count had returned to normal.

My advice is to not pay too much attention to index.dat files. ;-)

did

not

index.dat

file

IE

TIF)

Campbell),

the

others,

for

all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware
of it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and
after, and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a
total file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will
be dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)
Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder
should accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently

"lose"

most

Settings,

View

 

[Bill in Co.]

Hi,
Given the complex nature of the whole caching system in Internet Explorer, I
*suspect* that you're seeing a reporting glitch and that IE is still able to
access cached files.

I don't think so, but it's possible. But if I were at betting guy, I'd
say, pretty unlikely, as that index.dat file is the key to accessing the
TIF, and something HAS indeed happened to it (after visiting that site).
(That was verified by swapping it out with the index.dat just prior to the
problem, and all is well then).

You aren't running with a huge Temporary Internet Files
folder, are you? Even on dial-up, the TIF folder should probably be kept
well under 100 MB.

I've set it at 100 MB max, but it's nowhere near that now.

Also, I installed CacheSentryPro fairly recently (to help with this issue),
and it has done a better caching job (as one might expect), but the issue
still remains (with, or without, using CacheSentry).

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Well, but in my case, it never returned to normal. Which implies that the
cache is mostly unavailable (for IE), since IE relies on that index.dat file
for its caching.

So it can be a fairly serious problem, since I'm on dialup, and reloading
all the pages (when I go back to previously visited websites) is pretty time
consuming.

Hi Bill,
I did observe the behavior you described (with IE6) Closing and reopening IE
didn't "fix" the TIF view/number of files. Sometime later (same session- no
restart) the TIF view/file count had returned to normal.

My advice is to not pay too much attention to index.dat files. ;-)
Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?
Bill in Co. wrote:
Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did
not work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But
I'm using IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and
relevant to this) relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat
file (after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.
Gary Smith wrote:
I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at
least prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE
TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.
Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't
resolve the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site
(which seems to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but
I don't know), and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell),
the TIF problem appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others,
for all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be
aware of it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF
before and after, and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a
total file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference
will be dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)
Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder
should accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web
sites? Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose"
most of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when
viewing them (under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files,
Settings, View Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the
files ARE really still there on the hard drive, it's just that the
"index.dat" file mysteriously seems to track of MOST of them? (I
have verified that by swapping out the index.dat file just before and
just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total
files (with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent
for me, when I go to the Wikipedia site,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their
site), right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count*
appears to drop *dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously
disappeared when viewed there in IE (even though they are really
still present on the hard drive, and can still be seen in the cookies
folder with windows explorer).

 

[Bill in Co.]

I've been trying to pay attention to this thread. (It's a complement that
you asked for my input.)

Sure!

First, you do know, don't you, that cookies are not really stored in TIF and
that's just a Windows illusion?

Yup, I know that. But that still doesn't explain the problem, and why all
of a sudden they all (by appearance) "disappear" when viewed within IE or
Windows Explorer (but of course, are still on the hard disk, and are still
seen in \Cookies),

AND the significant (apparent) "loss" of most previously cached files *as
viewed within IE, or Windows Explorer* (which obviously uses index.dat for
that info), although the cached files are still actually present and visible
within each one of the TIF subfolders on the hard disk. But they are no
longer "seen" by IE or Windows Explorer (unless you go into each of the
subfolders and peek).

I would restart in safe mode as Administrator and delete the TIF folder for
your Windows User.

Oh, I've already done that several times (actually, I often end up really
cleaning it up by dropping down into DOS (I'm using Win98SE, happily) and
deleting the entire TIF tree, including index.dat.

But again, this doesn't solve the issue (if I go back and visit that site
again).

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM
http://www.fjsmjs.com

Also Ping Frank Saunders - don't you have any insight on this either?

Thanks for checking that, Gary, although closing IE and reopening it did not
work for me, and I had to put back the prior index.dat file. But I'm using
IE6 SP1 on Win98SE, so we also have some different (and relevant to this)
relevant DLLs and EXEs, no doubt.

But what is also interesting is that when I've used some other
cache-inspecting utility programs to get info from the TIF, some of those
programs still correctly report the total number of files (but a few also
don't).

So, the problem is somewhere between the IE or explorer code and the
index.dat file. For some reason, something happens to the index.dat file
(after visiting that site) that creates a problem for IE (and perhaps
windows explorer) to be able to read it properly, afterwards.

Gary Smith wrote:
I did the experiment and confirmed your results -- 289 files before
performing that search and 16 after (IE6 SP1 in Win2K SP4).

Only 289 files before? Don't the cookies show up in there too (at least
prior)?
I mean, I have almost 2000 cookies showing up there (mirrored in the IE TIF)

It appears
that something about that site or search is causing IE to mess up its
in-memory version of index.dat rather than the copy on disk because
closing IE and re-opening it restores the missing entries.


Hi Don,
Well, actually I've done all of that (and some!), but it didn't
resolve the issue. In other words, if I go back to the Wikipedia site
(which seems to be the problematic site - perhaps there are others, but I
don't know), and (in the example I used, search for Joseph Campbell), the
TIF problem
appears again.

It appears that something about the Wikipedia site can mess up my TIF
(specifically, the index.dat file), (and perhaps it happens to others, for
all I know, but no one is really aware of it. The only way to be aware
of it is to check the total number of files seen in the TIF before and
after, and I would assume few actually do that).

If you (or anyone) feel like trying it just as an experiment, I'd be
interested to hear if you get the same results - just be sure to get a
total file count before and after, and if it happens, the difference will
be dramatic, as the cookies don't appear there afterwards)

Don Varnau wrote:
Hi,
If a third-party program isn't causing this, I would just delete the
index.dat file (by deleting the TIF folder) and get a fresh start.

Login as another user with
administrator privileges, or from the machine's default administrator
account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can see hidden and
system files (Folder Options> View) Then delete the affected TIF
folder
from Windows Explorer. It should be at [C:\Documents &
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files] Restart.

If the TIF folder can't be deleted, deleting the content.ie5 folder
should accomplish the same thing.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Index.dat info:
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part I - What is index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266027.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part II - What are they used for:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/18/266045.aspx
jeff's WebLog Index.dat Part III - How do I delete index.dat:
http://blogs.msdn.com/jeffdav/archive/2004/11/19/266977.aspx

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Has anyone else noted this weird and annoying TIF problem, due to
some
apparent corruption of the index.dat file after visiting some web sites?
Specifically:

After visiting some web site, all of a sudden you apparently "lose" most
of the TIF files, and all of the cookies, as it appears when viewing
them (under "Internet Explorer, Temporary Internet Files, Settings, View
Files", and also under windows explorer), BUT the files ARE really still
there on the hard drive, it's just that the "index.dat" file
mysteriously seems to track of MOST of them? (I have verified that
by swapping out the index.dat file just before and just afterwards).

And the apparent drop can be really significant, like going from 3000
total files (including cookies), to perhaps only 100 or 200 total files
(with no cookies being shown anymore), as seen in IE.

Specifically, and as just one example, which seems to be consistent for
me, when I go to the Wikipedia site,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page,
and lookup (for example), Joseph Campbell , (and use Go on their site),
right after that, the IE - TIF cache *total file count* appears to drop
*dramatically*, and all the cookies have mysteriously disappeared
when
viewed there in IE (even though they are really still present on the
hard drive, and can still be seen in the cookies folder with windows
explorer).