temporary internet files folder problems

[Guest]

When I first fire up my PC, the temporary internet files folder is set to
anything between 9538-30000MB. This appears arbitary and, despite setting it
to 30000MB manually, it appears to change randomly.

After being connected to IE for a time, however, I will suddenly notice a
significant drop in performance and, when I check the internet properties
settings tab I find that the amount of disk space to use has been reset to
zero. No matter what I then type in the adjacent box or however far I move
the slider, I receive an error message informing me that the value must be
between 0 and 1 - effectively preventing me from changing the value.

At this time, closing IE results in the PC hanging for a duration of up to
2-3 minutes. I can, after closing , continue to use the PC without problem
until I need to open a new IE browser at which point it again runs extremely
slowly before hanging again on exit.

I have Norton Antivirus (updated regularly) together with Spyware Blaster
and AdAware installed and I am confident that the problem is not resulting
from an infection (the problem existed prior to a clean reinstallation of XP
Pro and has recurred since).

Can anyone help with this most annoying problem please?

Regards

Peter

 

[Ted Zieglar]

I think you're confused about some things. In the first place, the size of
TIF is not set as a range. (See Tools > Internet Options > General tab >
Settings button.) Second, 30 GB is way, way, way too large for TIF. A cache
that large is asking for slow performance and random weird behavior due to
file corruption.

If you have a broadband connection, anywhere between 5 and 15 MB is
generally sufficient. If you have dialup, goose it up to 25 or 30.

 

[Guest]

Ted

I'm not confused at all. What I am saying is that the value changes
randomly. One day on opening the internet properties settings tab I may find
it set at 9538MB, next time I boot up it may well be set at 30000MB! In my
statement I was indicating the range over which it varies.

My problem is as stated - after a period of use the value decreases to zero
and nothing I do in respect of the slider scale or manual numerical entry
will permit to change the value upward from zero. I just get the error
message as illustrated in my original post.

Regards

Peter

 

[Ted Zieglar]

OK, I misunderstood you. Sorry. What you describe sounds very much like the
behavior of a virus or spyware.

 

[PA Bear]

Windows version?

 

[Guest]

XP Pro SP2 - and I'm reasonably security conscious so I don't think it's a
virus or spyware. It happened before a clean reinstallation of XP Pro (when I
was using Zone Alarm Pro) and since (when I've been using the XP Firewall).

 

[PA Bear]

1. You may have a corrupt cache. Log on as Administrator and delete it:
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive/answers_8.htm#deltree.

2. Check for hijackware anyway.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/archive/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spywareinfo.com/,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html or http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
for expert analysis, not here.**

 

[Guest]

We have exactly the same issues with one user on our network. We run a
managed COE using Intellimirror and Group Policy. We wiped the user profile,
wiped the machine and added MS AntiSpyware but ONLY this user has the issues.
The Current Location "path" for Temporary Internet Files Folder is blank when
IE hangs.