Today I found that browsing is very slow and eventually stops, the history isn’t being stored and neither are cookies. Nothing’s going into the Temporary Internet file folder. I have IE 6.0 with the latest updates.
When I look under “Settings”, there’s no location shown for the Temporary Internet folder – the space is blank. Yet the folder is still there on the disk (but empty).

When I attempt to set the storage size (after clicking “Settings”), I get this, whatever values I try:

Please pick a value between 1 and 0 for how much disk space temporary internet files may use.

When I attempt to move the folder to a new location, whichever location I choose, this message appears, despite having 44 GB free space on the drive:

There won't be enough space in the new location for the currently downloaded content. Please either delete these files first and try again, reduce the size of the folder or pick another location.

…and that despite having no "currently downloaded content"!

I’ve emptied the Cookies and history, but the problem remains.
Have run Ad-aware, Spybot ... no joy!
Can anyone help, please?

Hi :)

I see two things regarding the problem in Microsofts knowledge base -

If you happen to be running a program called
"McAfee Safe and Sound" then see this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;EN-US;Q301897
(only if you're running Win ME or lower)

More than likely you are having this problem
"This behavior can occur if the History, Cookies, or Temporary Internet Files folder is damaged, or if a damaged file exists in one of these folders. "
read here: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=195163

let us know how you make out ;)

Thanks Toadbee, but neither of these help.
I'm running Windows MX Home, with all critical updates. Cookies, History and Temporary Internet files are all empty. I renamed the original Cookies folder and created a new folder with that name (in the same location). Antivirus is McAfee 4.5.1.
We have two users set up on the PC and I've found, if I log in as the other user, IE is normal. Under "Settings" the location of the Temporary Internet file folder is shown and there's a cache value (i.e. it's not the ucnhageable zero I get when logging in under my own name). The location is under the "other" user's name within the "Documents and Settings" folder on C drive.
If that gives you an idea then I'd love to hear it!
Thanks again.

We have a similar issue using XP Pro and IE6. What we discovered was that - by logging in as an Administrative User (you can create a new one in XP Home as well) this could be corrected in the following way:
*As user having the problem, make profile local (Right-Click My Computer/Properties. Advanced Tab. User Profiles - Settings. Find Username. Change to Local Profile)
*Log onto PC as a DIFFERENT Administrative User.
*Goto C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME of person having problem.
*Double-Click "Local Settings" (this file is hidden, you will need to show hidden files)
*Delete ALL folders EXCEPT Application Data.
*Restart PC.
*Log in as person having problem and check settings. This usually fixes the problem, which has been known to reoccur occasionally. If so, do the same thing again.

I have this problem with several win 2000 (SP3 and 4) machines running IE6. It appears to be caused by a corrupt cookie and can sometimes be resolved by just deleting cookies - not through internet options but through windows explorer and deleting from the profile and then rebooting. however on some of the machines the problem has reocured, possibly because the users are picking up the same corrupt cookie but more likely this is a buigger flaw in windows.
Sometimes when it happens it also just resolves itself, possibly the cookie that is causing the problem expires.

Temporary Internet Files (TIF)
© Copyright Kelly Theriot MS-MVP(DTS) 2004 All rights reserved.

Internet Explorer (IE) can enter a state where it almost immediately hangs and starts to use 100 percent of CPU time. In particular, trying to delete Temporary Internet files via Tools, Internet Options triggers this behavior. Also, all attempts to delete files or folders from %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files (or wherever the Temporary Internet files folder is located) causes Windows Explorer to hang. This behavior occurs because the Temporary Internet files database is corrupt.

The Temporary Internet files aren't really files but entries in %systemdrive%\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat. Deleting that file solves the problem.

Exit IE and Windows Explorer (iexplore.exe and explorer.exe, respectively, in Task Manager). Use the following command from a command prompt to delete the file:

Type in cd.. enter, cd.. enter then paste this line:
del "%userprofile%\local settings\temporary internet files\content.ie5\

***********************************************

Empty Temp Folders v2.8.3
Freeware



http://www.danish-shareware.dk/soft/emptemp/index.html

Clear History

Temp Files: IE/Tools/Internet Options/Delete Temporary Internet Files
Temp Files: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temp & TIF
Cookies: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Cookies
History: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\History

Typed URL's: Start/Run/Regedit: Open your registry and find the key below and delete any value you want to remove.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\TypedURLs

Clearing History May Not Remove Pages You Visited Today in Internet Explorer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;en-us;Q323687


Clear Recent File Lists Tool

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/ClearRecent.Exe


Prevent History of Typed URL's and Prevent Document History Registry Edits

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Removes your Internet history in Internet Explorer and Netscape. Clears the address list drop-down, cached files, history and cookies. In Windows it clears the TEMP folder and Recycle Bin, the run history, recent documents, and find files history. It also deletes locked files ("index.dat" and files that are in use by applications). Clean out Usage Tracks in Windows



Clear Search History

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru. Delete the key. To prevent keeping a history altogether, right click ACMru/Permissions/Deny all users and groups listed.

Clear Search History under Search (Line 24)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Clear Recent File Lists - Clears Search History
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/ClearRecent.Exe



© Copyright Kelly Theriot MS-MVP(DTS) Win98/XP 2004 All rights reserved.

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\ntuser.ini (hidden file)

Deleting this file logged in as local administrator of the computer then logging out and logging in as the user account with the problems will resolve this issue.

My question is, does anyone know a way to prevent this from occurring? There are fixes for it, but the prevention and cause is what I am concerned with.

Thanks.

hi
i've just resolved this problem with XP Pro and IE6 SP1 (after 14 hours trying different techniques!).
after trying to delete temp files folder under dos (sorry command prompt), and restoring local settings from back-ups and even restoring user profiles (cos other user profile did not have problem!) and trying to uninstall/re-install ie6 (difficult with xp as its embedded!) have found the only way is to do:

win xp install cd in drive and at run command or cmd prompt:
"sfc /scannow".

this checks all files and settings against the original files and re-installs and correct configuration as required. worked a treat!

only problem is you then need to re-install all updates off the MS site.

madhouse