How to Clear Your Browser Cache and TopSpeed Cache

Hi folks -- a few days ago, I mentioned that we'd fixed something that was causing some AIM Pages Profile problems (primarily Javascript errors), but that you might keep seeing them until you cleared your Web browser's cache and your AOL TopSpeed cache.

I'd promised more complete instructions. Here they are.

Now, first off, caching is just storing files locally on your computer. When your computer needs them again, it can just pull them from the cache, which is faster than having to download new copies.

Sometimes, outdated or otherwise bad versions of files get caught in your cache, so clearing your Web browser's cache is usually the first step you should take whenever you're experiencing any kind of Web problem:

Clearing Your Web Browser's Cache

Exact instructions will vary according to your specific Web browser. Generally, for Microsoft Internet Explorer, in the top menu bar, go to Tools > Internet Options > and hit Delete Files.

AOL 9.0 users can go to Keyword: Browser Settings [AOL client link] and click "Internet Explorer Settings" in the right column:

What you see at Keyword: Browser Settings.

Then, in the control panel that comes up, in the section marked "Temporary Internet Files", click "Delete Files:"

This is also where you can clear your cookies, if you need to do that -- the Delete Cookies button is just to the left of Delete Files.

In more rare cases (like this time around), you may also need to clear your TopSpeed cache, which is another kind of cache that's a feature of newer versions of the AOL 9.0 software (it allows Web pages to display faster).

If you have the newest version of AOL 9.0, it's really easy to clear your TopSpeed cache:

Clear Your TopSpeed Cache

While you're still at Keyword: Browser Settings:

1. Click the tab marked "Clear My Footprints."

2. Then, click the button that says "Clear My Footprints."

Click the Clear My Footprints button

3. Click yes to confirm.

Click Yes
If you like, you can manually select which items you want to clear, but clearing all is usually enough.

After you clear your browser cache and TopSpeed cache, you may need to restart your AOL software.

If your Keyword: Browser Settings doesn't look like this (like, it doesn't have the Clear My Footprints tab) -- you probably have an older version of the AOL 9.0 software. In that case, here's the easiest way to clear your TopSpeed cache that I've found:

1. Open the AOL System Information program by clicking Start > Programs > America Online > AOL System Information:

When the program opens up, go to the Utilities tab and click the Clear Browser Cache button:

Click the Clear Browser Cache Button

The tech folks tell me that, despite the name, this will also clear your TopSpeed footprint.

Incidentally, the current versions of the AOL System Info program are much prettier:

Again, you'll need to restart your AOL after you do all this.

So, that's how you clear your Web browser cache and your TopSpeed cache. Please let me know if you have any problems with these instructions, or if you have any problems to report.

Thanks -- Joe

Written by aimpagesteam Blog about this entry

This entry has 5 comments: (Add your own)

#5 Comment from zueykaluey
3/3/07 4:01 PM | Permalink

ok..heres the problem..my profile won't show up when you click " buddy info" or go into " my profile"...also...when i am in advanced edit mode, everything looks great...i click publish...& everything is all smushed up & overlapping...this is making me crazy..ok..crazier :) can you help ??
#4 Comment from tarapcroad
2/15/07 12:50 PM | Permalink

tarapcroad Hi Thank you so much for explaining this .The computer I was having problems wiith is currently getting a makeover,but I was almost pulling hair out triying to fix problems.! The way U explained it here I think I can even handle. Thanks again!
#3 Comment from mariebm56
2/14/07 7:28 PM | Permalink

Where would the footprints be on the MAC?
#2 Comment from scotthlori
10/9/06 1:33 PM | Permalink

Opps ... I forgot to say ... not even your comment (which was my one and only one thus far LOL) is showing up.

;o)

LORI
#1 Comment from scotthlori
10/9/06 1:29 PM | Permalink

Thanks for the comment on my profile page directing me here! Otherwise I wouldn't have known about it. =)

Last night was the first time, since I created my profile a couple weeks ago, that I've been able to get into my edit mode and get some more stuff added to my profile. I was VERY excited! LOL The only problem I had was I was adding my favorite artists to a music module. Every so often everything locked up and AOL (not responding) knocked me offline and I lost everything I'd done, 'cause it had not been published yet. Other than that, I has happy to make some changes to my page.

However, today, it is acting all screwy again. For instance, my background wasn't showing up {in edit mode} and things weren't where they were sopposed to be. I followed the above steps ... now my background shows up and things are where I positioned them. However, when I move my mouse over the modules to update them ... those buttons, update, style, and remove do no show up.

Thank you for any help. :o)

My profile page:
http://www.aimpages.com/scotthlori/profile.html

LORI

Who I am… underneath it all:
http://journals.aol.com/scotthlori/DiscoveringMe

Precious Metal (A Spiritual Journal)
http://journals.aol.com/scotthlori/PreciousMetal

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How to Clear Your Browser Cache and TopSpeed Cache