the first thing to try when you have those kinds of problems is to clear the cache in your browser, if you are using Internet Explorer click on Tools up top then internet options then on the first tab thre is an option to delete cookies and temporary internet files you need to do that. Clear all that out. In firefox it is tools, options, privacy, clear private data and make sure cookies, and temp files are checked to clear.

I think that is what it says and where they are, I am on my linux pc right now so can not check IE and the firefox on linux is different, but that should get you in the right area.

Clear out that stuff on a regular basis, and you can actually go into the advanced settings and change how much of that stuff it saves, cutting it down may help so it does not build up as bad. There are options to have it delete all of them each time you close the browser.
Try that and see if it helps any.

Did you use Vista and by chance recently installed SP1?

DA

No Vista here.
I clean my cache all the time, but I am going to get back in there and check the settings and fiddle around some.
Thanks ya'll.

You could also consider using the free utility CCleaner. It does a deeper cleaning than the on-board Windows utility. CCleaner is user friendly and is often recommended here at the Forum.

The only caveat is that unless a user knows when he/she is doing it should only be used at the default installation settings; so just ignore the Advance option.

DA

Thanks, I will try this.

I am glad I read this thread. I recently changed my server and the old email addresses keep coming up. I followed the above instructions for firefox and got rid of the wrong addresses. Thanks

I use ATF cleaner.. what all should I check to clean? What problems will clearing the cookies cause me? I don't see the regular cache there only Java. BTW I use FireFox.
Dar

to clear the cache in firefox Tools options the privacy tab then go to where it says cookies you can set them there and if you click the button there you can adjust the settings etc for it, on down you see the private data area click on settings there to tell it what exactly you want it to clear when you choose to clear it then hit the clear button.

if you are seeing java choices you are on the content tab not the privacy tab go to the privacy tab.

I do not use ATF so no idea.

Raven,
That's how I clear cashe but I'm afraid to clear cookies..The java cashe is in ATF. Won't I lose all my settings & pass words if I delete cookies?

I've never lost my settings, but did have to sign in at places like this. When I started using CCleaner, it has a place to save the cookies you want to save.

A lot of the cookies can be deleted without a problem. However, cookies used by your anti-virus and spy checker software should not be deleted. Delete these and the updaters may not work anymore.

If you open the your "cookie" list, right clicking on a cookie may bring up its property list and reveal the software with which it is associated.

Actually based on Sugar's comments I search for ATF Cleaner and found Majorgeeks offer it as a download. I trust Majorgeeks implicitly so downloaded the program. What I did not like was that the user has to select which items to tick and which to leave empty. For many novice users that can be a challenge. Ccleaner on the other hand does all the thinking and most users can successfully clean with the default settings.

The Ccleaner deleted all of the cookies, I had to highlight and click "move" to the other side. Maybe the software has changed.

Yes Ccleaner removes all cookies but if you wish to retain certain ones it is very simple.

Open Ccleaner, click Options then click Cookies and a long list of "Cookies to delete" show on the left side. Simply drag any you want protected over to the right side. Done.

I just ran ccleaner for the windows section - and did whatever their defaults were. Did I delete cookies I need? How do I get them back? And - at a more basic level- what are cookies? I wouldn't even have thought about selecting which ones or that this was an issue if I hadn't come hear and searched threads about ccleaner.

The reason I started searching was because I did the ccleaner for windows. I wasn't sure I should do it for applications. It scared me and looked like it might delete a whole bunch of programs. Or does it just delete the irrelevant parts of these applications. Should I run ccleaner for applications? What should I do about the cookies I already erased.

thanks.
Lynn.

What are cookies: See the link please.

Here is a link that might be useful: What are Cookies

Lynn if you run Ccleaner at the default settings you have nothing to fear, it really is a very nice program.

Regarding the cookies, it deletes all of them but when you re-visit a site it will replace it so there is nothing to fear there either. I have a few cookies moved into the protected area. These are sites where I am signed in so by saving those I do not need to have to sign in after using Ccleaner.

To protect any cookies from deletion open Ccleaner, click Options, Click Cookies. Then move any you want protected over to the right side. Done.

Do I run ccleaner for the applications as well as windows? Is that considered part of the default settings?

As for cookies, thanks for the link. Now I understand why sometimes I have to re-login here and sometimes I don't (same for a few other sites). So those are cookies keeping that login information. Will it be obvious to me which cookies those are for those sites?

Thanks again.
Lynn.

Ccleaner does not touch your applications, it does however look for orphaned files which have been left behind by an untidy uninstaller and removes that debris. This is why it is a nice time to run a defrag immediately after Ccleaner as all the garbage is removed making the tidy up more meaningful.

Yes all the cookies you need to protect will have straightforward names. This site is ivillage and/or ths.gardenweb.com you will recognise any others you need