Browser Maintenance
by Mary Miehl, Gazette Tech Editor
Tending to Your Browser's Upkeep So Your Browser Can Keep Up with You...
Your browser is the application program that you use to view and travel around the World Wide Web. You may be using Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, NeoPlanet, Opera, or any one of the numerous alternative browsers available. For further information about Web Browsers see Whatis?com.
Your Browser's Cache
It may help to think of your browser's cache as being something like that corner of your kitchen's countertop or the top of your bedroom dresser. It's the place where you empty your pockets and place various items that you know you will be using again very soon, thus finding it a waste of time and energy to tuck them away in a more permanent location. In like manner, your browser caches webpage files on your Hard Drive in order to help you move about the Internet faster. If your browser comes across pages that haven't changed since your last visit to a site, it will load the cached pages from the hard drive cache instead of the Internet, thereby speeding the loading process. Just as your counter or dresser top "cache" becomes full, so does your browser's cache. When your cache size limit is met, your system deletes the older unused files. However, the more there is to search through, the longer it takes to find what you seek. So now this time saving tool actually starts to slow you down and you now know it's time to clean it up. In addition to experiencing browser slow-down, you may occasionally receive error messages or not be able to access a page that you have been accessing in the past. This is probably due to a damaged cache file. These error messages may say something about a "corrupt" file. Corrupt is such a harsh word to use for a file that just didn't get saved correctly, but that's the word the computer people use, don't let it frighten you or make you feel like running of to the nearest confessional. If you run into a problem like this, rest assured that a solution to your problem is just a few clicks away. If only our real life's problems were this easily resolved.
Setting Cache Preferences
Since many of the pages on our favorite site, Teachers.Net are constantly changing, you will want to set your preferences to check for newer versions of the page every time you view a page on the site.
Netscape Communicator
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Open Netscape by double clicking the icon on your desktop (this is what you see on your computer screen before you launch any programs or with all other active windows minimized).
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At the top, click Edit, then Choose Preferences from the list below.
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On the left side of the screen look for the Advanced section.
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Click the + sign next to Advanced, Choose the Cache option below.
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On the Right side close to the bottom under "Document is cache is compared to document on network:" select "Every time."
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Click Ok at the Bottom.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
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From the Tools menu select "Internet Options" at the bottom of the pop-up list.
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With the "General" tab selected, under "Temporary Internet files" in the middle of the screen, click on the "Settings" button.
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At the top under "Check for newer versions of stored pages:" select "Every visit to the page."
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Click OK and then OK again.
How to clear your cache (Temporary Internet Files)
Netscape Communicator
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Open Netscape by double clicking the icon on your desktop.
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At the top, click Edit, then Choose Preferences from the list below.
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On the left side of the screen look for the Advanced section.
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Click the + sign next to Advanced, Choose the Cache option below.
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On the Right side there are two buttons "Clear Disk Cache" and "Clear Memory Cache" Press both of those buttons.
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Click Ok at the Bottom.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
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From the Desktop (this is what you see on your computer screen before you launch any programs or with all other active windows minimized), Look for the icon that says Internet or Internet Explorer
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Click that icon with your right mouse button, choose properties from the menu that appears.
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On the General Tab, in the middle of the screen there is a section that says Temporary Internet Files.
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Click the button that says Delete Files.
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Click Ok at the bottom.
Other Browsers
Use your browsers "Help" to find out how to clear the temporary Internet files.
Note: Most programs have a "Help" menu. These are very handy and a great way to learn about the program you are using. Always refer to these help features. They are like a built in manual that explains all the features of each program.
Your Browser's History
In a Web browser, the history is a list of Web sites the computer has visited. This list remains in a computer's memory for a pre-determined number of days. You can set the number of days the computer retains its history in the browser's preferences. History can be used to backtrack where you have gone on the Web. Internet Explorer history can be viewed by clicking on the History icon which resembles a sun dial in the browser toolbar. Netscape history can be viewed by clicking on the word "Communicator" followed by "Tools" and then "History".
How to Clear your History
Note: If your kids don't know about this, don't tell them. Viewing the history is a good way to monitor where your children have gone while online.
Netscape Communicator
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From the desktop, click Start, go to Find (in the Mac environment use the "File" menu to go to Find).
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In the Named box, type netscape.hst
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In the Look In box, make sure it says C: or Local Hard Drives
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Press Find now.
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At least 1 file should be found. There may be more than one.
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Verify that they are all named netscape.hst
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Highlight & Delete all of the files listed.
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Close the Find window.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
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From the Desktop, Look for the icon that says Internet or Internet Explorer
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Click that icon with your right mouse button (click and hold on a Mac), choose properties from the menu that appears.
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On the General Tab, in the middle of the screen there is a section that says History
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Press the Clear History Button.
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Click Ok at the bottom.
Frequent cleaning up of your browser's files will make your surfing experiences hassle free so don't forget to perform these simple tasks on a regular basis. If only our kitchen counters and dresser tops could be cleaned as easily.
For more interesting Browser information surf over to ZDNet's "Help & How-To: Browsers Quick Start Guide."
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