Clearing the Cache 101

A mini tutorial for beginners

Sunday, July 31, 2005 by Corky_O | Discussion: Tutorials

CLEARING THE CACHE 101

This is one of a number of mini tutorials that I plan on publishing in an effort to help beginner’s gain some knowledge and feel comfortable making changes to their GUI (Graphical User Interface). In this one, we will take a look at a useful option referred to as "Clearing the Cache".

Clearing the cache is a procedure which will allow you to force a program to load using the default startup settings. The cache is used by the Operating System and relevant program to load the program using any preferences the user has applied to it. For instance, if you are experiencing issues with a theme or widget behaving strangely, clearing the cache will allow the theme or widget to load using its default settings which the user can then modify as needed.

Note – I have created these tutorials using Windows XP with the default installation settings, so if you are using Windows 2000, you will need to locate the control panel options differently.


STEP #1 – Click the Start button > select Control Panel > click the Appearance and Themes category, and then click on the "Folder Options" link indicated in the image below.




STEP #2 – Click the View tab > select "Show hidden files and folders", and then click "Apply" as shown in the image below.




STEP #3 – Click the Start button > click My Computer > open the Local Disk (C:) > open the Documents and Settings folder > open your account folder (the one with your user name) > open the Local Settings folder > open the Application Data folder > open the Stardock folder.

The image below shows the contents of a typical Stardock cache folder (depending on which programs you have installed, you may have additional or fewer folders in the Stardock cache folder). To clear the cache, you just need to delete the folder for the program you want to clear. Note – the program for which you are clearing the cache must be unloaded (closed) before clearing the cache.




The DesktopX folder may contain folders for both Widgets and Current Theme. If you want to clear a specific widget, you can open the widget folder and delete the folder bearing the widget name. To clear the theme, delete the "Current Theme" folder.




In both images for Step #3, I have used the USERNAME label (indicated by the cursor arrow) to illustrate the position in the address where your user name should be.

Again, after clearing the cache, you can start the program and you should see the default start-up for that program.

I hope you found this mini tutorial useful. Until next time, have fun and "Keep On Customizing".
17 Reply 89 Referrals
Bichur
Reply #1 Sunday, July 31, 2005 10:40 PM

Nice Corky O!

Pictures too!

Assuming this and the others will posted on your home page, so I should be bookmarking that puppy - yes?

Bichur
Reply #2 Sunday, July 31, 2005 11:57 PM
okay, the Troll is slow today. Just realized where I was. 'Tis booked.

Lantec
Reply #3 Wednesday, August 24, 2005 8:10 PM
Great stuff Corky!!
This will be very useful. Thanks!

seldomseen
Reply #4 Friday, June 9, 2006 10:43 PM
Thanks, Corky O. Thanks, SB, for the link. I've wondered how to do this for literally years. Cool!

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #5 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:16 AM
Corky_O,

How Do I get the {Appearance and Themes} to show in my Control Panel

as for I have XP Pro with SP2 here is a Screen Shot Of my Control Panel list thses are the ones not in the SS
Taskbar and Start Menu [] User Accounts [] Windows CardSpace [] Windows Firewall [] Wireless Network Setup Wizard


[/URL]">WWW Link


[/URL]"/>

Thanks

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #6 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:18 AM
[url=http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitledrk3.png][img=http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4821/untitledrk3.th.png][/url]


WWW Link

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #7 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:20 AM
Sorry Hope this one works




">WWW Link

sViz
Reply #8 Saturday, April 28, 2007 3:14 AM
Hi, oxygenhazard. Just happened to be browsing through. I don't think you can add Appearance and Themes to the menu. However, everything you would find in 'Appearance and Themes', as you can see in Corky_O's first picture, is already listed in the menu. Display, folder options, taskbar & start menu are all there.

MySecret
Reply #9 Saturday, April 28, 2007 7:26 AM
Since this thread has been bumped up, IMHO this definitely should be included in the Essential articles section. This is probably one of the most referenced threads in the help forums.

In order to help the community things like this and Bebi's thread Skinning your PC
HERE should be in the Essential articles section

I know this is the weekend so this may be passed over but maybe someone will note this

It's My Secret

seldomseen
Reply #10 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:10 PM
maybe someone will note this


Yep!   

BUMP alternate clearing method--->

Poison5
Reply #11 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:44 PM
A question totally off subject? How do you take a screen shot like the one you showed here?


Bichur
Reply #12 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:55 PM
hit the prt scr (or print screen), then open a graphics program (like paint) - edit > paste

Bichur
Reply #13 Saturday, April 28, 2007 2:56 PM
or if you really like using object dock.. go get the Capture docklet

Poison5
Reply #14 Saturday, April 28, 2007 4:47 PM
hit the prt scr (or print screen), then open a graphics program (like paint) - edit > paste


Thank you Bichur

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #15 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:44 PM
sViz

Thanks For your reply just got back to this


g3aston_scavenger
Reply #16 Wednesday, August 13, 2008 8:31 AM
Hello ! Nice Job but...... We have tried to do this, but it does not work gives the same error ... but thanks for tip!

Disturbedcomputer
Reply #17 Saturday, July 24, 2010 9:32 PM

Can we Get an Updated one for Windows 7 64bit

cause when I go here C:\Users\DisturbedComputer\Local Settings

then click on Application Data  (Note it's just a short cut) can't find the real one

it just opens the same folder Local Settings and if I click it (Application Data) again same thing but each time

I click on Application Data it adds to the list EXample

C:\Users\DisturbedComputer\Local Settings\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data\Application Data

but still in Local Settings.

 

I can skip the Application Data  or not

C:\Users\DisturbedComputer\Local Settings\Application Data\Stardock

 and just click on Stardock

C:\Users\DisturbedComputer\Local Settings\Stardock

but they show the same thing

 

here is whats inside StarDock Folder

CursorFX, DesktopX, IconPackager, IconX, ObjectDockPlus

Note DesktopX is Empty  and IconX I don't even have it installed and I don't think it will let Win 7 users  but it is empty + one Empty Folder in it..

But No WindowBlinds Folder

 

 

 


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