# clearing IE cache. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276 "2004-01-02T14:13:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/1 "2004-01-02T14:13:43Z")
Like I said, I’m pissed, at me. It seems like every 2-5 days I have to restart a locked up computer. I run XP. on a 2.4Gh comp running ie. massive RAM. Never had this problem on my 566Mhz w/ 32 M RAM. With XP on the same. SDMB has given so many links lately I can’t stop going to the links for info. These are non-virus sites. Just trust me. I assume the lock-up is forcing me to restart to clear the cache and run normal, but I can’t find how (OK, I’m lazy, but SDMB made me so 😜 ) How can I clear it so it doesn’t remember a site I spent 30 seconds on to see what posters are referring to? No, they’re not porn sites I’m at. This has to be something in XP I can’t find. Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/2 "2004-01-02T16:28:30Z")
Did you try making the size of the cache smaller or larger? In IE: Tools - Internet Options - General Tab - Temporary Internet Settings “Settings…” button ---
**Author:** ![Patr100](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Patr100](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patr100)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/3 "2004-01-02T16:54:23Z")
Or try a “repair” of IE. ---
**Author:** ![Phage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a4c791/32.png) [@Phage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phage)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/4 "2004-01-02T17:08:39Z")
Your problem may or may not be the cache, but I have found that IE gets flaky with even moderate use. Considering you are going to multiple sites, you are also probably begging for a tabbed browser and don’t even know it. Personally I prefer to use [Opera](http://www.opera.com), but others like [Mozilla](http://www.mozilla.org) as well. Seriously, check these programs out. They are free, and don’t change your IE in any way should you want to go back, although you never will. ---
**Author:** ![NazNomad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/edb3f5/32.png) [@NazNomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NazNomad)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/5 "2004-01-02T17:28:13Z")
I stopped using IE a few months back, due to the security risks. I found loads of spyware on my PC all the time, and when I started using Netscape instead of IE, the problem went away overnight. I also like the tabbed browsing and the option to allow or not allow cookies/pop-ups/etc. on individual sites/pages. It’s much more flexible and more secure. It’s also free. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/6 "2004-01-02T17:31:02Z")
IE’s cache handling sucks so bad. The only way I have been able to allow my Temporary Internet Files folder fill up without IE freezing all the time is to put my cache on my external firewire drive. If it’s on your C:\ drive you are begging for problems. I agree with **Phage** that you are probably begging for a tabbed browser. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clearing-ie-cache/222276/7 "2004-01-02T18:39:09Z")
Just cleaned up the title a bit. That’s all. Thank you for your understanding. - **xash** General Questions Moderator