how do I clear Temporary Internet Files and Cookies from my computer?

Internet Explorer contains a cache/storage space where all visited web pages are stored. This is known as the Temporary Internet Files folder.

This folder's size and content needs to be kept managed to ensure the optimum performance from the browser and therefore your learndirect course.

To increase the size of your Internet Explorer browser cache please follow the guidance below:

1. Click 'Start' and select 'Control Panel' (Windows 98 and 2000 users may have to select 'Start', 'Settings' and then 'Control Panel').

2. On 'Control Panel' double click the icon called 'Internet Options'. This will open up a window called 'Internet Options'.

3. On 'Internet Properties' click the button called 'Settings'. This will open up a dialogue box called 'Settings'.

4. Ensure that the cache size ('Amount of disk space to use') is set to at least 1000MB and select 'Every visit to the page' for 'Check for newer versions of stored pages'. Once this has been completed click 'OK' and you will be taken back to the 'Internet Properties' window.

Having taken the above steps you can move onto clearing Temporary Internet Files and Cookies from your computer.

When you visit a site, a copy of the web page is saved on your hard drive in case you want to view it again at a later time. A cookie is a message given to a Web browser by a Web server. The browser stores the message in a text file called cookie.txt. The purpose of deleting cookies and temporary Internet files (cache) and clearing history is to create space and dispose of any stored pages which may contain errors.

5. On the 'Internet Properties' window click the button called 'Delete Files'. The following message box will appear:

6. Put a tick in the box entitled 'Delete all offline content' and click 'OK'. Once this is completed you will be taken back to the 'Internet Properties' window.

7. On the 'Internet Properties' window click the button called 'Clear History'. You will be presented with the following window:

8. Click 'Yes'. You will then be taken back to the 'Internet Properties' window.

9. On the 'Internet Properties' window click the 'Settings' button and then the button called 'View Files'. This will open a window called 'Temporary Internet Files' and will look similar to the following screen:

10. On the 'Temporary Internet Files' window click 'Edit' and then 'Select All'. Click the 'Delete' button on your keyboard and this will delete all temporary files including cookies. Once the screen has been cleared close the window down and click the 'OK' buttons to both the 'Settings' and 'Internet Options' windows.

11. You now need to log off the Internet and shut down your computer before restarting and trying again. Do not select 'Restart', as this does not always clear the problem.

Please contact learndirect Learner Services for further information.

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