Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600) AOL
I've been playing games on this one web site, and some games load and some (3 or 4) do not load all the way - 99/95% and get stuck. I've installed Flash and Shockwave, and ran Microsoft Active X control pad, but didn't make any difference. Still stuck. Anyone have any ideas?? Thanks!!!

I note that you are using AOL. Are you trying to load these games in the AOL browser, or something different, like Internet Explorer? I suggest you try a different browser and see if that affects the game loading.

But first I suggest you delete all Temporary Internet Files and all cookies. You can do that in the Control Panel --> Internet Options --> General tab.

Use the Delete Files button and I would suggest you delete the off-line content, too.

Then use the Delete Cookies button to delete all cookies. You will need to log-in at your next visit to any Website where you had used the "Remember Me" button.

Once that is complete, I suggest you delete all temporary files that are in the TEMP folder.

To do that, Click:
Start
Run
Type in: %temp%
Click OK
Once the TEMP folder opens:
Click Edit --> Select All and then press the Delete key.

You may get a dialog box saying that some file(s) cannot be deleted. That will be because it is running and so cannot be removed. Just OK the dialog dialog box and move to the next file in sequence and remove all again. This may happen several times. Once this is complete restart your computer and go back and delete any files that did not delete before. If you still have some that will not delete, try removing them in Safe Mode.

To start the computer in Safe Mode:
1. Restart the computer.
2. At the very first window on the screen, repeatedly press and release the F8 key until you see the Windows Start Menu.
3. Select Safe Mode and login under your own login unless you're not an Administrator. If that is the case, login as the Administrator.

Once open in Safe Mode, again open the TEMP folder and use Edit --> Select All and delete the remainder of the temporary files.

I'm suggesting you remove both the Temporary Internet Files and the temporary files in case something in there is damaged or corrupted and is causing the problems.

Finally, on-line games site often have a lot of spyware type software associated with them. They use these advertisers to pay them for their services. You may wish to run Ad-Aware, Spybots and Spyware Blaster (this one is the most important, in my mind) to rid your system of problem files. You will find more information about these on my site: here.

Dwight

As ever Dwight, you had the right solution. I did delete the files and cookies you suggested, and the problem was resolved. I run Spyware Blaster & Spybot, so don't have much of a problem with ads. Thank you for the info. I knew I could get some help here.

Dwight, out of interest I tried "%temp%" and found nearly 300 files! Is it safe to delete them all? I ask because some, like Acrobat and IE5 (though I have IE6), sound like they're needed.

Thanks for your help.

I'm glad to hear that you'e system is working correctly again. Thank you for the feedback.

Dwight

Xanadu, temporary files are not intended to remain on your computer. In a perfect world, they would all automatically remove themselves once their task was completed but programmers have to be very careful with "delete" commands because if the wrong thing gets removed it can causer all kinds of problems.

So yes in most situations it is safe to remove temporary files. The only exception would be while downloading a file because the file is being saved "temporarily" in the TEMP folder, or during the actual install of a program, because the folder is being utilized to move files in and out for the installation process.

I hope this helps!

Dwight

Thanks for your speedy reply Dwight. I'll delete them all but keep them in my Recycle Bin for a day or two just in case!

Best program for safely clearing the computer files? Crap Cleaner from www.ccleaner.com (freeware)
It takes a few minutes to scan the Hard drive then displays a longish list of its findings (digs deeper than Windows own cleaner)
Note: do check the file list before you start and untick those items you want to Keep
Then Hit the Issues icon to access the Registry cleaner (very safe) Get rid of useless items such as dead links and Link pointing to nowhere
Worth running before you do a Defrag and there will be a noticable speed increase afterwards
Defragging is speeded up by a big percentage if you run this program first as Part of your housekeeping
And I posted this elsewhere. Its a how to set up and Run Guide for the program covers the same ground as I have said earlier. But there are some clear screenshots of the Program as well

quote:

Download.com have posted an easy to follow guide at: http://tinyurl.com/q7uw3

Ps Original Address is a mile long (hence the conversion)

Dwight, when I deleted all the programmes from my "temp folder, two of them, Vbe and Word8.0, didn't delete and this message appeared. This action may impact one or more registered programs. Do you want to continue?"

I chickened out and clicked "No" and left them. Would they cause a problem if deleted?

Probably not...but it also doesn't hurt to leave them there, unless they are corrupted and causing problems.

Files in the Temp folder do not need to be on the computer. If you opened the VBE folder for instance, you will probably see another folder. Open that and you would likely see another folder. Open that and you would see...nothing. It is just an empty folder. It does not hurt to remove empty folders because if the system needs these folders again (when updating, for instance) they will just be rewritten automatically.

I hope this helps!

Dwight