Clearing Your Computer's Cache Memory

From time to time, our computers need a bit of "refreshing," especially if used daily to surf the Internet, and even more so if you're scratching your head, wondering what "clear the cache" means in the first place.

No worries. We're here to help.

Briefly, "clearing the cache" means to get rid of niggling bits of information your computer has tucked away to make its life easier. Over time, it becomes like a pack rat, storing pieces of information (some of these are referred to as "cookies") here and there and, over time, this information clutters its 'thinking' and processing time, sometimes preventing it from having a clear thought to begin with. Much like your desk at work, saving THIS note, THAT memo, THIS reminder, THAT phone number, etc.; pretty soon, your desk looks like an overflowing wastebin of information which may or may not be relevant.

Clearing the cache (think of the cache as its "desk"), is a way to safely sweep it clean of all the bits, crumbs, and pieces of minutia its collected over time and get back to just the basics: a phone, perhaps a picture of your family, and a pencil holder.

Here's a link that, depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, will help you do just that. Simply find the browser (typically Windows Explorer or Mac Safari or Firefox) and follow the simple instructions.

Clearing cache for all browsers:
http://support.google.com/accounts/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=32050

Browser versions are upgraded all the time, so if you can't find your specific browser version (Firefox, Chrome, Explorer, etc.) in the link above, you can simply Google your question: "Clear cache for all browsers," for example. You'll find numerous links to help you do this bit of necessary housekeeping. You can also search your browser's help menu.

Note: clearing the cache sometimes means that the computer will "lose" your login information for certain sites, perhaps even this one. So, be aware that you may have to have your user ID(s) and password(s) handy for those sites the next time you visit. The entire process of storing these bits of information starts over again, so you'll likely only have to do this once for each unique site you visit which requires login information. After that, your computer will "cache" this information, having it at the ready for the next time you visit...that is, until you clear your cache again.

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