How do I clear the cache in my browser?
Answer
If you are having trouble connecting to a library database, try clearing the cache on your browser or click the "Ask A Question" tab to the right of the screen to contact us. Another reason is that a vendor does not support the browser you are using. As of July 2017, EBSCO databases will no longer support Internet Explorer 8 or 9 because of security risks.
One reason why your access to a library database might fail is that there may be an old copy of one of the database’s pages in your browser's cache that is conflicting with the current version of the page. To rectify this situation, please clear your cache. Click anywhere on the browser window and then press and hold CTRL-SHIFT-DELETE at the same time. The clear history window will pop up and allow you to delete history and cookies. Alternately, you can use the following instructions:
If you use Internet Explorer:
- Leave the database page (load any other Web site, so long as it is not the database you are trying to access).
- Click on "Tools."
- Choose "Internet Options."
- Select the "General" tab.
- Click on the "Delete" button.
- Click on the "Delete Files" button and then click "Yes" to clear the cache.
- Click the "Close" button.
- Click the "OK" button.
If you use Mozilla/Firefox:
- Leave the database page (load any other Web site, so long as it is not the database you are trying to access).
- Click on "Tools."
- Select "Clear Recent History."
- Put a checkmark in the box next to "Cache."
- Click the "Clear Now" button.
- Click the "OK" button.
If you use Safari:
- Leave the database page (load any other Web site, so long as it is not the database you are trying to access).
- In the Safari menu bar, click the "Safari" option.
- Click the "Clear History" link.
- In the Clear drop-down menu, select the time range where you want to clear browsing data.
- Click the "Clear History" button.
If you use Chrome:
- Leave the database page (load any other Web site, so long as it is not the database you are trying to access).
- In the Chrome toolbar, click the "menu" option.
- Select the "More Tools" link.
- Click the "Clear Browsing Data" link.
- In the Data drop-down menu, select the time range where you want to clear browsing data.
- Select the "Cookies and other site and plug-in data" and "Cached images and files" checkboxes.
- Click the "Clear Browsing Data" button.
To manually clear your cookie and memory caches:
Internet Explorer on Windows 9x/Me
1. Close Internet Explorer, if it is running. Click “Start > Run.”
2. In the Run dialog box, enter the following: explorer c:
3. When Explorer opens, your home directory should be your C: drive.
4. From this display, double-click the "Windows" folder.
5. If necessary, click "Show Files" if there are no files displayed.
6. Double-click the "Cookies" folder.
7. In this folder, click once on the first file listed. After it is selected, choose "Select All" from the Edit menu.
8. After all the files become selected (highlighted), choose "Delete" from the File menu. This will remove all the permanent cookies from your hard drive.
9. When all the files have been deleted (click "yes" if prompted), click the “Back” button or “Up” button to return to the Windows folder.
10. From the Windows folder, double-click on "Temporary Internet Files."
11. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to delete any cached documents or temporary cookies.
Internet Explorer on Windows 2000/XP
1. Close Internet Explorer, if it is running. Click “Start > Run.”
2. In the Run dialog box, enter the following: explorer c:
3. When Explorer opens, your home directory should be your C: drive.
4. From this display, double-click the "Documents and Settings" folder.
5. Double-click on the folder labeled with your name. If you do not normally log on to Windows with your name, the folder may be called Owner or default.
6. Double-click the "Cookies" folder.
7. In this folder, click once on the first file listed. After it is selected, choose "Select All" from the Edit menu.
8. After all the files become selected (highlighted), choose "Delete" from the File menu. This will remove all the permanent cookies from your hard drive.
9. When all the files have been deleted (click “yes” if prompted), click the “Back” button or “Up” button to return to the folder containing your user name.
10. From this folder, double-click on "Local Settings." *Note: This folder may be hidden. To view hidden files and folders, see the steps listed below.*
11. In the Local Settings folder, double-click on the "Temporary Internet Files" folder.
12. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to delete any cached documents or temporary cookies.
*To view hidden files and folders:
1. Open My Computer.
2. From the Tools menu, select "Folder Options."
3. Click the "View" tab.
4. Under the Hidden files and folder section, place a dot in "Show hidden files and folders."
5. Click “OK.”
Internet Explorer on Windows Vista
1. Close Internet Explorer, if it is running. Click “Windows Logo > Run.”
2. Click “Computer."
3. Select the hard disk drive that contains Windows (normally C:)
4. Navigate to:
Windows Vista - C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\Low
Windows 7 - C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
5. Click “Name” to sort the files.
6. Scroll through the list of sites to find any cookies from any of the library database sites :
If you find any cookies from any of the above sites, right-click on the cookie and delete those files.
7. Close the Windows Explorer window.
*To view hidden files and folders:
1. Open My Computer
2. From the Tools menu, select "Folder Options."
3. Click the "View" tab.
4. Under the Hidden files and folder section, place a dot in "Show hidden files and folders."
5. Click “OK.”
Mozilla/Firefox
1. Leave the database page (load any other Web site, so long as it is not the database you are trying to reach).
2. Click on "Tools."
3. Go to "Options."
4. Click on the "Privacy" button.
5. Click on the "remove individual cookies" link.
6. Scroll through the list of sites to find any cookies from the library database sites
If you find any cookies from any of the above sites, click on the cookie to highlight it and then click the "Remove Cookies" button.
7. Click "OK" once you have removed all of the pertinent cookies.
8. Restart your browser so that the changes can take effect.
After you have manually cleared your cookies, please go to the Library Resources page (https://bulldogs.tlu.edu/library), navigate to the database page of your choice, and click the link to the database you want to access.