Favorites folder over network?

(edit note - no one seems to have a clue about this first issue and the 2nd one is IE related so I'm moving the thread there. Newt)

Hi All,

I've gotten tired of trying to synchronize my favorites on two different computers so I've resorted to keeping them only on my desktop computer. This works OK (maybe a little slow) but I have had problems with the laptop 'remembering' where the favorites are located. For some unknown reason, it keeps wanting to revert to the default (local) location on the laptop. When it happens, I get all of my cookies and history files in my temp folder instead of the correct places. Any ideas what causes this?

Could someone post the proper relationship (folder structure) for the cookies, history, and temporary internet files?

I've resorted to running a batchfile on startup that merges a reg-file containing the correct informtion and it's been working OK. Just curious if anyone else is networking their favorites?

Russ

 

Need some advice here:

I am having trouble with IE6 building (and rebuilding, and rebuilding, and rebuilding) a "rogue" history folder in my Administrator temp directory. As I continually dump (delete) my temp directories, whatever is in there goes bye-bye! Why on earth is IE6 using the TEMP folder? Here's what I have on my desktop (all in order there ):

• C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.RAS001\Cookies
• C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.RAS001\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
• C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.RAS001\Local Settings\History

I duplicated this structure on my laptop and all is working OK, but I'm still getting this "rogue" history folder! Where the heck is it SUPPOSED to be? This is NOT the normal history folder with the different looking icon, just a regular looking folder. Here is the path to the only file in it (for now): C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\History\History.IE5\MSHist012003121720031218\index.dat

Russ

 

You have run across an issue with some (by design) seriously hidden folders. Use Agent Ransack as your search tool and search for mshist and you'll see several folders matching your desciption. They are part of the history that is marked Read Only and won't allow you a normal option to change that.

However, I did play around a little and from the Agent Ransack results screen, I can delete the ones that belong to other accounts than the one I'm logged on with. A note on something I observed but haven't tried to find specifics. When I deleted
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012002052120020522
it didn't come back after a reboot although all the normal account folders were rebuilt. None except mine after I ran IE had any contents though. Mine had a brand new copy of index.dat.

It sounds like you have some problem with the folder or with a file within that folder and need a clean start.

My preference for this is an app called Spider. I've had at least one person say it doesn't work as it should for them with XP but it's doing fine on my 3 XP pro systems including one w/o SP1 loaded. Wipes out all those hidden indexes and gives me a clean start.

Spider is probably a safer option than deleting the folders. I haven't seen any problems yet but something may jump out and bite me later on.

 

Newt, am I killing you yet? Appreciate all you do, bud!

I noticed that my '...history.ie5\mshist...\index.dat' file was changing yesterday as I visited different pages, but today it remains locked on yesterday's date and time. For some reason, today's browsing is not affecting that particular file. I'll delete it in a minute or two.

My network just disconnected again, and of course, my favorites 'pointer' has defaulted back to "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Favorites" instead of "\\Ras001\c\Documents and Settings\Administrator.RAS001\Favorites" as it SHOULD! Wish I could get a handle on that one. Oh, well - the registry merge batch file for now!

Russ

 

For what it's worth, I deleted that file (and folder structure) and it hasn't returned since. Don'y know how long it will last, though...

Russ

 

history.ie5\mshist...\index.dat

will return for any user who uses IE at their first use. It's normal and usually not an issue.

 

Favorites

I'll stick my 2 cents in here. I share my favorites across a network with a laptop and keep things in synch. I only share the favorites, I dont care about the cookies and the history being the same on both computers. I use the offline files feature availabe on xp pro & Win 2K. Pointing the shell folder to the network folder is an easy enough task and it always the same on all computers since I synch on logon.

 

Dumping my temp file is no longer an issue. The index.dat file that I thought was causing me grief was a completely different problem. As Newt stated, it comes and goes and causes no problems. Thanks to all who added input here.

dr_gle: Have you ever experienced a network crash? If so, does your favorites folder get moved? I've had several (possibly wireless related?) and EVERY time it crashes, my favorites folder 'location' gets scrambled. When the favorites location is 'moved' by this 'magical' method, I have mucho problems with other system folders getting out of position. So now whenever this happens, I just reboot and let my reg file merge everything back where it should be.

Russ

 

Favorites

When you use the offline files if you disconect from the network the computer behaves as is if it is still connected. It has done some weird things every once in a while but simply use the tweak program to redirect. Doesnt happen often where it is an issue. I also share my Outlook .pst file this way. So when I take the laptop on the road and I return all files synch & are all the same on all computers.