Difference between revisions of "Clearing the cache"

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(This page deserves more extensive revisions and fact-checking, but I've updated the essential step-by-step instructions in the meantime)
 
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{{KBmaster}}{{Navbox/Cache}} {{Todo|This page would love to be extensively revised, including tightening up sections, fact-checking of technical claims, and improved readability.}}
#REDIRECT [[Troubleshooting common performance problems]]
Second Life uses a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache cache], which is space on your hard drive used for quicker retrieval of inworld content after it's downloaded. Examples of cached data includes object info, textures, and Inventory item names. Similar in concept to a [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/customizing/clearcache.mspx web browser's cache], clearing the Second Life cache is a "refresh" which can help with various problems. While not a cure-all, it ''is'' a highly-recommended first step.
 
A common problem in Second Life is perceived inventory loss, which is a good term for when you search your inventory for something you recall being there recently, but it doesn't show up. When you experience [[How do I check for packet loss (network lag)|high packet loss]] "lag", the cache can be corrupted, meaning that when Second Life goes to look something up that actually ''is'' on our servers, it doesn't find it locally on your computer's cached inventory.
 
== Further details ==
 
Two area are impacted by the cache, travel and inventory. Numerous inventory problems are associated with the cache and travel can be slowed by it.
 
Once the cache becomes full it begins a process of swapping, switching out new textures for old one's this process slows rezzing time upon arrival at a SIM after teleporting. Clearing the cache can temporarily improve cache performance and rezzing speed.
 
Cloud Avatars is an indication that the cache is having problems swapping texture files or other associated inventory problems. Missing and corrupt texture files and items can also at times be repaired after a cache refresh. "Lost items"? See this link [http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Inventory_Page_The_Inventory_Recovery_Steps Inventory loss].
 
Note that initial searching is slower after cache refreshing as your inventory is re-cached, reloaded. Before and after keep a close eye on the number of items in Inventory. If this is not available click the "recent" items tab to view it there. The larger the inventory the more time it will take to reload it. Very large inventory might take 'some time" to reload.
 
Cache refreshing should be done infrequently. Those that travel more will need to clear it more frequently.
 
==Performance improvements==
 
Increase the cache size to its full 1GB size. This will reduce the intervals needed between cleanings.
 
Moving the cache to a second hard drive (if available) can slightly increase textures loading during travel as it creates an array of drives that can be used by multi-core processors to load SIM textures. A 15000 rpm hard drive will of course load the textures faster then a 7200 rpm hard drive.
 
For those with available RAM on their PC. [http://memory.dataram.com/products-and-services/software/ramdisk? RAMDisk] can be used. '''Perhaps only advanced users should attempt this method of improving cache performance due to advanced software installation and drive configuration concerns.
'''
 
== Clearing the cache from within the Second Life Viewer ==
 
# Choose '''Me''' menu > '''Preferences'''.
# Click '''Setup''' tab.
# Click the '''Reset''' button near '''Cache Location'''.
# After you're prompted, restart the Viewer.
 
==Clearing the Cache from Outside Second Life==
 
If you're sure of what you're doing, you can also clear your cache manually. With Second Life closed, go to the appropriate pathway and delete all the files inside the "cache" folder. [[User settings|Get more help on where to find these.]]
 
* '''Windows XP''' - <code>C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\SecondLife\cache</code>
** Alternatively, use environment variable <code>%APPDATA%</code> to shorten this path to: <code>%APPDATA%/SecondLife/cache</code>
* '''Windows Vista''' - <code>C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SecondLife\cache</code>
* '''Windows Vista Home Premium''' - <code>C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SecondLife\browser_profile\cache</code>
* '''Windows 7''' - <code>C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\SecondLife\browser_profile\Cache</code>
* '''Windows 7''' - <code>C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\SecondLife\</code> (Viewer version 1.23.5 (136262))
* '''Mac''' - <code>/Users/<username>/Library/Caches/SecondLife</code>
* '''Linux''' - <code>~/.secondlife/cache</code>
 
Note: It is possible to assign a file and folder location for the cache in your system by choosing the "browse" button as an option when clearing the cache.
 
[[Category:Support]] [[Category:Performance]] [[Category:Menus and Controls]] [[Category:Technical Issue]] [[Category:Improving Performance]] [[Category:Troubleshooting]] [[Category:General Second Life Software Information]] [[Category:General Help]]

Latest revision as of 08:35, 28 November 2011

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