Clear Browser Cache

Once you've obtained a registration code and used the Customizer Tool (or similar) to re-create the HTML code, you may have to clear your browser's cache so that the new HTML page / code is recognized by your browser.

So then, why does it seem as thought the images are stuck and won't update? What's going on here?

Here's a brief summary. Your web browser saves (caches) a copy of every page you display so that when you return to the page (without explicitly reloading) the browser can load its copy of the page and save having to pull another copy of the page across the Internet. This means faster browsing and less time waiting for a page to load. However, sometimes browsers hang onto their local copies longer than they should, and you can end up viewing an out-of-date page. With slow-changing websites this is usually not a problem. But, with the GOES website, the images are updated every 30 minutes.

Some users set their browser preferences to check every single time they visit a web site, effectively eliminating this problem, but that slows down your session with the extra chatter necessary between your browser and the Internet, reducing the speed savings of the (normally well-behaved) cache files. Most folks just set their browser cache check to "Automatic" or "First Time Each Session" (depending on browser type and version). Savvy users reload everything anyway having learned to never trust their computers. Top-notch users periodically flush out their browser caches as a general maintenance and preventative procedure.

Then there is the misbehaving firewall/proxy server problem, which is outside of both our hands and yours, generally requiring the intervention of your ISP's technicians or your system administrators to correct the problem.

If reloading or refreshing doesn't update the homepage and you think it should, then see the following section "The Stuck Browser Cache Fix" for ways to fix that problem.

• For Internet Explorer (Windows)

• For Internet Explorer (Macintosh)

• For Netscape

• For Firefox

• For Safari

Internet Explorer 4.0

1. Click the Windows Start Button, select Settings and Control Panel
2. Double-click Internet Options to open Internet Properties
3. Click Delete Files
4. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box
5. Click OK

Internet Explorer 5.0

1. Click the Windows Start Button, select Settings and Control Panel
2. Double-click Internet Options to open Internet Properties
3. Click Delete Files
4. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box
5. Click OK

Internet Explorer 6.0

1. Click the Windows Start Button, select Settings and Control Panel
2. Double-click Internet Options to open Internet Properties
3. Click Delete Files (Do not select Delete Cookies. Delete Cookies removes all the cookies stored on the computer
4. Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box
5. Click OK

Internet Explorer 7.0

1. Click the Windows Start Button, select Settings and Control Panel
2. Double-click Internet Options to open Internet Properties
3. Click Delete Files
4. Click Delete button across from Temporary Internet Files
5. Click Yes
6. Click Close
7. Click OK

Tip: You can adjust your Internet Explorer 6 or 7 settings to automatically clear the cache whenever you close Internet Explorer 6 or 7.

Go to the Tools menu, and click Internet Options. Click the Advanced tab. In the "Settings" box, scroll down to the section labeled "Security," and click to check the box next to the "Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed" option. Click OK to finish. This option does not delete cookies, but it will clear your cache of other files when you close your browser.

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 4.0

1. Open Netscape
2. Click Edit and select Preferences
3. Click Advanced
4. Click Cache
5. Click Clear Memory Cache
6. Click Clear Disk Cache
7. Click OK

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 6.0

1. Open Netscape
2. Click Edit and select Preferences
3. Click Advanced
4. Click Cache
5. Click Clear Memory Cache
6. Click Clear Disk Cache
7. Click OK

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 7.0

1. Open Netscape
2. Click Edit and select Preferences
3. Click the Triangle next to Advanced to expand it
4. Click Cache
5. Click Clear Cache
6. Click OK

Netscape Communicator / Navigator 8.0

1. Open Netscape
2. Click Tools and select Options
3. Select Privacy under Options on the left side of the screen
4. Click Cache
5. Click Clear Cache
6. Click Clear
7. Click OK

Mozilla Firefox 1.0

1. Open Firefox
2. Click Tools and select Options
3. Click the Privacy Icon.
4. Click Clear across from the Cache option
5. Click Ok
6. Exit and relaunch the browser

Mozilla Firefox 2.0

1. Open Firefox
2. Click Tools and select Options
3. Click the Privacy Icon
4. Click Clear Now in the Private Data area
5. Click Ok
6. Exit and relaunch the browser

Safari 1.0 / Safari 2.0

1. Open Safari
2. Select Empty Cache
3. Click Empty on the Are you sure message box
4. Exit and relaunch the browser

Internet Explorer 4.0, 4.01, 4.5, and 5.0 for Macintosh

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click Edit and select Preferences
3. Click the arrow beside Web Browser
4. Click Advanced
5. Click Empty Now
6. Click Ok
7. Exit and relaunch the browser