Error Message: Error Initializing the Cache

ID: Q197310

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Internet Explorer, you may receive the following error message:

   Error Initializing the cache. Shutdown all programs and run scandisk
   or chkdsk. Delete the cache, cookies and history directories in your
   windows directory and then restart IE. If the problem persists
   reinstall IE.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if any of the following folders exists in the Winnt folder:

Temporary Internet Files
Cookies
History

The presence of any of these folders prevents the Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, and History folders that Internet Explorer needs to store cached data from being created.

This behavior can also occur if the thread that reads data from and writes data to these folders attempts to gain access to the folders before the they are created.

RESOLUTION

If a folder with one of the names listed above exists in the Winnt folder, remove the folder by either deleting it or moving it to another location. Then, run Internet Explorer Setup again.

If you receive the error message "Sharing violation, the file is being used by another application" when you try to move or rename a folder, you need to disable all non-default services from running in the background. To determine which are the default services, use the online Help. If the file system in use is NTFS, it could be a permissions issue.

Additional query words:

Keywords          : kbenv kberrmsg msient 
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 19, 1999