Dreamweaver creates a cache file called WinFileCache-********.dat or MacFileCache-********.dat inside your personal Dreamweaver configuration folder (the asterisks represent a series of letters and numbers that might differ from computer to computer). This occasionally gets corrupted causing instability, unpredictable error messages, and even crashes.

To solve the problem, close Dreamweaver and delete WinFileCache-********.dat or MacFileCache-********.dat. Sometimes, deleting this file is not sufficient, and you need to delete your personal configuration folder in its entirety.

WARNING: Do not confuse your personal configuration folder with the main configuration folder in Program Files in Windows or Applications on a Mac. You should never touch the main configuration folder unless you really know what you're doing.

Locating your personal configuration folder

The location of the personal configuration folder depends on your operating system and version of Dreamweaver. For Dreamweaver CS4, CS5 & CS5.5, it’s as follows:

• Windows 7/Vista: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Dreamweaver CSx\<language>\Configuration
• Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Adobe\Dreamweaver CSx\<language>\Configuration
• Mac OS X: Macintosh HD:<username>:Library:Application Support:Adobe:Dreamweaver CSx:<language>:Configuration

In all cases, <username> is the name of your user account on the computer, CSx is CS4, CS5 or CS5.5, and <language> indicates the language of your operating system. The language is usually represented by two pairs of characters separated by an underscore, as in en_US (English), es_ES (Spanish), or fr_FR (French).

Earlier versions of Dreamweaver locate the personal configuration folder in a slightly different location. This is where it can be found in Dreamweaver CS3:

• Windows 7/Vista: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Dreamweaver 9\Configuration
• Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Adobe\Dreamweaver 9\Configuration
• Mac OS X: Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:Library:Application Support:Adobe:Dreamweaver 9:Configuration

The personal configuration folder for Dreamweaver 8 and older is in a similar location, except you should replace "Adobe" with "Macromedia" and substitute the appropriate version of Dreamweaver in the path name.

The Dreamweaver configuration folders are hidden on Windows, so you need to enable the option to view hidden files and folders in order to locate them, as follows:

• In Vista, select Start > Computer > Organize > Folder and Search Options > View. In Advanced settings, choose Show hidden files and folders.
• In Windows XP, select Start > My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View. In Advanced settings, choose Show hidden files and folders.

Once you turn on this option, hidden folders are displayed as dimmed icons to remind you to treat them with care.