EVERYTHING you need to know about JaGex cache files! [UID/Random.dat]
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Everything you need to know about JaGex cache files!
Hi, and thank you for taking the time to read this tutorial.
Browsig the forums, I was surpised to encounter a great amount of people unaware of the presence of uid.dat and random.dat on their computers.
This tutorial will cover basic knowledge about RuneScape cache files, also known as the UID.dat and the Random.dat files stored on your computer by JaGex at the startup of the RuneScape client.
If you’ve never heard about this before, the first natural question to pop up in your head is "What are these files?"
These files are files that are stored on your computer when you load the RuneScape client. As far as I know, no one except JaGex employees have knowledge of what theese files contain. But, I did some research on the .dat file extension. From what I managed to read, the file extension is used by some programs to mark that certain files with that extension simply contain data. Confused? Lets take matters into our own hands (:p) and check it out by ourselves;
Here is what you need to do:
http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/735c043f5f.png
Open the start menu -> My computer -> Search
Click http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/318f479adf.png All files and folders -> Type in UID and click search.
Wait a couple minutes until the search is complete or until you have a lot of results.
Normally, you would recognize JaGex cache files by the .uid/.dat extensions (and most usually also their “unrecognizable” icons that looks like http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/03e0b78d4d.png.), folder locations* – and the names of these files, usually “random” or “uid”.
* - List over known uid.dat/random.dat file locations:
- C:\Windows\.jagex_cache_32\random.dat
- C:\Windows\.file_store_32\random.dat
- C:\Windows\.file_store_32\uid.dat
- C:\Windows\uid.dat
- C:\Windows\random.dat
- C:\uid.dat
- C:\random.dat
- C:\Documents and settings\uid.dat
- C:\Documents and settings\random.dat
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\uid.dat
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\random.dat
- C:\Administrator\random.dat
- C:\Administrator\uid.dat
- C:\RSCache\uid.dat
- C:\RSCache\random.dat
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Here is a screenshot of a typical result of the search:
http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f1d84bc386.png
In the red box are two of the files we are looking for.
Ignore the other files, they are included in the picture just to set examples for what results to ignore.
So, you say to yourself (or most likely you don't, but lets say you do) "Is there a way to open '.dat' files?"
Yes. Do like so:
http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/bcc18f6f84.png
Right-click on the .uid file, and choose "Open with.."
(Norwegian, but you still get the point, don't you?)
You will (in most cases) get a pop-up dialog, press "Open in.." or "Open with.."
http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/a8ec3162ea.png
Now you get a (second) dialog about that there is no software on your computer
for that type of files. Click the lowest option ("Choose the program from a list")
and click "OK".
http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/a783d62b32.png
If the checkbox next to "1" is checked, uncheck it. Then, if 'http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/67ccb2e14b.png NotePad is the hightlighted program next to "2", click "OK". If its not, scroll down the list until you find 'http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/67ccb2e14b.png Notepad and click that icon, then click "OK".
Wow, surprise, the file is.. not empty?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hy71194
Not really... think Jagex did an update on them? Now they contain random ASCII characters.
(removed a few, incase the mean something...)
Now, this is beginning to get kind of creepy.
I don't know what theese files are used for. JaGex may just use them for just checking wether they exist or not to give them the info they need. The charachters in the UID file may be encrypted and actually mean something. Notice that if you use FireFox, the cahce files go to your FireFox folder.
And if you use Internet Explorer, they go to the IE folder. But what if you use S.M.A.R.T? (I seriously don't know where they are stored if so.)
That may be the kind of information JaGex wants. Maybe theese files are filled with data every time you play RS, then completely emptied
at logout? Maybe the purpose of these is so JaGex simply can do a "If FileExists(...)" (in Java) at the startup of the RS client? Maybe every .dat file stored to your computer has its purpose? (For JaGex.) No one knows. But, theese files obviously have a use, and as I've allways said - the small things add up. You should by now know that the recent update checks certain
JaGex folders (listed above). I would strongly advice against installing this and any other software from JaGex. To be on the safe side.
Now, the final point: Deleting these files!
One may think that deleting is a simple job. It is. Kind of. It requires strategy. A thumb rule is:
Delete your RS cache files every time you switch between using an account you auto on and an account you don't want to loose.
Also, deleting your Cache files should not be done too often either. The great WT-Fakawi did an experiment with theese. As far as I remember, he tried deleting his cache files between each logout when he autoed with his guild miners. This resulted in ALL of his guild miner accounts being banned - and, in my opinion, prooving that these .dat files do have their purpose for JaGex.
With this thread, I have attached a small .rar, which I made. They contain two files, both are .bat files. One of them is an IP adress renewer which I cannot guarantee that works because I have a static IP adress. And, the second file is the uid/random.dat deleter. All that is needed to delete the cache files is to run the .bat file attached! In addition to deleting the cache files when you switch between autoing and valuable accounts, this should be done once every two weeks in my opinion. This is that which has worked for me, and that is how often I delete them. I am not responsible for any bans due to extensivly repeated deleting of the JaGex cache files, although this should prevent bans in stead of causing them.
And, one more thing: You should know that logging in with an unsigned client will will prevent cache files to be saved to your computer. Here is how to do it:
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/4...signed2in8.gif
This is the end of this tutorial, I hope you've enjoyed it. Please give me feedback on wether you liked it or not, and give me reputation and rate this thread five stars if you liked it. This tutorial took two days to make. :) Please let me know if I have forgotten some locations in the cache deleter!
If you liked tutorial, and want to do something in return, check out my other tut here: http://www.villavu.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31942
The end. :)