Internet Explorer history doesn't clear Fixed *sort of*

[Nick Le Lievre]

I just noticed a problem. If I clear history with Internet Explorer
everything disapears under Today but if I close Internet Explorer and reload
the Today history that was previously cleared comes back again. Whats
happening is a program is locking the history file so it remains as it was
when this program locked it.

In my case I tracked the program locking the history file to Outlook 2002
whilst running Outlook I could clear History but it would come back if I
reloaded Internet Explorer. The only way to clear with Outlook open was to
go into Documents and Settings > Profile Name > Local > History and select
all and delete files from there.

The simple solution is to find and close whatever program it is locking the
history file then clear the History - this works. Becuase I run Outlook all
the time even at startup if I want to clear History I have to close Outlook
then clear then re-open Outlook.

*Update*
Also suspect MSN Messenger - because I just had the same once problem with
Outlook closed and Messenger open untill I exit Messenger also. However I
cannot reproduce this problem but can with Outlook open everytime. But
currently with Outlook close and Messenger open IE History clears > with
Outlook opened then closed with Messenger open IE History clears. As I say I
had it once where Outlook was closed with Messenger open and IE History
would not clear untill I closed Messenger also but 95% of the time you just
have to close Outlook (or whatever program is causing it mainly).

*Update2*
Right I somehow managed to get the same thing happen again with Outlook
closed and Messenger open. However this time closing Messenger didn't enable
me to clear History - wierd. So I closed everything I could and it would
still not clear History - ie kept coming back. Eventually I closed
explorer.exe itself from the task manager (so the taskbar dissapeared) then
I reloaded it from the task manager via run and I was then able to clear
History again. So in this rare case when its not Outlook or the other main
program causing it suspect Messenger then explorer.exe itself.

*Update3*

This is screen shots of what I just described

http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/mess.JPG Outlook Closed Messenger Open
ready to clear History 18:36
http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/cleared.JPG History is now cleared in
Internet Explorer 18:36
http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/back.JPG History is back after closing and
reopening IE 18:37

I cannot reproduce this problem consistently when Outlook is closed in the
instense above the only way to clear the History was by closing everything
then only by restarting explorer.exe from task manager although I have had
it happen twice when I just needed to exit Messenger. So this could affect
anyone I guess I`m running IE6 sp1 but it happens on other versions as well.

Internet Explorer cannot clear History Cannot clear History Internet
Explorer IE clear history Won't clear history IE Won't clear history
Internet Explorer Internet Explorer does not clear History IE does not clear
History History does not clear IE History does not clear Internet Explorer
Cannot delete History Internet Exploer Internet Explorer does not delete
History IE does not delete History History cannot clear Internet Explorer

History doesn't clear Internet Explorer
IE doesn't clear History

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

I just noticed a problem. If I clear history with Internet Explorer
everything disapears under Today but if I close Internet Explorer and
reload the Today history that was previously cleared comes back
again. Whats happening is a program is locking the history file so it
remains as it was when this program locked it.

In my case I tracked the program locking the history file to Outlook
2002 whilst running Outlook I could clear History but it would come
back if I reloaded Internet Explorer. The only way to clear with
Outlook open was to go into Documents and Settings > Profile Name >
Local > History and select all and delete files from there.

The simple solution is to find and close whatever program it is
locking the history file then clear the History - this works. Becuase
I run Outlook all the time even at startup if I want to clear History
I have to close Outlook then clear then re-open Outlook.

*Update*
Also suspect MSN Messenger - because I just had the same once problem
with Outlook closed and Messenger open untill I exit Messenger also.
However I cannot reproduce this problem but can with Outlook open
everytime. But currently with Outlook close and Messenger open IE
History clears > with Outlook opened then closed with Messenger open
IE History clears. As I say I had it once where Outlook was closed
with Messenger open and IE History would not clear untill I closed
Messenger also but 95% of the time you just have to close Outlook (or
whatever program is causing it mainly).

*Update2*
Right I somehow managed to get the same thing happen again with
Outlook closed and Messenger open. However this time closing
Messenger didn't enable me to clear History - wierd. So I closed
everything I could and it would still not clear History - ie kept
coming back. Eventually I closed explorer.exe itself from the task
manager (so the taskbar dissapeared) then I reloaded it from the task
manager via run and I was then able to clear History again. So in
this rare case when its not Outlook or the other main program causing
it suspect Messenger then explorer.exe itself.

*Update3*

This is screen shots of what I just described

http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/mess.JPG Outlook Closed Messenger
Open ready to clear History 18:36
http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/cleared.JPG History is now cleared in
Internet Explorer 18:36
http://members.lycos.co.uk/venus/back.JPG History is back after
closing and reopening IE 18:37

I cannot reproduce this problem consistently when Outlook is closed
in the instense above the only way to clear the History was by
closing everything then only by restarting explorer.exe from task
manager although I have had it happen twice when I just needed to
exit Messenger. So this could affect anyone I guess I`m running IE6
sp1 but it happens on other versions as well.

Internet Explorer cannot clear History Cannot clear History Internet
Explorer IE clear history Won't clear history IE Won't clear history
Internet Explorer Internet Explorer does not clear History IE does
not clear History History does not clear IE History does not clear
Internet Explorer Cannot delete History Internet Exploer Internet
Explorer does not delete History IE does not delete History History
cannot clear Internet Explorer

History doesn't clear Internet Explorer
IE doesn't clear History

As subject

Clear History doesn't work Internet Explorer

It just doesn't sometimes honest!

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Nick

Just a question....did you recently install the latest Outlook update
"Outlook Junk Email Filter?

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Hi Nick

Just a question....did you recently install the latest Outlook update
"Outlook Junk Email Filter?

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

I`m running Office XP Service Pack 3 and all other Office updates from
Microsoft Update site. I found this site usefull
http://www.purgeie.com/lockhist.htm it has a list of some programs that can
lock the history also but its not a comprehensive list and doesn't mention
Outlook.

However in the *rare* instances where ALL programs are closed (inc
Messenger) the only solution is to end the explorer.exe process and restart
it from task manager or reboot - I`m not at all sure what can be done about
that.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Nick

Based upon your mention of Outlook and OE problems, I asked about that
specific update as when I installed it, it really did a number on my OE and
IE. I had only just installed the Outlook about two weeks before to use the
calendar for some appointment scheduling, and used OE as my primary email
and newsreader and had no problems. After installing that update, Outlook
totally usurped OE and tried to make it the default email program. It got
to the point that I could not use my OE normally and had problems with IE I
tried to disable the Outlook settings, but, nothing I did helped. I
uninstalled the update and the problem persisted. Registry settings and all
I suppose, as well as perhaps others, and so I finally had to uninstall
Outlook in order to be able to use OE and IE properly. There was more clean
up involved, but, uninstalling both the Outlook and update were required to
restore my OE and IE.

So, I just wondered if perhaps you had also installed that update. It does
not affect everyone, but, some who use OE with the Outlook seem to have had
some problems as well with the combination. Just thought I'd throw that out
as a maybe.. <g>


Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Hi Nick

Just a question....did you recently install the latest Outlook update
"Outlook Junk Email Filter?

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

I`m running Office XP Service Pack 3 and all other Office updates from
Microsoft Update site. I found this site usefull
http://www.purgeie.com/lockhist.htm it has a list of some programs that
can lock the history also but its not a comprehensive list and doesn't
mention Outlook.

However in the *rare* instances where ALL programs are closed (inc
Messenger) the only solution is to end the explorer.exe process and
restart it from task manager or reboot - I`m not at all sure what can be
done about that.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from
http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Hi Nick

So, I just wondered if perhaps you had also installed that update. It does
not affect everyone, but, some who use OE with the Outlook
seem to have had some problems as well with the combination. Just
thought I'd throw that out as a maybe.. <g>

I`ve no other problems to report. I use Outlook for calender and email and
OE for newsgroups and leave Outlook running most of the time. IE works fine
apart from totally clearing History while Outlook is running and
occasionally when Outlook isn't running but exiting Messenger and in worst
case closing the explorer.exe process and restarting by File > New(Run)
explorer.exe in task manager solves it.

As this problem can also be caused by other programs I doubt it is to do
with an update its more by design then fault (I think). Its very difficult
to reproduce the problem when the main culprit Outlook isn't running. Of
course other people are running different programs and they will have to
find out whats causing it for them but its not Internet Explorer as such.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

I`ve no other problems to report. I use Outlook for calender and email and
OE for newsgroups and leave Outlook running most of the time. IE works
fine apart from totally clearing History while Outlook is running and
occasionally when Outlook isn't running but exiting Messenger and in worst
case closing the explorer.exe process and restarting by File > New(Run)
explorer.exe in task manager solves it.

As this problem can also be caused by other programs I doubt it is to do
with an update its more by design then fault (I think). Its very difficult
to reproduce the problem when the main culprit Outlook isn't running. Of
course other people are running different programs and they will have to
find out whats causing it for them but its not Internet Explorer as such.

Thank you. Sorry that I don't have a solution for you, but, was curious
about the update. Hopefully, someone here will have an answer for you, but,
you might also try the Outlook newsgroup as well.
microsoft.public.outlook.general

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Thank you. Sorry that I don't have a solution for you, but, was
curious about the update. Hopefully, someone here will have an
answer for you, but, you might also try the Outlook newsgroup as well.
microsoft.public.outlook.general

Thanks for your help - also I have noticed what has happened quite a few
times now (not exactly rare) I closed Outlook then cleared History but it
kept coming back untill I exited Messenger. I don't know how to reproduce
this problem but in general use this can occur. With Outlook open it always
occurs but it seems quite often also with Messenger open but not always.
There has been only 1 time where I had to end explorer.exe on top of closing
Outlook and Messenger so this is rarer still.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Thanks for your help - also I have noticed what has happened quite a few
times now (not exactly rare) I closed Outlook then cleared History but it
kept coming back untill I exited Messenger. I don't know how to reproduce
this problem but in general use this can occur. With Outlook open it
always occurs but it seems quite often also with Messenger open but not
always. There has been only 1 time where I had to end explorer.exe on top
of closing Outlook and Messenger so this is rarer still.

You're very welcome. It does sound odd, but, Outlook by it's nature does
not like to share, and it does try to be the dominant player in all things.
Hopefully, you will be able to find a solution soon. I know how frustrating
it can be with problems that seem so obscure in their origin or cause.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

You're very welcome. It does sound odd, but, Outlook by it's nature
does not like to share, and it does try to be the dominant player in
all things. Hopefully, you will be able to find a solution soon. I
know how frustrating it can be with problems that seem so obscure in
their origin or cause.

Maybe its all mainly to do with Outlook (and other rogue apps) and using it
then closing it can cause the problem which you can then only get rid of by
exiting Messenger or in the very worst case scenario ending the explorer.exe
process then restarting it. Without Outlook running I can't reproduce it
untill I decide sometime later to check if the clear History function is
working by closing Outlook and it doesn't untill I exit Messenger too.

However just running Outlook just closing it with Messenger running the
clear History function works but then sometime later it doesn't unless you
close Messenger also. It seems mainly that I have to close Outlook and
sometimes exit Messenger too which is not a big problem - even ending
explorer.exe isn't that much of a pain under 2000/XP.


--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Maybe its all mainly to do with Outlook (and other rogue apps) and
using it then closing it can cause the problem which you can then
only get rid of by exiting Messenger or in the very worst case
scenario ending the explorer.exe process then restarting it. Without
Outlook running I can't reproduce it untill I decide sometime later
to check if the clear History function is working by closing Outlook
and it doesn't untill I exit Messenger too.

However just running Outlook just closing it with Messenger running
the clear History function works but then sometime later it doesn't
unless you close Messenger also. It seems mainly that I have to close
Outlook and sometimes exit Messenger too which is not a big problem -
even ending explorer.exe isn't that much of a pain under 2000/XP.

Just had it again with Outlook closed *and* Messenger exited... the History
kept coming back in Internet Explorer after clear History had been applied.
Again I closed all apps on taskbar then ended the explorer.exe process via
Task Manager then restarted it File>New..Run and was then able to clear the
History. This has happened twice now and many more times where I needed to
exit Messenger.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Nick

You say the History keeps coming back. Have you totally deleted the History
folder and Index.dat file for the User acount with the problem and let
Windows create a new one when you reboot? If not, then you need to do so.
If you have, then you need to check to see where the History is acutally
being stored, as it may be that the History is being stored elsewhere and
that is why it is not being deleted.

First.....unless you really need to use the Outlook, uninstall it. If you
really need it then uninstall and the Outlook and all related files by doing
a Search of your hard drive and Registry. Delete all the History files
using the Ccleaner.
CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
or
http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144-10315544.html

Check the information here to be sure that the History folder for the User
account in question is in the right path. i.e....
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>Local Settings

If not then reset the location as follows: (log on as Administrator)

Go to Start>Run> type about:config.
Go down to the following value: browser.cache.disk.parent_directory.
Double-click to modify the value.
As a value, enter the location of where you would like to have your history
placed.
Then save and close out
Then go to the other History

If the problem persists, try setting a new location for the History to
stored using the steps to set the new location path.

Then delete the other History folder:
To delete the History folder and index.dat (XP)
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm
Log on as Administrator and delete the desired <username> folder and reboot.
(or log on as another user that has Administrator privileges)
Example: "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\HISTORY"

also try this...

"Clear History of Typed URL's".
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/typedurls.reg

Also check here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=818018#19

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Hi Nick

You say the History keeps coming back. Have you totally deleted the
History folder and Index.dat file for the User acount with the
problem and let Windows create a new one when you reboot? If not,
then you need to do so. If you have, then you need to check to see
where the History is acutally being stored, as it may be that the
History is being stored elsewhere and that is why it is not being
deleted.
First.....unless you really need to use the Outlook, uninstall it. If you
really need it then uninstall and the Outlook and all related
files by doing a Search of your hard drive and Registry. Delete all
the History files using the Ccleaner.
CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/
or
http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144-10315544.html

Check the information here to be sure that the History folder for the
User account in question is in the right path. i.e....
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>Local Settings

If not then reset the location as follows: (log on as Administrator)

Go to Start>Run> type about:config.
Go down to the following value: browser.cache.disk.parent_directory.
Double-click to modify the value.
As a value, enter the location of where you would like to have your
history placed.
Then save and close out
Then go to the other History

If the problem persists, try setting a new location for the History to
stored using the steps to set the new location path.

Then delete the other History folder:
To delete the History folder and index.dat (XP)
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm
Log on as Administrator and delete the desired <username> folder and
reboot. (or log on as another user that has Administrator privileges)
Example: "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\HISTORY"

also try this...

"Clear History of Typed URL's".
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/typedurls.reg

Also check here:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=818018#19

Hope this helps.

Thanks for further info that may be help to someone. I`m quite happy with my
workaround always close Outlook then try to clear if not exit Messenger then
try to clear and in the rare case this doesn't work close all programs on
taskbar then CTRL ALT DEL and close the explorer.exe process from task
manager then restart it via File>New..Run explorer.exe

I`ve not tried to recreate my profile or anything like and I don't believe
my History file is in the wrong place as this happens to so many people I
think this is just the way the software works and apparently other programs
that reside in the system tray can cause but Messenger is the one I`d be
most worried about as that runs all the time and is pretty much standard.

IE History keeps coming back History keeps coming back IE keeps coming back
Internet Explorer keeps coming back History IE Internet Explorer Internet
Explorer Internet Explorer Internet Explorer Internet Explorer
--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Nick

Well...just for the record...you have not mentioned the version of Messenger
that you are using, but, if it is Messenger Plus, you might want to read the
information here:

Messenger Plus
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/44.html
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/45.html

Sometimes problems with Messenger have been resolved just be uninstalling
and reinstalling the program.

Glad that you have found a workaround that helped resolve the problem to
some extent. Thank you for posting back and letting us know what worked for
you.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

Hi Nick

Well...just for the record...you have not mentioned the version of
Messenger that you are using, but, if it is Messenger Plus, you might
want to read the information here:

Messenger Plus
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/44.html
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/45.html

Sometimes problems with Messenger have been resolved just be
uninstalling and reinstalling the program.

Glad that you have found a workaround that helped resolve the problem
to some extent. Thank you for posting back and letting us know what
worked for you.

I`m using MSN Messenger 7.5 the latest version. I suspect this will work for
everyone in every situation > close everything in task bar and system tray
and end any other process running via task manager that is non essential.
Then end explorer.exe and restart it. Now clear your history.

Of course that is worse case I`ve only had that happen to that extent twice
in the last 5 days and I have my PC on all the time but I`m not a massive
Internet Explorer user mainly use Outlook Express but I have MSN Messenger
7.5 running all the time and Outlook untill I attempt to clear History.
Other people are gonna have things to disable in their system tray the only
things I run in mine are Messenger and NOD32 as I never access stuff via
System Tray.

--
And to all those opposed...
Hmm...well


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

....

I suspect this will work for everyone in every situation
close everything in task bar and system tray
and end any other process running via task manager that is non essential.
Then end explorer.exe and restart it. Now clear your history.

Nick,

Are you using IE to "clear your history"?
If so, that may be a source of confusion.
IE seems to maintain its own internal version of things external
so even if you do make external changes IE might not show
you them until it refreshes its internal version. I'm not sure
how to make IE refresh its version of History other than closing
it and restarting iexplore.exe.

Therefore, to avoid such uncertainty what I would do is,
instead of starting from the IE Tools menu, try making sure that all IE
windows are closed and verify that iexplore.exe is not an active process.
Then Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter

control inetcpl.cpl

and use that to Clear History.


BTW I have never had to close explorer.exe to clear my History
but can see now (using Process Explorer) that it apparently has an open
file handle for its index.dat. If you really find it necessary to kill explorer.exe
I suspect that something else would be interfering with your History.

You could get a list of the active processes which have an open file handle
with Process Explorer (from SysInternals) too. Just use its search tool
(e.g. press Ctrl-f) and search for \History.IE5

Hmm... doing that shows that in addition there is an svchost.exe task
which has History.IE5\index.dat open. According to its Properties,
Services tab it is hosting LmHosts RemoteRegistry SSDPSRV and
WebClient. So if you see those too it might make just as much sense
trying to stop those services before killing explorer.exe.


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Robert

...



Nick,

Are you using IE to "clear your history"?
If so, that may be a source of confusion.
IE seems to maintain its own internal version of things external
so even if you do make external changes IE might not show
you them until it refreshes its internal version. I'm not sure
how to make IE refresh its version of History other than closing
it and restarting iexplore.exe.

Therefore, to avoid such uncertainty what I would do is,
instead of starting from the IE Tools menu, try making sure that all IE
windows are closed and verify that iexplore.exe is not an active
process.
Then Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter

control inetcpl.cpl

and use that to Clear History.


BTW I have never had to close explorer.exe to clear my History
but can see now (using Process Explorer) that it apparently has an open
file handle for its index.dat. If you really find it necessary to kill
explorer.exe
I suspect that something else would be interfering with your History.

You could get a list of the active processes which have an open file
handle
with Process Explorer (from SysInternals) too. Just use its search tool
(e.g. press Ctrl-f) and search for \History.IE5

Hmm... doing that shows that in addition there is an svchost.exe task
which has History.IE5\index.dat open. According to its Properties,
Services tab it is hosting LmHosts RemoteRegistry SSDPSRV and
WebClient. So if you see those too it might make just as much sense
trying to stop those services before killing explorer.exe.

Thanks for the additional information. This one really had me puzzled.

Jan

 

[Jon Kennedy]

I wonder if some of the info here can be helpful:
http://www.purgeie.com/lockhist.htm

--

Jon R. Kennedy
Charlotte, NC, USA
(e-mail address removed)

Hi Robert

...



Nick,

Are you using IE to "clear your history"?
If so, that may be a source of confusion.
IE seems to maintain its own internal version of things external
so even if you do make external changes IE might not show
you them until it refreshes its internal version. I'm not sure
how to make IE refresh its version of History other than closing
it and restarting iexplore.exe.

Therefore, to avoid such uncertainty what I would do is,
instead of starting from the IE Tools menu, try making sure that all IE
windows are closed and verify that iexplore.exe is not an active
process.
Then Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter

control inetcpl.cpl

and use that to Clear History.


BTW I have never had to close explorer.exe to clear my History
but can see now (using Process Explorer) that it apparently has an open
file handle for its index.dat. If you really find it necessary to kill
explorer.exe
I suspect that something else would be interfering with your History.

You could get a list of the active processes which have an open file
handle
with Process Explorer (from SysInternals) too. Just use its search
tool
(e.g. press Ctrl-f) and search for \History.IE5

Hmm... doing that shows that in addition there is an svchost.exe task
which has History.IE5\index.dat open. According to its Properties,
Services tab it is hosting LmHosts RemoteRegistry SSDPSRV and
WebClient. So if you see those too it might make just as much sense
trying to stop those services before killing explorer.exe.

Thanks for the additional information. This one really had me puzzled.

Jan

 

[Nick Le Lievre]

message ...

Are you using IE to "clear your history"?
If so, that may be a source of confusion.
IE seems to maintain its own internal version of things external
so even if you do make external changes IE might not show
you them until it refreshes its internal version. I'm not sure
how to make IE refresh its version of History other than closing
it and restarting iexplore.exe.

Yeah thats what I`m doing to see if my History is cleared. Clearing it then
closing IE and opening another IE session then checking the history and it
comes back.

Therefore, to avoid such uncertainty what I would do is,
instead of starting from the IE Tools menu, try making sure that all IE
windows are closed and verify that iexplore.exe is not an active
process. Then Run... (e.g. press Win-R and enter

control inetcpl.cpl

and use that to Clear History.

I`ve tried using the Internet Options function in the control panel but this
doesn't clear the History either.

BTW I have never had to close explorer.exe to clear my History
but can see now (using Process Explorer) that it apparently has an
open file handle for its index.dat. If you really find it necessary to
kill explorer.exe I suspect that something else would be interfering
with your History.

As I say usually I just have to exit Messenger (Outlook must always be
closed as well) but twice the only way I could clear the History was too end
explorer.exe which is no big deal anyway but it reminds me of losing active
desktop under Windows 98.

You could get a list of the active processes which have an open file
handle with Process Explorer (from SysInternals) too. Just use its
search
tool (e.g. press Ctrl-f) and search for \History.IE5

Hmm... doing that shows that in addition there is an svchost.exe task
which has History.IE5\index.dat open. According to its Properties,
Services tab it is hosting LmHosts RemoteRegistry SSDPSRV and
WebClient. So if you see those too it might make just as much sense
trying to stop those services before killing explorer.exe.

Thanks but I think killing explorer.exe is just as easy. Besides I`ve only
had to do that twice most times exiting Messenger & Outlook does the trick.

--
I`m being flamed by homosexuals


*** Free account sponsored by SecureIX.com ***
*** Encrypt your Internet usage with a free VPN account from http://www.SecureIX.com ***

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Jon

I wonder if some of the info here can be helpful:
http://www.purgeie.com/lockhist.htm

Worth a try I guess. Doesn't look like the OP is having much luck in
another areas.

Thanks for the additional information. Got it tucked away in my bag of
tricks as well. <g.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.