Deleting History does not work

[Guest]

I have cleared my history folder, deleted cookies and deleted temporary
internet files manualy and through clicking the buttons on the properties of
the IE browser but still, certain internet pages that I have visted are still
appearing in the IE browser search bar before I completey type the web-pages
in again like the pages are stored somewhere on my computer. I have used more
than one spyware and virus removal tool but still no difference, does anyone
have an answer for this? I use Windows XP and do not visit any web-sites that
would use viruses or spyware.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
These URLs you're seeing are in the index.dat file in the History folder. To
delete these URLs, you need to delete the index.dat file. It's generally
recommended to delete the History folder, which will also delete it's
index.dat file.

Free History Eraser from
http://smartprotector.com/eraser/free-history-eraser.htm can usually delete
the History folder (and the index.dat file) and a new one will be created
when you restart.

Or try CCleaner from www.ccleaner.com Check the boxes to delete IE history
and index.dat files.

Or the History folder can be deleted manually.
The procedure [Windows XP]
Login as another user with administrator privileges, or from the machine's
default administrator account (startup in safe mode.) Make sure that you can
see hidden and system files (Folder Options> View) then delete the affected
History folder from Windows Explorer. It will be at [C:\Documents and
Settings\yourusername\Local Settings\History] Restart the computer.

315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[Guest]

I have done what you said and deleted the history file but after I restart my
computer none of the files are replaced so now i still have the problem of
theweb-pages still showing before i type them in ful land now no history
files at all.

 

[Guest]

P.S. ok so I have no history dat files on my computer so how is the history
still saving and I am being able to clear it still

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

P.S. ok so I have no history dat files on my computer so how is the history
still saving and I am being able to clear it still

If you don't want to see just turn off AutoComplete for web addresses.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
Please quote the previous message(s) it makes the thread easier to follow.

When you restarted the computer, the History folder and index.dat file would
have been recreated, but should have been empty. The URLs which showed up
previously should be gone. As Robert advised, if you don't want autocomplete
enabled, turn it off from Internet Options> Content> Autocomplete and
Internet Options> Advanced> (uncheck) Use inline autocomplete.

There is no way to have *no* history without using a third-party program
such as
CCleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/ (can be run at startup)
IE Privacy Keeper - http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html
(can delete data when the browser is closed)

Your History should be rebuilt as you use Internet Explorer.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Not sure if it is correct etiquette to reply to an old post - so sorry if
not - new to all this.

I have the exact same problem as 'Risk' in the history below:
- 3/4 web page addresses auto-complete in IE address bar even after using
CClear.exe, manually deleting history folders, manually deleting index.dat
file, deleting IE histroy, delting temp internet files etc

Removing autocomplete does remove the problem, however, I would like to be
able to use autocomplete - just have the option to clear history.

So my question is: after clearing IE history, why does autocomplete cease to
work for all previously visited websites (which is good) - and yet still
shows these problem websites?

Shouldn't clearing history then clear autocomplete options? Where are these
websites being stored in order for autocomplete to know what to complete?

Thanks, in advance,

Dan

Hi,
Please quote the previous message(s) it makes the thread easier to follow.

When you restarted the computer, the History folder and index.dat file would
have been recreated, but should have been empty. The URLs which showed up
previously should be gone. As Robert advised, if you don't want autocomplete
enabled, turn it off from Internet Options> Content> Autocomplete and
Internet Options> Advanced> (uncheck) Use inline autocomplete.

There is no way to have *no* history without using a third-party program
such as
CCleaner - http://www.ccleaner.com/ (can be run at startup)
IE Privacy Keeper - http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html
(can delete data when the browser is closed)

Your History should be rebuilt as you use Internet Explorer.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

P.S. ok so I have no history dat files on my computer so how is the history
still saving and I am being able to clear it still