HELP, IE 6 History list blank

[Guest]

I have win98 SE and recently upgraded Internet explorer to IE6 from the
Microsoft Website. I now notice that my history list does not keep track of
any websites, and just shows a blank index.dat file and a Desktop.ini file.
I use adaware spyware remover regularly and delete all the critical findings,
and I run an older version of Norton antivirus which has no specific internet
features that I can find.

From reading other entries here, I have already used deltree from the DOS
screen to remove my history directory and my temp internet file directory,
but the recreated ones did not make a difference. I have changed the
registry to save sessions, but still no history list. I have not tried to
reinstall IE6 because I am afraid of settings changes, but this might be the
thing to try next. Anyone have an idea what is going on here and what caused
it?

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Neil

Try the following and see if it helps:

n order for URL's to be saved by AutoComplete, the URL must have been
"typed" in the address bar, or snipped and pasted in the address bar for
AutoComplete to store
the URL in your Registry's 'MRU' cache for typed URL's.

and....

Courtesy of Ramesh -

How to use the AutoComplete feature in Internet Explorer 5 and 6:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=217148


Hope this helps

Jan
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that's why they're so contagious.

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[Guest]

The problem is not with the Address bar dropdown, but with the history button
list when I press that. I get no history for that last 8 days, which is the
current setting listed under Inernet Option. Do you think reloading IE 6
will help, or is there some kind of Registry problem here?

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Neil

The problem is not with the Address bar dropdown, but with the history
button
list when I press that. I get no history for that last 8 days, which is
the
current setting listed under Inernet Option. Do you think reloading IE 6
will help, or is there some kind of Registry problem here?

If there are no current links listed in the dropdown list, then none of the
URLs you have manually typed in the address bar, or cut and pasted there,
are being saved. That would mean either the Autocomplete is not working or
not set correctly, your History is getting deleted when you close IE, or the
History folder is corrupted. If you have checked to be sure you
AutoComplete set properly, and you have properly deleted and recreated the
Hisory folder, are still not getting any saved URL's listed in the Address
Bar dropdown, then you may need to repair IE.

You can try the following to see if that will help:

How to Repair Windows 98

Repair/Reinstall:

Be sure that your AV and firewall is disabled before starting:

The Internet Explorer Repair Tool
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers_5.htm#repair_tool

or.........

If you have not already done so, then you might try a repair of IE6 as
follows:
http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q194/1/77.asp&NoWebContent=1
or
http://snipurl.com/6s3r

also....

See the information on repairing W98 here:

Quick Repairs for Windows 98
http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/repair.html

Hope this helps

Jan
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that's why they're so contagious.

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[Guest]

Well, I tried the IE 6 repair action from the control panel, and that did not
work. I am hesitant to try all those registry actions from

Quick Repairs for Windows 98
http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/repair.html

because it is a bit dated, and I am unsure of how to recover if things
really go wrong. I can live without a history list.

Thanks for trying. Just as a final thought, is there a registry value or
some other minor issue that could be turned off or on or deleted that might
be easily identified and fixed that could cause this behavior?

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Neil

If you want the see all the pages you went to, including with search
engines, click on the History icon in the toolbar. Or click the link to
open it, then copy the URL in the Address Bar and close the site. Then
paste the URL into the Address Bar and click GO. That will open the site
and add the URL to the History and it will then show in the dropdown list.

However, if you have your History set to keep files for only so many days it
will be flushed from the History at that time, or if you clear your History
files, then the URL will no longer be in the list.

You might try the following to see if anything will help:

To see what's in the index.dat file, try one of these programs:
Spider v1.16: http://www.fsm.nl/ward/
Index.dat Suite http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/idsuite.asp

If there is nothing there, then it most likely that your History has been
deleted.

I realize it is no consolation or help at this point, but, here is a program
that will help prevent total loss of your History in the future:

Backup IE History - Free
http://www.backsettings.com/internet-explorer-backup.html

How to restore History from a History backup
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/maxdb/en/30/5ada32596211d4aa83006094b92fad/content.htm

I am afraid that is all that I can think of at this time. Perhaps someone
else here will have other information what will help.

Hope this helps

Jan
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that's why they're so contagious.

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[Guest]

I don't know if this might give you another hint, but there are 3 empty
?system directories in my C:\ root directory. I guess they are system
directories, but they are empty. Where did they come from, does this have
anything to do with my lack of addresses in my history function in IE 6, and
do you think I could/should delete these empty directories?

%Cache%
%History%
%Cookies%

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Neil

I don't know if this might give you another hint, but there are 3 empty
?system directories in my C:\ root directory. I guess they are system
directories, but they are empty. Where did they come from, does this have
anything to do with my lack of addresses in my history function in IE 6,
and
do you think I could/should delete these empty directories?

%Cache%
%History%
%Cookies%

Let me check on this for you. I'll get back soon.

Jan

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Neil

Ok..also I've consulted with some of the experts and the answer is that they
are not normal folders, and they should be deleted as they can cause
problems. They were most likely created by some uninvited 3rd party program
on your system. If you have not done so already, I strongly suggest that you
should clean your system of any scumware. In addition to the your newly
updated AV, download, install and run the programs below in Safe Mode with
Hidden Files enabled and follow all instructions carefully:

WARNING>>>> Backup all documents and files before removing any spyware!!

Download and install BHODemon from
http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm
Your problem may be caused by a bad BHO.

Most importantly, download install and run CWShredder here
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3019.html
and this program, which searches for hidden .dlls that recreate the malware.
About Buster:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4289.html
Then visit these two sites to test for parasites and help basic cleaning:
On-Line Check
http://aumha.org/a/noads.htm
and
Quick-Fix Protocol.
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php
Basically, throw everything here at your "infection".

Then download, install and immediately update these two programs before
running:

AdAware SE - Update immediately after installing
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button
SpyBot S &D - Update immediately after installing
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download2471.html

Download pocket killbox from Download pocket killbox from
http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/files/killbox.exe
and put it on the desktop where you can find it easily

Also download, install, and run HiJackThis - it is one of the very import
tools to clean your system of all scumware. Follow the instructions
carefully:

How to download and install HiJackThis: (it does not need to be updated)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topict309.html

Please DO NOT post your log to this newsgroup. It is important that you go
to one of the HiJackThis Support Forums below and allow the experts there
to analyze it for youPlease DO NOT post your log to this newsgroup. It is
important that you go to one of the HiJackThis Support Forums below and
allow the experts there to analyze it for you.::
AumHa HiJackThis Forum
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30
or Bleeping Computer Forum
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html
to allow the experts there to evaluate your log and advise you of any
necessary steps to clean your system.
(Note: You will have to Register before posting on these Forums. Please
follow all posting instructions carefully to avoid having your log deleted
or ignored.)

Also, please post a link to the forum where you post your HJT log back to
this thread so that we can follow your progress there.

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of the programs
below, download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

You should also get a copy of WINSOCKXPFIX available at:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
and
WinsockXP Fix- WinXP
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
with instructions, at
http://www.iup.edu/house/resnet/winfix.shtm
also... From LavaSoft- all versions of Windows-
http://digital-solutions.co.uk/lavasoft/whndnfix.zip
(NOTE: It is reported that in XP SP2, the command netsh winsock reset
will fix this problem without the need for these programs.)
or Winsock Fix Utility
http://www.dfwonline.net/files/WinsockFix.zip

In case you need this information:

How to Restart in Safe Mode
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406
How to Show Hidden Files
http://snipurl.com/6rl8

Hope this helps

Jan
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

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