Selectively deleting cookies

[Sal]

I'm always reluctant to override a feature in WindowsXP by going
"underneath" an option. In this case I'm talking about the Delete
Cookies button in IE/Tools/Internet Options. Suppose I want to delete
only certain ones using, say, a command window. Can this cause
operating system problems in XP itself? I don't care about any settings
lost in browsing the Internet.

 

[Alias]

I'm always reluctant to override a feature in WindowsXP by going
"underneath" an option. In this case I'm talking about the Delete
Cookies button in IE/Tools/Internet Options. Suppose I want to delete
only certain ones using, say, a command window. Can this cause
operating system problems in XP itself? I don't care about any settings
lost in browsing the Internet.

Why don't you just go to the cookies folder and delete the ones you want to
delete? If you don't know where the cookies folder is, use XP find and
search for "cookies". For the future, you could make a direct access icon on
your desktop for the cookies folder.

 

[Sal]

Thanks for the reply. What you suggested is exactly what I want to do,
but I just wanted to know if this could cause any problems in WindowsXP
or IE.

 

[R. McCarty]

Instead of occasionally sorting them out, why not take a little more
direct control over them. You can modify (override) IE's default
handling of cookies. IE segments cookies to two categories, a 1st
party cookie and 3rd-party ones. (Originating site or unrelated site).
You can set IE to Allow or Block either category globally. Or use
a prompt to allow you to individually assign cookie placement. By
using prompting, you can Allow,Block and additionally, set "Always"
or "Never". Using the A/N over time you can update your P3P
tables in the Registry and teach IE what to do with specific cookies.
Setup via IE, Tools, Internet Options, Privacy, Advanced. Toggle
the setting "Override Default Cookie Handling" and then set 1st &
3rd party handling to your preference.

 

[Tom Porterfield]

I'm always reluctant to override a feature in WindowsXP by going
"underneath" an option. In this case I'm talking about the Delete
Cookies button in IE/Tools/Internet Options. Suppose I want to delete
only certain ones using, say, a command window. Can this cause
operating system problems in XP itself? I don't care about any settings
lost in browsing the Internet.

No, this will not cause any problems with XP itself.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Galen]

In Sal <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I'm always reluctant to override a feature in WindowsXP by going
"underneath" an option. In this case I'm talking about the Delete
Cookies button in IE/Tools/Internet Options. Suppose I want to delete
only certain ones using, say, a command window. Can this cause
operating system problems in XP itself? I don't care about any
settings lost in browsing the Internet.

As you've been told, no problems with it. I do it all the time. Here's a
handy tool to do it with too:

Karen's Cookie Viewer:
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes