Where does IE store the list that it uses for the auto-complete URLaddress bar?

[Browser Guy]

I have IE 6.0.28 on Win-98 se. I have it set up for URL auto-complete
when I type an address directly into the address bar (or what-ever you
call it).

Once in a while during the auto-complete process it throws up a URL
that I would like to remove from it's memory.

I can't find the URL I want to get rid of in the registry, and I've
searched EVERY file in my windows directory and sub-directories for a
string fragment of the offending URL, but nothing turns up.

So where the hell does IE store this list?

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Browser Guy

You can delete the URL from the list by highlighting it in the dropdown list
and then hitting the Delete key.

Also....

Cookies you want to keep - How to save or manage

If you want to be more selective about your cookie handling click the
Advanced button. Put a check in the box to over ride the automatic cookie
handling. Then select how you want to handle cookies. Don't forget to
click apply when you have selected the settings you want. The the following
for more information:

How to Manage Cookies in Internet Explorer 6
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;283185

and.......

Here's mroe information on Cookies.

The Cookie Concept
http://www.cookiecentral.com/content.phtml?area=2&id=1

Also...

Here are a couple of free utilities that can help you sort your cookies.
Save the ones you want, and 'burn' the others. ;-)

The Coolie Jar:
http://www.spychecker.com/program/cookiejar.html

IECookiesView - view and manage your cookies
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/iecookies.html

also....

Courtesy of Jim Byrd:

A nice alternative just for selective or all Address (not Search) history
maintenance is EditURLs, here:
http://www.aandrc.com/editurls/
Here also, you must close ALL instances of IE6 for the deletions to "take".
Recommended

If these steps do not resolve your problem, please post back to this thread
with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan
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[Browser Guy]

Hi Browser Guy

You can delete the URL from the list by highlighting it in the
dropdown list and then hitting the Delete key.

When I type in a partial url the list comes up by itself and throws
it's suggested auto-complete URL solution in the address bar and a
list drops down showing all the autocomplete solutions that match what
I've currently typed in.

If at that point I hit the delete key, the remainder of the
auto-complete URL disappears from the address box, leaving only the
part that I have typed so far. The drop-down auto-complete list is
still on the screen, and at the top of the list is the URL of the
suggested auto-complete solution.

If I press the down arrow, I can move into the list and highlight the
suggested auto-complete URL or any other URL in the list and at the
same time the highlighted URL is printed in the address bar. At this
point I'm not sure what other functionality I have. If I press
delete, the drop-down list disappears and the address box contains the
highlighted URL I was on when I hit delete. Hitting delete doesn't
seem to remove it from the list - instead it turns it into the active
or desired URL.

Basically, the drop-down list of auto-complete URL's doesn't seem to
be editable, and removing any particular URL doesn't seem to be as
simple as selecting it and hitting delete when the list comes up.

I still want to know where that list is stored so I can get at it
directly.

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
You're using Inline AutoComplete, right? (Internet Options> Advanced) I
don't think that you can clear selected entries. Clearing the History
(Internet Options> General) may delete these URLs or they may be "stuck" in
the History\index.dat file.
Deleting the History folder will also delete the index.dat file and clear
these entries.
See: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm
Or, Free History Eraser:
http://smartprotector.com/eraser/free-history-eraser.htm will delete the
History folder quickly and easily.

You may be interested in Index.dat Suite (freeware)
http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/idsuite.asp

A google search on index.dat will provide more information.

Hope this helps,
Don

 

[Alan Edwards]

I think you may have to try a different method to get rid of one URL
as AutoComplete items are encrypted in the Registry.

AutoComplete, User Names and Passwords on Forms:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\IntelliForms\SPW

AutoComplete, Web Addresses:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System
Provider\<user name or windows logon name>

....Alan

 

[Jan Il]

When I type in a partial url the list comes up by itself and throws
it's suggested auto-complete URL solution in the address bar and a
list drops down showing all the autocomplete solutions that match what
I've currently typed in.

If at that point I hit the delete key, the remainder of the
auto-complete URL disappears from the address box, leaving only the
part that I have typed so far. The drop-down auto-complete list is
still on the screen, and at the top of the list is the URL of the
suggested auto-complete solution.

If I press the down arrow, I can move into the list and highlight the
suggested auto-complete URL or any other URL in the list and at the
same time the highlighted URL is printed in the address bar. At this
point I'm not sure what other functionality I have. If I press
delete, the drop-down list disappears and the address box contains the
highlighted URL I was on when I hit delete. Hitting delete doesn't
seem to remove it from the list - instead it turns it into the active
or desired URL.

Basically, the drop-down list of auto-complete URL's doesn't seem to
be editable, and removing any particular URL doesn't seem to be as
simple as selecting it and hitting delete when the list comes up.

I still want to know where that list is stored so I can get at it
directly.

 

[Jan Il]

Hi Browser Guy

I am not sure that you can edit the file itself from the folder, but, here
is the basic locations of these folders.

Location of Temporary Internet Files:

C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files
**
For Windows XP the folder is located here:

C:\Documents and Settings\[USER NAME]\Local
Settings\Temporary Internet Files

or.......

It is possible that the folder could be corrupted or damaged:

Recreating the cache, history and cookie folders when corrupted
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers_8.htm#deltree

See http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers.htm#cookies and
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers_8.htm#deltree

or..........

Cookies or Cache folder corrupted -

If one folder is corrupt the chances are the other is or
will be. So export your cookies, and nuke both folders.

If these steps do not resolve your problem, please post back to this thread
with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

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

Please reply to the newsgroup so others may benefit.

How to make a good newsgroup post:
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[Robert W.]

Some info on the User Assist registry key:
http://www.utdallas.edu/~jbs024000/articles/explorer_spy.html

And the actual "Use Assist Spy" utility:
http://www.utdallas.edu/~jbs024000/software/index.html#userass