can't delete history in IE...

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 12:12 pm

I go to Tools>Internet Options and then click on Clear History....nothing happens.

I'm pretty sure I've used this before but now it no worky.

I have seen pop-up ads wanting to sell me stuff claiming only their software can protect me from people who want to see where I've been web surfing.

Once one of them took control of my browser and I had to pull the plug, literally, on my machine to shut it off, then I had to remove their web site from the start up folder (or something like that) because it would just go there automatically everytime I ran IE.

Is it possible something has been installed on my machine to keep me from erasing my history files?
Or is there some preference setting I haven't found that overrides the IE>Tools>Internet Options>Clear History button?

Plague · Post by **Plague** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:13 pm

Clearing the History won't do you much good for pop-up ads. Here's some other stuff that will help (all of which are free):

Ad-Aware
Spybot : Search and Destroy
HijackThis

If you choose to use those, make sure you update the reference files to the newest version. Also, a good virus scan would be in order if you haven't done one lately.

Mobius · Post by **Mobius** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 2:54 pm

Someone's gotta say it - and it might as well be me...

There's your problem right there: Idiot Exploder

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:16 pm

I did install Spybot, that's what got me interested in cleaning things up in the first place. It did'nt help as far as the 'Clear History' thing.
Also I have Norton Anti-Virus running and it scans once a week.

I just can't figure out why hitting the 'Clear History' button doesn't clear anything!

Mobius, I did follow one of your links and downloaded Mozilla something-or-other...just haven't made the day to day switch yet. You've heard the saying it's tough to teach an old dog a new trick...

Meanwhile someone help my anal retentive personality and tell me how to make the 'Clear History' button work again!
Thx!

s. · Post by s. » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:28 pm

Here's how I do it

c:documents and settings> your profile> local settings> history> delete files

sorry can't help with button tho

DCrazy · Post by **DCrazy** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 4:22 pm

That's a bug in IE. Delete all files in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\History, and then all files from C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\History\History.IE5 (or 6 or whatever).

MD-2389 · Post by **MD-2389** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:00 pm

More than likely you'll have to repair IE. Instructions are on MSDN.

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 11:32 pm

Hmm, I still have a complete Win2000 install on the C: drive but I'm using the new Win2000 install on the H: drive.
Maybe that led to the screw up.

Anyway thanks guys, I'll try that.