Explorer History - unable to delete

[DIY_MAD]

Hoping some one out there can help....

I can delete my history using tools>internet options. but when I go to the address bar to type an address it still gives me a list of addresses of sites that I have never visited. Some look quite normal & some look like porn sites.

How can I clear these? I have run a virus check, ad-aware & disk clean but there still there.

Thanks

 

[DIY_MAD]

Sorry guys & gals

I've sorted the problem, I downloaded this free trial version, it works.

http://www.privacyeraser.com/free-internet-eraser.htm

 

[JohnD]

... I have never visited. ... some look like p**n sites.

Yeah, right!

 

[breezer]

it didnt work for the simple reason that bit is not history, but i have forggot where it is kept

 

[VeRetired]

You're spot on to suspect unidentified addresses. Some sites piggy back spyware so you wouldn't know that they've installed themselves. I think there's a freebie called Spoof-stick. It's worthwhile d'loading that and running it.

To make sure that you've cleared all Temp Internet files, go to this site and follow instructions to clear everything in that section;

http://www.theparentsedge.com/hidden_logs.html

Best o' luck

 

[empip]

Windows XP.
From a users a/c with admin status, one can delete another user's History, Temporary Internet Files, Cookies and Temp files

If absolutely sure removal is desired... (Think functionality)

Using Windows Explorer navigate to the folders holding such data and delete the contents... eg. for an account named 'User_1' with XP installed in C partition the normal folders would be,

C:\Documents and Settings\User_1\Cookies
C:\Documents and Settings\User_1\Local Settings\History
C:\Documents and Settings\User_1\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files (this folder is moveable via <Internet Options> <Temporary Internet Files> <Settings>)
The contents of the three folders above are cleanly rebuilt by the OS if they do not exist on start up.
C:\Documents and Settings\User_1\Local Settings\Temp
I am a little wary about the latter temp files - I tend to delete those aged by a minimum 24 hrs or a couple of m/c reboots.
------

 

[2scoops0406]

You should only have admin rights for a maintenence user. All normal users should be limited users or in my case have priviledges set for them (XP Pro as opposed to XP Home)

On my set up all users are "limited" users there is only one Admin user. When using this user-id, access to the internet is barred, and must be manually turned on.

 

[empip]

A friend had problems with a limited a/c ... running Microsoft Money
He was directed here :-

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307091#appliesto

 

[2scoops0406]

Mmm, I know it's not good is it. M$ anti spyware products had problems with limited accounts as well, that's why it's better to have XP Pro so that you can tailor exactly what a limited account is, but it can get very complicated.

 

[empip]

Sysinternals offer a useful tool within their freeby ProcessExplorer.. Under <File Runas>
Documented here ... http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/index.html
Under 'Running as Limited User - the Easy Way' Tis the final article on page... today.

PsExec Looks promising too ...

 

[JohnD]

If you use "Ad-aware" it will delete these records of recently visited websites if you want it to, it calls then "Negligible Objects." Unlike real spyware (including "Real" spyware ) which it calls "Critical Objects"

It shows you a list and also where they are.

 

[empip]

mmmmm....

I think you will find we are chasing down those infernal Index.dat files again.
A little test, whilst watching the relevant folders in Windows Explorer I used Internet Options from Control Panel to delete Temporary Internet Files, History and Cookies ... I watched the visible files disappear.
So it is probably true that XP SP2 actually gets rid, whereas Win9x never did it properly.... A hex editor will disclose the contents of the remaining Index.dat files...

 

[eggplant]

You dont really need a hex editor, theres loads of free programs to read/change index.dat files