cannot delete Win2k internet history.

[Front242]

I own a small computer tech business, and as a community service, I collect old computers, refurbish them and donate them to children in need. I am unable to delete some inappropriate url's on one of them. I have used tools>internet options>clear history. I have clicked the history button and attempted to remove them manually I have even cleared the internet history folder in documents and settings. When the history button is clicked the url's show up semi-transparent and though you can highlight them you cannot do any actions on them.

I am logged in as administrator.

[Bill in SD, CA]

Just a thought, what if you delete the folder and re-boot and then replace the folder?

Bill

[joker_927]

Run some form of on-line virus scanner.
Download and run ad-aware.

[Front242]

It dinna' work.

[slinky]

im sure someone can recommend one of those internet privacy thingys.. like webwasher or some other, although i never use those so i have no favorite.

before u try that, maybe give Disk Cleanup a shot... Programs>Accessories>System Tools then check the files to delete.

[Front242]

problem is I cannot find the files unless I am in IE. I have tried privacy tools and they do not work. This is the first unit I have had this problem with. My MCSE never covered any of this.

[pgriffet]

Hi, due to bugs in IE, the "delete History" doesn't always clear everything. The history is in fact an index.dat file, used to store 'Visited' URL names, date and time stamps. This is the data used by I.E. for its AutoComplete function and controlling the highlighting of imbedded links on the displayed Web pages.
Note that the index.dat under <base>\History is not visible with Explorer.

To get rid of the index.dat, rename the folder <base>\History to whatever, reboot and then, IE will recreate another <base>\History folder

(where <base> is \windows or \documents and settings\'session'\local settings\).

There are other solutions like .bat files to clean cache and history. But if you are familiar with DOS, you will be able to delete the file in real DOS mode.

There is also a shareware which could help you, PurgeIE

http://www.purgeie.com

It allows to show the index.dat under \History and you can delete a single URL from History, which is not possible with Explorer.

[pgriffet]

Hi, the url's are stored in an index.dat, as I have already said.
If you can't get rid of them, try the following. Download Total Commander, a file manager.
TC is available at http://www.ghisler.com, shareware with one nag screen at startup but fully functional, works with all Windows (from 3.1 to XP, all 32-bit but the 3.1 version).
No garbage in the registry.

This tool will show you all of your index.dat files where explorer will only shows you 3 or 4 of them.
You will have to check an option here : Configuration -> Options -> display tab : "show hidden/system files"

Then, press ALT+F7 and search for index.dat on your disk (don't forget to search on the entire disk).
When the search is done, you will get a list of the files. Click on "Feed to listbox". The index.dat (with the full path names) are now in a column. Select them all (ALT+ "+" from the numeric pad).
Then press ALT+F7 again and in the "Find text" box, enter a part of the url you see in IE. You should then see which index.dat is concerned. If you don't find the urls, delete all the index.dat files, now that you have the full path names.
Spybot could also help you to delete a "locked" file or folder.
BTW, the purgeie.com site has some pages with very interesting information about IE's cache and history.
HTH

Pierre.

[Front242]

Thanx I'll give it a try

[Front242]

Still won't let me delete the IE files. Am I missing a step?