how do you delete the url/run history?

[Lucifudge]

I can clear the run history from the start menu properties, and I can also clear the URL history that way, but it always remembers it, so even though the dropdown is empty, as soon as I type

http://tek-tips

it brings up all like URL's.

I have also cleared auto complete. In 2k I had to use TweakUI and set it to empty everything at log out, then clear auto complete, then clear url history and then log out, but XP TweakUI does not have the same function

Where is this history stored?

 

[bcastner]

You need to clear the history of typed urls.
right-click and save this .inf file, the right-click and select Install to clear typed urls:

http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/DelTypedURL.inf

 

[Lucifudge]

It did clear the history, but then when I launch a new browser and type, for instance,

http://www.google.co

-- it brings up all my previous google visits, or

http://www.yaho

brings up all my yahoo url's

 

[bcastner]

Those typed stores are completely different. Are we getting confused yet? You will soon see why using one of the many "privacy" utilities is popular.

Remove IE Search History -- Line #24

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Remove Google Search History -- Line #33

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To do this manually for other search providers

Go to the key listed below:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider
Find the GUID for your Search engine. Google is:
S-1-5-21-1960408961-220523388-682003330-1003

Continuing, with Google as an example:

With the S-1-5-21....in blue, choose File/Export and save it to your deskop and name it googlehistoryclear.reg. Leave the registry open then go to your desktop.

Right click the saved reg file and choose Edit. If it needs an association choose Notepad.

Scroll down to these keys:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System
Provider\S-1-5-21-839522115-1708537768-1343024091-1003\Data\e161255a-37c3-11d2-bcaa-00c04fd929db\e161255a-37c3-11d2-bcaa-00c04fd929db\q:StringData]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System
Provider\S-1-5-21-839522115-1708537768-1343024091-1003\Data\e161255a-37c3-11d2-bcaa-00c04fd929db\e161255a-37c3-11d2-bcaa-00c04fd929db\q:StringIndex]

To make the search/scroll easier they are listed in alphabetic order and you are looking for the end of the string in this case \q:StringData and \q:StringIndex. So scroll down to the q's....

Under q:StringData
Highlight what is listed after the word "Behavior"= only up to the words "Item Data"= and delete it. Then place a - (minus sign) after the = so that it looks like this: "Behavior"=-

From there hightlight what is listed after the words "Item Data"= only up to the next key and delete it. Then place a - (minus sign) after the = so that it looks like this:
"Item Data"=-

Do the same for q:StringIndex.

Once done choose File/Save. Use the red X to close. If it asked to save again, answer yes.

Return to the registy and delete this key: (right click, delete, accept the warning)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System ProviderS-1-5-21-1960408961-220523388-682003330-1003

Then go back to your desktop and double click your saved regedit, answer yes. Then open Google and the search history is gone.

The only difference with any other Search provider would be the GUID.

To Clear Google Toolbar History

Click on the Google logo to access the drop down menu. Choose the Clear Search History option. This will clear all the previous searches out of the drop down box.

Source for much of the above: Kelly Theriot

 

[linney]

Did you uncheck the box to use AutoComplete for Web Addresses that is in the AutoComplete Settings?

Checking or unchecking it specifies whether you want Internet Explorer to automatically list suggested Internet addresses as you type them in the Address bar. If you've visited the Web site before, the AutoComplete feature suggests a match as you type. You can go to the suggested address by clicking it and then clicking the Go button.

 

[synthetic666]

you can get a nifty program called system mechanic on download.com it will help u with ur poroblem