skip to main content

Delete Browsing History Is Looping

15 years ago

When I start IE8, click Safety, click Delete Browsing History and click on the DELETE Button, Delete Browsing History Window starts but never finishes. The items checked for deletion on the request are unchanged (same as always): Preserve Favorites Website Data; Temporary Internet Files; History.

I recently left it running 15 minutes and it was still processing but really, doing "nothing".

When I press the Cancel Button, it says "Canceling..." but it never stops.

When I switched to ALT+CTL+DLT, highlighted Delete Browsing History and clicked the End Task Button, I got a window saying that the program was not responding and I clicked the End Now Button. Nothing happened until a 'Run a DLL as an App' Window popped up again saying that the progran was not responding and to "please tell Microsoft about this problem". I clicked on the Send Error Report Button, Close Button on the next window and that was that.

Question #1. Are there other ways to do the same thing? Ways that will not put me in a loop? Doing Disk Clean Up to do delete items from the Temporary Folders is slow. And am not sure how else to get rid of History once in a while. I have Firefox 4.0 but do not know my way thru it enough to tell if it has an automatic way to clear my temp files and history when I exit of Firefox.

Question #2. Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know how to fix it? The only new thing that I have done recently to the PC is get rid of Ad-aware and install Super Anti Spyware Free Edition in its place. Nothing unusual happened during the un-install and the install.

TIA, Luis

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

mike_kaiser_gw
15 years ago
My gut reaction is that IE is being a little buggy or there's a corrupt file somewhere. You might want to start with an error check of your disk (My Computer, right click on the drive in question, choose properties, then tools). It will require a reboot.

You can also manually delete temp files by typing %temp% at either run or search (depending on your version of Windows). You may find thousands of files in there. If you try to delete them all at one time you'll likely get a message about a file being in use. That's normal, just work around those (delete the oldest files first). After that, navigate up the directory tree and you'll find the history folder.
luis_pr
Original Author
15 years ago
I did not mention it on the original post but I already scanned the hard drive for errors and had no problems. I assume IE is suddenly buggy but am not sure why now and-or how to proceed.

If the problem is a corrupt file, can IE8 be reinstalled -EASILY- to overlay the bad file with a new file? Or should I dump IE8 and use Firefox only (I will still need some way to do those deletion tasks on a regular basis with Firefox) ?
Related Discussions
Deleting Cookies
Q
Comments (6)
clubm, I'm a bit of a fanatic about cleaning cookies and temporary files. What I did was create a folder on the desktop and named it "Security". I then did a search for any folder/file named Cookie. Went to each of those folders and created a shortcut to the desktop and then dragged the shortcut into the Security folder. I then did the same thing with temporary files. I now have five shortcuts for temporary files and cookies in the Security folder. This gives me quick access to delete the cookies and temporary files. I also do what mikie suggested. Just as an aside, I've placed shortcuts in that Security folder for AdAware, AVG, SpyBot and other things I frequently use one of which is a nice little program that helps keeep my computer clean named Advanced WindowsCare, a piece of freeware from Jobit.com. Bob Central Arizona
...See More
How to delete web pages searched from Google homepage
Q
Comments (2)
It's actually the web browser you are using that is keeping track and not Google itself. I keep some of the web pages I have searched and just highlite and delete those I don't want. Just hover over those and click delete. To delete all of the entries assuming you are using IE7 do the following.... Click the Tools menu Select Delete Browsing History Click the Delete forms button Click the Yes button in the confirmation window. Click the Close button You can also click on Preferences next to the Google search box and near the bottom where it says Query Suggestion put a check in the button that says... Do not provide query suggestions in the search box. That will stop the auto suggestion when a similar letter is entered. Bob
...See More
IE8 address bar history
Q
Comments (2)
Perhaps the IE8 Privacy Mode is what your looking for, DA
...See More
deleting items in memory
Q
Comments (6)
Microsoft Internet Explorer users To clear the AutoComplete Settings, follow the below steps. 1.Open Internet Explorer 2.Click the Tools menu and then Internet Options. 3.Within the Internet Options window, click the content tab. 4.Click the Autocomplete button. 5.Within this window you can click Clear forms to clear all form data except for passwords and/or click Clear Passwords to clear the passwords. In addition to clearing these fields, if you do not want Internet Explorer to save this data in the future, you may uncheck any of the available boxes in this window. Mozilla Firefox users To clear the Mozilla Firefox Saved Form Information follow the below steps. 1.Open Firefox 2.Click Tools and then Options 3.Within the Options window click the Privacy button and click the Clear button on the Saved Form Information. Paddy..
...See More
shaxhome (Frog Rock, Australia 9b)
15 years ago
This may help....

Here is a link that might be useful: Clear History
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
15 years ago
you can use a third party app like ATF
ATF-Cleaner

you should be able to re-install IE8 on top of the old one and it should correct bad files, however there is no promise. Is that the only buggy problem you have with IE? if there is more then a re-install will probably be the way to go.

Related Stories

FARMHOUSES Kitchen of the Week: Renovation Honors New England Farmhouse’s History

By Becky Harris

Homeowners and their designer embrace a historic kitchen’s quirks while creating a beautiful and functional cooking space

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Three-Story Barn Becomes a Modern-Home Beauty

With more than 9,000 square feet, an expansive courtyard and a few previous uses, this modern Chicago home isn't short on space — or history

ECLECTIC HOMES Houzz Tour: A New Chapter for a Storied Chicago Building

By Mary Jo Bowling

Al Capone may have once run the joint, but this top-floor unit had lost its character — until an interior designer moved in

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Call: What’s Cooking in Your Kitchen?

By Stacy Briscoe

Most of us turn to recipes, videos and culinary shows when we cook. Where do you set your cookbook, tablet or TV screen?

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Family Memories Fill a Casually Elegant Parlor

By Becky Harris

A homeowner renovates her grandmother’s Boston home with love and meaningful touches

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Modern and Moody Nostalgia in Salt Lake City

Dark, masculine and nodding to the past, this 1911 apartment is a haven for contemplation

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: Global Details Add Character to a Connecticut Farmhouse

By Rikki Snyder

Lush textiles and gorgeous antiques warm up this classic 1745 East Coast home

ART From the Artist: How to Make a Real Mobile

By Marco Mahler

It’s all in the balancing points: A top mobile designer shows how to create a Calder-inspired installation of your own

REMODELING GUIDES Original Home Details: What to Keep, What to Cast Off

By Laura Gaskill

Renovate an older home without regrets with this insight on the details worth preserving

MY HOUZZ My Houzz: A Hat Collection in Los Angeles That’s Hard to Top

By Carolyn Reyes

A makeup artist’s lifelong passion for designer hats lends eccentric charm to her apartment in the NoHo arts district

Sponsored

Urban Upkeep LLC

6 Reviews

Columbus High Quality Painting Expert

More Discussions

Tired of MS Office 365 Monthly Fees?

1