Having a problem, have a question

[red river]

For the first time in its 1.5 yr. history, we ran a cleaner program and a defrag on our computer yesterday. Everything 'appeared' to be just fine....until I went to the tab where I clear all the cookies, temp files, and history, which I do every time I log off the computer. The cookies & temp files clear, but the clear history "hangs". It has never done this, where do I look, or what do I do to be able to 'clear the history' from my shortcut tab????

Thanks for any input.

[Bobbi]

In the past, my computer has also failed to clear everything. I downloaded a trial version of Webroot Window Washer:

http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/windowwasher/?WRSID=a7c1ce61fa45118fae8c8a8ebb05ab68

Before using it, I opened the Cookie Wizard to save the cookies (for sites with password access) that I did not want wiped.

The trial version worked beautifully. I ended up purchasing Webroot's progam.

Likely, someone else will have ideas on how to do a manual cleansing.

[red river]

Thanks, Bobbi. I may give that a try if I don't get any other possibilities. I reset the history storage for 1 day, so it won't be like clogging the machine with multiple days....and the important things are the cookies and temp files, and they work just fine.

I appreciate your suggestion!

[annie]

bobbi, what does the delete cookies in windows IE 6 tools > internet options > Delete Cookies do? i have always routinely used the delete files thing, but i am afraid that if i delete cookies i will lose all my registrations.

[Mike Weins]

Red River I also have my history set to 1 day and have zero problems with it hanging.

Annie if you "delete cookies" you will have to log in at every place you visit that requires a username and password.

That's why when I suggest folks clear their cookies I give them specific ones to look for. That way they won't have to login to all the other places.

[Bobbi]

Annie, if you use Netscape, you have the option to save passwords. Unfortunately, MS IE browser doesn't offer that same feature.

I use both browsers.

For MS IE, if you don't save site-specific cookies, you'll have to find a plug-in or feature that retains site cookies so that passwords are not dumped. Otherwise, each time you do a cleansing, the passwords will also be lost and you'll need to do as ZS stated: log in each time until you clean out cookies again.

The benefit of doing a cleansing of unwanted cookies, etc., is: It does speed up performance.

[annie]

so is the baby the most beautiful baby ever born?

Annie if you "delete cookies" you will have to log in at every place you visit that requires a username and password.

That's why when I suggest folks clear their cookies I give them specific ones to look for. That way they won't have to login to all the other places.

i was afraid of that.

what should i delete? what should i not delete? remember this is a new computer, only a couple of months old, so if i get on top of it now i may actually be able to stay on top of it. plus if i get rid of lots of cookies and temp files my scan will be faster. i mean one hour is a long time.

oh i found where to schedule the scans. but it is still taking one hour.

[Bobbi]

Annie, let's say you don't want to lose your browser's ability to remember that you have a log-in set for MS IE to remember that you want to log-in to BT each time you visit, for example.

Taking the one example, I wouldn't let MS IE dump or cleanse cookies for brain.hastypastry.net.

If there are other sites you visit that have log-in passwords required, I'd not delete the cookies for those site-specific URLs - for now.

[red river]

Red River I also have my history set to 1 day and have zero problems with it hanging.

Hi ZS. Well, this turned out to be an incredible problem! :mad: :( :eek: And it wasn't "just" the inability to clear the history.

I spent an hour on the phone w/a tech from McAfee [yeah, I know I wasn't going to renew, but dh thought I needed to]; the dumb thing loaded on Thursday, then I ran the cleaner and the defrag programs [the former from McAfee; the latter from MS], and apparently 'something' went wack-o! One of them apparently even 'whacked' McAfee, which kept telling me they had no record of my registration! What a mess!

Even my screen saver was on "blink"! :eek: :confused:

But today, the guy at McAfee [after I told him I wanted a refund! ;)] was most helpful, and all the problems were cleared....except the history. So I'll leave it at one day, and not worry.

Computers are both a wonderful invention and a total curse!!!! :p

Thanks to all who responded.

[Mike Weins]

so is the baby the most beautiful baby ever born?


I'm sad to say I didn't make it. Had a cold and talked with sis and she said she'd kick my butt if I showed up sick.

So we're shooting for next weekend.