# Computer question, STOP RECALLING DAMMIT! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 25, 2002, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973 "2002-03-25T07:00:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/1 "2002-03-25T07:00:46Z")
Every time I type in a letter in a search engine; the computer will call up every other key word I searched for that starts with that letter. How do I get the computer to stop doing that? I use IE, if that means anything. yes I’ve got some stuff in there I don’t want other people knowing about! I know I’m bad! ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/2 "2002-03-25T07:11:10Z")
What search engine? ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Black\_Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Lizard)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/3 "2002-03-25T07:23:50Z")
Ok so if I understand you right, you don’t want the auto complete feature to be active? To turn this feature off, in I.E. 6: Tools --\> Internet Options --\> Content --\> Auto Complete; and in the box that appears remove the check from the box beside “Forms” click Ok and that should do it for you. You might have to restart your browser for changes to take effect. Black Lizard ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/4 "2002-03-25T07:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Violet \* > \*\*What search engine? \*\* It does them on all search engines I believe. Example of what I’m talking about. Lets say I want to do a search on “bass fishing” Well as soon as I type the letter B; a box will appear with all the other stuff that I’ve searched for that starts with the letter “b” things like “[bigsluts.com](http://bigsluts.com)” As you can see thats why I want to clear whatever memory is doing that. Ok now I’m thoroughly embarrassed. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/5 "2002-03-25T08:37:39Z")
OOps! I just realized that my last post might actually be a website. Sorry mods if it is. I was just trying to give an example. Also previewing my post might help too… Jeesh! ---
**Author:** ![Bromley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Bromley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bromley)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/6 "2002-03-25T08:57:32Z")
If you find you actually use the autocomplete for normal surfing (insert joke about porn and the internet here), you can just clear your history after you’ve been somewhere you shouldn’t have been. That stops it appearing in the “History” bar as well. Don’t forget cookies either (and a whole host of other indicators that I don’t know about). Tools/Internet Options/Clear History ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-stop-recalling-dammit/99973/7 "2002-03-25T10:49:19Z")
Not to mention that you can highlight any particular entry and hit “delete”. I don’t know about you but it seems pretty intuitive to me.