# IE5.5 address history not clearing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 13, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481 "2002-12-13T10:39:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481/1 "2002-12-13T10:39:04Z")

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IE5.5 SP2 running on Windows 2000 – address bar drop-down list does not clear completely. A number of addresses always remain even when all others are removed on clearing the address history.

Before anyone suggests these, I have tried clearing all cookies, all temporary internet files (for all user directories) and using all of the various disable AutoComplete options within the Tools \> Internet Options menus.

I have even uninstalled IE and re-installed it from scratch. A handful of addresses remain in the drop-down history list even though all others do get successfully cleared. Oh, and they’re not bookmarks or other items you’d expect to find somewhere.

One last thing: if you’re going to recommend switching browsers or operating systems, please don’t bother. As well as being unhelpful and irrelevant, this is my work machine and desktop software installations are audited.

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**Author:** ![deathawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@deathawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deathawk)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481/2 "2002-12-13T11:45:47Z")

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First the Standard Disclaimer: Changing the registry can lead to stability problems with programs and the OS.

Check the registry:

HKCU-\>Software-\>Microsoft-\>Internet Explorer-\>TypedURLS

I’d leave the default entry alone.

Uninstall/Reinstall probably did not touch the reg entries.

Here is the MS KB article that describes how Auto-Complete generates its entries:

[http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;217148](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;217148)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![deathawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@deathawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deathawk)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481/3 "2002-12-13T11:49:01Z")

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I should also mention that with W2K in a network environment you may not have the required permissions to view or change this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ie5-5-address-history-not-clearing/142481/4 "2002-12-13T13:39:45Z")

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Hmm. Should’ve mentioned that one – I’ve got the permissions but there are no TypedURL entries. Doh.