Delete Search Results: Cover your tracks
May 31, 2006
Ever search for something questionable on someone else system and go into a hyperventilation panic when you notice that their computer is retaining the keywords you typed into their search engine?
You typed in “boobies” on your mom's computer and now the word pops up everytime you type a “B”!!
Perhaps it was your spouses system and your were searching for evidence of pornography.
Maybe it was your kids computer and you want to make sure they are o.k. mentally.
Maybe your Internet connection has been down for a while and you’ve had to use your friends system or a public system.
Whatever the case maybe it is none of my business. And you don’t want it to be the business of the other who will use the system after you.
Here are two simple techniques to get rid of those bad keywords.
For Window XP “Recently Opened Documents”:
To delete “my Recent Documents”
Right – Click on the “Start” button
Select “Properties”
On the Start Menu Tab, Select “Customize”
Select the “Advance Tab”
Select the “Clear List” button at the bottom. Don’t worry, it will NOT delete the files. (Deselect the checkbox if you don’t want the system to track previously opened files)
For Windows XP, Internet Explorer:
In IE, Select “Tools”
Go to “Internet Option” at the bottom of the Tools list
Under Temporary Internet Files select “Delete Cookies” and “Delete Files”
To delete the history of the websites you searched select “Clear History”
Popularity: 5% [?]
I thought that this wpuld remedy my situation, but it did not. As you explained in your opening comments, I do not want previously searched on sites to come up when letters are typed into the my MSN browser on my home page. However, the fix suggested above only addresses documents and internet explorer, it does not address the search done on MSN from my home page. I tried everything I can think of (including the above) but I can not clear previous searches. any ideas?
Tony,
I am also in a similiar situation as you and have figured it out without going through too many loops! There are two methods: one automatic and one manual.
Method 1: Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Go to the “Tools” menu.
2. Select “Internet Options” and the “Content” tab.
3. Within the “Personal information” area, select “AutoComplete.”
4. Click on “Clear Forms.” You can also un-check the “Forms” box in this window to keep this information from being stored in the future.
5. Click “OK” to exit.
Method 2: Manually
When typing information in the web form or search form, you can remove an item from the list of suggestions by hovering the cursor on the suggested word(s) and then pressing the DELETE key. This will remove for good. Though this method is long winded as you have to delete each item one by one. Hope this sorts out your worries mate!