How to Search a Deleted Internet History

If a user makes regular backups of the computer, the Internet history can usually be recovered. Users can also use a system restore in order to recover the Internet history. However, if a user wants to restore the Internet history without restoring all the rest of the computer, there is one method that has a small chance for success.

Things You'll Need

• Data recovery program

Instructions

1. Figure out what the username is for the individual who was browsing when the Internet history was recorded. Oftentimes you can discover what the username is by right-clicking the "Computer" icon and checking what the computer name is. For the username, simply remove the "-computer" for the username.

2. Locate "Documents Settings" in your Internet Explorer.

3. Locate the folder that is named after the username.

4. Double click the folder "User Settings."

5. Double click the folder "History."

6. If you cannot see the "History" folder, it is likely invisible. To make it visible, click "Tools" at the top of the Internet Explorer task bar. Select "Folder Options."

7. Find the view tab and click it.

8. Select "Show Hidden Files" and then select "Apply." Click "OK."

9. Download a data recovery program like File Scavenger.

10. Select a portion of the computer that you would like to search using the drop down menu entitled "Look in." Click the "Search" button to the right of the drop down menu.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Data Recovery