How to Clean the Internet Registry

Understanding how to use your web browser

Whenever you conduct an online search or type in a website address, your web browser saves that information for future use. Over time this data can clutter up your hard drive and slow down your computer. If you want to clear this data out to make room on your computer or to prevent other people from viewing your history, there are two options to take. You can either clean your Internet browsing history directly through the web browser or by manually deleting the history entries in the registry editor.

Instructions

Deleting Through the Registry

1. 

   Open the "Start" menu and click on the "Search" feature. Type "Regedit" into the search box and press "Enter."

2. 

   Double-click the "regedit" icon in the search results area. Click on the registry folder labeled "HKEY_CURRENT_USER."

3. Open the registry folder named "Software." Locate the folder that corresponds to the manufacturer of your web browser, such as "Microsoft" for Internet Explorer.

4. Click on the folder name for your specific web browser, such as "Internet Explorer." Navigate to the folder named "TypedURLS."

5. Locate the list of history files in the panel at the right side of the registry editor. Right-click the file at the bottom of the list and select "Delete."

6. Repeat the process for every history registry entry except for the top entry named "Default," which must remain in the folder.

Deleting Through the Browser

1. Click the "Tools" button at the top of the web browser.

2. Select "Clear Private Data" if you use Mozilla Firefox or "Internet Options" if you use Microsoft Internet Explorer.

3. Click each of the check boxes and choose "Clear Private Data Now" if you are using Firefox. Click on "Delete" under the "History" heading if you are using Internet Explorer.

4. Select "Delete All" and then click "OK" in Internet Explorer. Close down the "Clear Private Data" window in Firefox.

5. Restart the web browser to save the changes.

Tips & Warnings

• If your computer is running Windows XP or an earlier operating system, you can also bring up the registry editor by typing "Regedit" into the "Run" field located in the "Start" menu.

• Do not change any other entries in the registry editor. If you change or delete the wrong registry file, your computer may crash at random times or could stop booting up entirely.

References

• Modifying the Registry
• Deleting Internet History