How to Clear the Internet History in DOS
System administrators and power users may wish to clear browsing history without needing to do so from the browser interface. For example, a library may wish to include a command to erase browser history upon logging in or out of a workstation, while a home user may want to have their files flushed periodically to optimize system performance. The system command line, commonly known as the DOS prompt, will enable you to erase your browser history by issuing a single command.
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Instructions
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Open the DOS prompt. On Windows XP and earlier versions, click "Start," then select "Run" and type "Command." Windows Vista and later users must open their Start menu and type "cmd" in the search bar.
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Type the following command, without the quotation marks, into the black command prompt window that appears on your screen: "RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255"
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Verify the command completed successfully. It has instructed your computer to delete all browsing history records and caches. If there is an error with your command, a message box will appear with the label RUNDLL stating that the wrong arguments have been passed. This occurs only when you have passed Rundll32.exe the wrong command parameters, so double-check to be sure you have typed it in properly.
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Tips & Warnings
You can make your own file to execute this command automatically. To write a batch file to perform this task, use Windows Notepad to create a new text file. Name your file (without the quotation marks): "RunDll32.exe InetCpl.cpl,ClearMyTracksByProcess 255" and save it with the unquoted file extension ".bat". Your browsing history will be cleared every time you run this file.
Rundll32.exe is a powerful component of the Windows operating system. Sending it the wrong command could lock or restart your computer. A list of possible commands have been included in the resources section, so be sure you understand what you are sending before experimenting with it.
References
Resources
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