Suddenly I cannot delete cookies in Internet Explorer 7

Julius99 · Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 5

I use Vista Ultimate 64-bit and Internet Explorer 7. I goto delete the entire browsing history. All is deleted except the cookies. I can delete them manually of course but I used to be able to delete them via the 'delete browsing history' option.

I do a master reset of Internet Explorer. The problem goes away. It works fine for a while (days to weeks) but then the same issue suddenly returns. I cannot see any correlation between each occurence. Once the problem reappears, I can find no other way to resolve the issue other than via the reset of IE7. Otherwise IE7 and the PC work fine.

In case of e.g corrupt Index.dat file I have used clean up software (ParetoLogic Privacy Controls) but this does not resovel the issue.

Any suggestions?

goretsky

Hello,

If you run Internet Explorer 7.0 (filename: IEXPLORE.EXE) and select Tools -> Internet Options to bring up the Internet Options dialog, then click on the Delete button to bring up the Delete Browing History dialog, do you see a Delete Cookies option? If so, does it work when you use it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Julius99 · Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 5

If I select 'Delete Cookies' rather than 'Delete All' then no difference. The cookies remain. So I do a master reset of IE7. the problem then goes away and I can again delete cookies. Then, for no apparent reason, after a few weeks I cannot delete cookeis again.

I tried moving my 'Temporary Interner Files' folder from within IE7 (you can see this if you goto 'view files') then moving it back again to see if this would fix the issue but it makes no difference.

This issue only affects cookies. All other temporary internet files can be deleted.

Most bizarre, especially as it appears to recur randomly.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Julius 99,
If memory serves, there have been lots of problems with I.E.7, including the one you mention. I removed it from my own PC when it screwed up my Outlook Express. I had to do likewise for several of my customers.

I just run a batch file in my startup folder to delete all cookies, temp files, Temporary Internet Files, etc.
That way, I get a free cleanup every time I reboot my PC.

But I avoid any of the I.E. problems by just NOT using it.
I've been using Mozilla Firefox exclusively, since it first showed up on the internet scene. I even have removed the "e" from the desktop and QL Toolbar.
Using the I.E.Tab add-on in Firefox, I never need Internet Explorer.

So, if you've not tried Firefox yet, I heartily recommend it.

Cheers mate!
The Doctor Cool

Julius99 · Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 5

Okay, thanks for the information. I had already been thinking along these lines as I have heard similar from others.

goretsky

Hello,

When you talk about doing a "master reset" of Internet Explorer 7, what exactly does this entail?

Also, how are you determining that cookies still remain on your system?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Julius99 · Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 5

I goto Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, Reset...

To delete all files, cookies, etc. I goto Tools, Internet Options, Delete,
Delete All.

Then I goto Tools, Internet Options, Settings, View Files and see that all is deleted other than the cookies.

The same occurs of I try to delete cookies only, the check the files.

After I reset IE7 as above I can again delete cookies for a while. The problem will randomly reappear, sometimes after a few weeks of further use of IE7.

I have tried using a tool such as Purge IE or ParetoLogic Privacy Controls. These clean out IE7 files. The latter clears out the associated index.dat files. However, although these willd elete the cookies, I find thatocne they are recreated I still cannot delete them from within IE7 unless I also do the reset as above.

Confused

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 517 Location: Maine

I maybe clutching at straws here but when you "delete all" do you refresh the page you are viewing the cookies on? It could be you are viewing the page stored in the IE cache. Idea

Julius99 · Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 5

I know what you mean and, no, I don't do this. I look at the 'View Files' immediately after the delete operation without doing a page refresh. In addition, cookies from many other web pages are still there. I have concluded that it is a real IE7 issue but perhaps there is some odd interaction occurring with other software or an add-on. Hence the enquiry to this forum. Confused

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Just for fun: (A very old Vaudeville joke)

A man goes to the doctor and says, "Doc, when I raise my arm up over my head, it hurts like the devil. What should I do"?

And the doctor says, "Well, don't raise your arm up like that!". Laughing

SO; Having problems with I.E.7?
"Don't use I.E.7!" Wink

There are many alternatives used by members of this very forum.
I myself decided to use 'Mozilla Firefox'.

Seriously, there are many (many, many) places in all versions of windows, where junk files, MRU's, etc. are saved by the OS.
Some are so well hidden as to be (almost) invisible. Confused

A long time ago, I began to search out these 'hidden' files and put their paths in my Cleanup batch file.
I've even included the "Quarantine" folder for my Anti-Virus program.
* I just don't want that crapola on my Hard Drive.

I don't want to have to sit and wait while my AV or AS software scans all those files and I don't want them backed up in my weekly Ghost Backup of my C: drive. They also extend the run time of chkdsk or Defrag and put a lot of wear and tear on the hard drive.
Call them junk, bloat, crapola or whatever you like, but they just don't need to be kept on the HD.

I have included the "Cookies" folder(s) in my Cleanup routine and I run "Easy Cleaner 2" which also has a "Delete Cookies" applet.

Here is a typical line from my own XPCleanup.bat program:
deltree /y "%homepath%\Local Settings\cookies\*.*"

If you have some aversion to using the "Deltree.exe" program (Deltree.exe is a DOS command used in all versions of Windows thru Windows ME, but dropped in Windows XP) on your PC, you can use this line:
Echo y | del "%homepath%\Local Settings\cookies\*.*"

My own XPCleanup.bat program is over twenty lines long and incorporates all the little hiding places for junk to build up on my own PC.
It now includes the hiding place for the Firefox 'cache' files.

I've put a shortcut to that batch file in my Startup folder, so I get a FREE cleanup every time I boot my PC (and that could be several times per day, depending on what I'm doing)

I recently cleaned up a four-year old PC for a little lady.
I removed over 30,000 junk files and 176 pieces of spyware.
She had McAfee AV installed, but NO anti spyware software at all.
Also, her 12 yr old grandson comes over to her house and uses her PC. Rolling Eyes

WELL, now she has a nice clean and better running PC and she also has AVG 8.0 FREE anti-virus and Spybot Search & Destroy, Anti-Spyware installed and instruction sheets for both programs.
She also has my XPCleanup.bat program installed in her Startup folder.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

PS: I don't like telling anyone "you must do this" or "you must do that",
but I hope by telling them what I myself do and how I do it, that I'll encourage the readers to do something similar.
Likewise, I'm always glad to help anyone wanting to set up their own Cleanup routine. That's best done via PM's.

goretsky

Hello,

If you delete cookies per the description in my previous post, close Internet Explorer, restart it and then go to a web site which had previously placed a cookie on your computer, is the cookie still used or do you have to re-enter information in order to utilize the web site?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky