Question

How To Clear Desktop Address Bar History in Windows 7

Asked by: craigceg

I do NOT mean Internet Explorer.
I am talking about the address toolbar that is available again (used to be in XP but was removed in SP3 I think) in Windows 7.
This history is also in the drop downs of other Windows Explorer Windows. I would like to remove specific entries, specifically ones I typed wrong.
CCleaner does not remove this history.
I'm hoping there is an easier way to do it without editing the registry.

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Asked On
2009-10-28 at 21:44:52ID24853637
Tags

Windows Explorer

Topics

Windows 7

,

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

Participating Experts
1
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500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-10-28 at 22:16:46ID: 25690829

Try the attached reg file.info You will need to reboot to actually get it cleared. CCLeaner may actually do it, but a reboot is needed.  Create a reg file (.reg from notepad) with the following contents.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths] 
; [Clears explorer address bar history in Windows 7] 
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths]

                                              
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Select allOpen in new window

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-10-28 at 22:20:15ID: 25690843

I was wrong, reboot not required with that registry file. Just open a fresh window and try again.

 

by: craigcegPosted on 2009-10-28 at 23:23:23ID: 25691074

Yes, that works well. I have to close the address toolbar and restart it to finish the clearing.

Do you know if there is a limit to how many typed paths the registry maintains?

If there is no limit, then the registry must grow somewhat after several hundred/thousand typed addresses.

Thank you for the quick solution.

 

by: craigcegPosted on 2009-10-28 at 23:54:39ID: 25691161

Actually, it doesn't work. I replied after manually editing that registry key and just assumed your file would work.
When I actually try to merge your code (saved as a .reg file) I get an error:

"Cannot import clearhistory.reg: The specified file is not a registry script. You can only import binary registry files from within the registry editor."

I also get an error when I actually try to import it into the open registry editor.

"The specified file is not a registry file. You can only import registry files"

Is the Windows 7 registry editor different from Windows XP?


 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-10-29 at 04:57:24ID: 25692608

I made the reg file using exactly what I pasted and it worked perfectly for me.

 

by: arixsinPosted on 2009-10-29 at 04:57:43ID: 25692611

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths]

; [Clears explorer address bar history in Windows 7]


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TypedPaths]

 

by: craigcegPosted on 2009-10-29 at 07:03:52ID: 25693745

Sorry, my mistake.
When I was saving the file from notepad, I changed the default save as type from .txt to "all files" and saved with the .reg extension.
It was late and I don't know what I was thinking.
When I save it as a text file with the .reg extension it works just as you said it would.

Thank you again for your help.

 

by: craigcegPosted on 2009-10-29 at 07:04:34ID: 31647362

Thank you again.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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