I think these are related: Why, or how, could I have gotten the AOL
version of Explorer? And should I get rid of it? I don't particularly
like anything about AOL and figure it will probably only mess things
up, and, look: I've set my history preference to keep pages for 25
days (I just checked that again), but everything disappears after one
day. (Is this AOL's fault? I dunno, but I suspect I'm safer with the
most generic version...which is??? Help.)

---

Request for Question Clarification by feilong-ga on 13 Nov 2002 16:17 PST

To make an accurate answer regarding your query, it would be very
helpful if you could give us the following info:

- the OS you are using - Windows or Mac and version
- the web browser you are using - Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.
- the active programs that you can see in your taskbar's system tray.

I assume you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer - Provided by AOL.
The 'AOL' branding of the browser can be removed quite easily.

Simply go to:
http://www.dougknox.com/utility/scripts_desc/unbrand.htm

Click the button that says, "Download" and OPEN the file when asked.
Your virus alert may go off: this is NORMAL! Do not be concerned.
Simply allow the script to execute. Voila, no AOL branding in Internet
Explorer or Outlook Express..

Search term used:

unbrand IE

******

Now, as to the history disappearing, it is possible that you are using
some sort of 'windows washer' program, or Internet Security and
Privacy software that is deleting your history lists. (Mind you, it
could be AOL's branding that is doing it too.)

There is another possibility as well: that you have set Windows to
automatically remove the history list as well as a part of enhanced
privacy.. Try download the appropriate file from:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/tweakui

and configure the 'privacy' settings.. NOTE: BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT YOU
CHANGE USING THIS TOOL! IMPROPER USE COULD DAMAGE YOUR SYSTEM AND
CAUSE YOU TO HAVE TO REINSTALL YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM!!

That should fix all the problems.

Thanks for the great question.

Search terms:

tweakui win98

Very knowledgeable, very thorough (at least, looks that way to me!).
Only trouble is, I wanted an answer that would simplify things, and
this one seems to make it clear that using these "solutions" might
make things worse...(!). Of course, that seems realistic, in terms of
computers--unfortunately--which is why this answer seems quite
authoritative. It does leave me uncertain, but I think that's the
fault of reality and not of the answerer. (Unless the answerer WAS
reality, which is possible. Google has a wide reach.) If anyone has a
happier, simpler answer, or knows a happier, simpler reality--which
may be the same thing--I'll be happy to hear about it. I'm still
hoping...