indexing options/search - Internet Explorer history

[JimLewandowski]

I have "Internet Explorer history" checked on my indexing options screen.

When I search for a URL that's IN my internet history, nothing EVER comes up. Meaning, I can't search on anything and have it come from my internet history.

For example, I'm on OKCupid. If I search on "okcupid" nothing comes up at all.

Any suggestions as to how this works?

 

[seekermeister]

I can't help with IE, because I only touch it when forced to, but Opera has it's own set of panels to find it's history within it's own GUI.

 

[JimLewandowski]

Well, I never knew where IE HISTORY! is stored (location). I've always understood where Temporary Internet Files are stored.

It turns out IE history is in users\....\appdata\local\Microsoft\Windows\History (it's an OS file, not just "hidden")

Well, guess what. By default, Indexing Options EXCLUDES the appdata folder. How nice of MS to default (checkmark) indexing of IE history but have it in a folder that is excluded.

Semi-solved. But, now I have to play with: can you select just one SUBFOLDER of appdata and have the appdata exclusion somehow still be applied to everything else?

UPDATE: Status=denied

I checked HISTORY folder under APPDATA and it immediately added some items to the index. Search still gets nothing from history. REBUILT the index. Still, no items from IE8 history show in search.

Further update.

Going back into Indexing Options MODIFY applet, it now shows specific entries for the THREE subfolders inside the history folder. When you mouseover one of those (upper pane), it says:

This location is currently unavailable. Uncheck it to stop finiding items that used to be stored here.

I thought that maybe this occurred because I went back to Folder Options and CHECKED "hide OS files". I've since UNchecked that to show all files/folders but Indexing still shows those 3 being unavailable.

Aha. Those 3 folders show with that mouseover (unavailable) because I had ALSO checked each subfolder in the upper Indexing pane (I suppose that's redundant to select the subfolder AND the main folder). UNchecking the specific SUBfolders has that entry disappearing. However, it is ominious that somehow Indexing thinks those 3 folders are "unavailable" which explains why I can't find anything in search. Yet, it DID add index entries as soon as I checked "HISTORY".

 

[MilesAhead]

If you like IE I would suggest trying MaxThon if you haven't already. It uses the IE engine, but has had tabs for years. There's a whole community of people writing plugins for it sort of like the AddOns for Firefox. Just about every doodad you could want you can get for free for MaxThon.

 

[CassieFWinTeam]

Hi Jim, I am unclear as to what you are asking. Can you provide some more specific information? Here is more information on indexing: Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions.

Cheers,
Cassandra
Microsoft Windows Outreach

 

[JimLewandowski]

Hi Jim, I am unclear as to what you are asking. Can you provide some more specific information? Here is more information on indexing: Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions.

Cheers,
Cassandra
Microsoft Windows Outreach

See attached image. Internet Explorer History has been checked by default (Windows 7). The upper pane entry isn't shown as a "folder" but a predetermined/configured entry. On the bottom I have HISTORY specifically selected. That HISTORY folder is in C:\users\...\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\history. History is an OS folder so you have to have UNchecked "hide OS files" in FOLDER OPTIONS to see it in the upper pane.

Anyway, searches do NOT return anything that is in the appdata HISTORY folder. I've even rebuilt the index. As noted, if I ALSO check the SUBfolders under appdata HISTORY, NOW the upper pane will show EACH subfolder as an individual entry (checked) and mousing over will reveal the "unavailable" balloon tip popup.

I'm reviewing your link and this probably is a security issue EVEN THOUGH I can clearly browse the HISTORY folder/subfolders. Aha, if I right-click that HISTORY folder there are only TWO tabs: General and Previous Versions. Again, if this IS the case, it would be nice on the Indexing Options applet to have warnings about "you can't see some folders depending on your folder options settings AND you MUST have permissions (not just browse/read access) to said folder".

Since I can't even right-click TO get permissions for HISTORY, than one must ask "what is the original predefined Internet Explorer History" entry actually pointing to TO index anything"?

 

[JimLewandowski]

Final bump.

Since the IE HISTORY folder is an OS file, how can Windows Search (Indexing Options) ever access it? I could do a takeown/icacls but I'm wondering why nowhere else has this issue been addressed.

Future options for Indexing Options applet

have a checkbox for the equivalent of (show hidden files)
have SOME notification that a certain folder you're indexing you to NOT have full security access to

 

[JimLewandowski]

Further research. The Internet Explorer History information is stored in a .dat file NOT as just "links". So, how can Windows Search EVER index and search within that structure? I changed my options to include the CONTENTS of .dat files, rebuilt the index and still no internet history showing in search.

I give.