Solved: Deleting domains in registry

[Larkru]

I noticed that the greatest time consumption when doing a registry scan on my laptop takes place in the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\InternetSettings\Zone Map\Domains

Many of the domain names that appear in this path are places visited online which I can recognize. Broadband connection doesn't require the kind of caching needed prior to this technology. I feed my curiosity about the most mundane topics and spend hours a day on the net. I rarely return to the same site unless I find it useful...then I bookmark the site.

My question: Can I delete this seeming history of domains visited from the registry without fear of creating a catastrophic situation when searching the net?

I appreciate your collective wisdom. Thank you.

Larry

 

[Claymore]

Zone Map is typically empty. These are sites that have security attributes set in Internet Options => Security. I imagine you can delete them. You can always - and should - Export (backup ) this key before deletion.

 

[WhitPhil]

Domains

This is where the IE Restricted Sites list is maintained. If you have run SpyBot it will have populate this key.

If the "registry scan" you are running is part of a "cleaner", I would recommend not using it. Do a search here for Registry Cleaners to see the type of damage these programs can cause.
The important bottom line is that they perform no useful function and do not result in any increase in performance.

 

[Larkru]

Claymore, I exported both the domains and ranges folders to a flash drive and deleted the folders in the Zone Map folder. I ran CCleaner, rebooted my laptop and ran my "registry cleaner" again. For some reason, it continues to take an excessive amount of time searching through Domains even though the folder no longer exists in the Zone Map folder of the registry. Fortunately, the deletion doesn't seem to have hurt anything either.

WhitPhil, I use Glary Utilities and it does contain a registry cleaner. Thanks for the advice. I will read further on registry cleaners and the potential damage caused by them. Had no clue about this.

Thanks again gents. Larry.

 

[WhitPhil]

As well, by deleting that key you have now UNdone the protection provided by Restricted Sites!

 

[Claymore]

He can always restore his backup of the Registry key.

 

[Larkru]

Downloaded latest version of Spybot with all updates and immunized system. Registry folders are back in order. Thanks again.