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Thread ID: 35983 2003-07-27 09:36:00 file "my recent documents" carl watson (2731) Press F1
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163238 2003-07-27 09:36:00 I'm using win XPpro. In C/documents and settings/administrator/my recent documents, is a huge list, 166 files, of what seem to be shortcuts to everything I've done or accessed in the last few weeks!! How can I stop this, limit the list to about 10, or better still, stop it altogether, I can see no use or need for it. Is it essential, for XP to function? Carl Watson. carl watson (2731)
163239 2003-07-27 09:58:00 You can get rid of the "Recent Documents" from the Start Menu by right clicking on the Start button and selecting Properties. On the Start Menu click on the Customise bottom and then the Advanced tab. Remove the tick from beside "List my most recent opened documents". Also click on the Clear button to clear all history. Click Apply and OK. If you go back to this directory C:\documents and settings\administrator\ you will note the the "my recent doucments" folder is now gone. However, once you start opening up documents again, this folder will reappear in that directory and will start to fill up with files again, so once in a while go back and click on the Clear button as before to empty it.

As you have removed the tick from beside the "List my most recent opened documents" you won't however, get the list appearing under the Start Menu again.
Jen C (20)
163240 2003-07-27 10:22:00 I find the Recent Documents list quite useful but like you I cannot see the need for having that huge list in the Documents and Settings folder and have been wondering how to reduce it myself.

This page (www.techtv.com) gives a .bat file that clears the Recent Documents list instantly which I am going to try. Unfortunately I cleared mine a couple of days ago and it has not had a chance to build up a good number to test it on. I am hoping that it clears out the entire folder and not just the few that show up on the Start Menu's list.

There are also registry keys that one can change to have the list clear upon Windows' exit if you want to do that.
Susan B (19)
163241 2003-07-27 10:40:00 Hmm, just been fiddling in the latest TweakUI and I see that you can customise the Recent Documents settings in it .

Babe Ruth has details in a thread here ( . pcworld . co . nz/thread . jsp?forum=1&thread=37599" target="_blank">pressf1 . pcworld . co . nz) if you wish to download TweakUI .
Susan B (19)
163242 2003-07-29 09:37:00 many thanks, will do Carl. carl watson (2731)
163243 2003-07-29 09:38:00 Many thanks, you people are very quick to follow up these queries from us dummies! Carl. carl watson (2731)
163244 2003-07-29 09:40:00 Many thanks, I had "tweak" on before a recent re-format, will get my more savvy daughter to reapply it when she next visits. many thanks. Carl carl watson (2731)
163245 2003-08-05 09:45:00 re "tweak" we did as it suggested, will now wait and see if things are better, many thanks. carl watson (2731)
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