How To Turn Off "Recent Documents"
Folks, today a ‘quick tip’- The Windows Start menu can show you a list of the files you have recently opened, which is a handy shortcut for returning to works-in-progress. This feature is called “My Recent Documents” and you can quickly and easily turn it on or off.
Tip of the day: Customize your Start menu to show your most recently opened files or, if you’re a ‘minimalist’ and want a leaner, cleaner Start Menu, do the opposite of [un-check] these steps to disable the Recent Documents feature).
Step 1:Right-click on a blank area of your Taskbar, and select “Properies” from the context menu.
Step 2: Select the Start Menu tab, and click on the “Customize” button.
Step 3: Select the “Advanced” tab, and Place a check in the checkbox labeled “List my most recently opened documents.” Now click “OK”, and “OK” again.
That’s it. You’re done. Now when you click on the Start Button, you will see the last things you were working on, and can quickly launch them by clicking their icon.
For Vista: Vista users can do this too, and actually have a little more control..
.. but the steps are the same. Select the “Start Menu” tab, and place the checks.
Today’s free link: TweakUI, a Microsoft “Power Toy”, is an applet for XP that allows for a remarkable amount of, well, “tweaking” of Windows’ behavior and appearance. “This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, Taskbar settings, and more.”
Copyright 2007-8 © Tech Paul. All rights reserved.
post to jaanix
| Share this post : |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
6 Comments »
Post your Comment/Question
• About Tech Paul
I am a (semi)-Retired CompTIA Certified computer & network technician, and the owner of Aplus Computer Aid. I have been building/fixing networks and computers since Windows 95 was the new kid on the block.
I have regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here since 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers.) Sometimes I answer (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer is generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see is my own, typos and all. There is an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
You can write to me using this form.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
-
Say "thank you!" Buy Tech Paul a cup of coffee (and keep T4E ad free).
-
-
McAfee® Cybersafety Resource Portal, an online help center designed to assist victims of computer crime and provide information on how to avoid becoming a victim.
-
Subscribe to Tech--for Everyone by Email
Recent Comments
-
-
-
-
Folks, this is not one of those "trick you into buying" free scans, but a scan that show what is running, and loaded to run (Startup folder, etc.). You can also click links to learn more about the files it finds. And, please, do a search before you decide something doesn't belong. 
Also:
-
-
THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED
GREAT HELP
EASES THE MICROSOFT FRUSTRATION IN NON GEEKS
LikeLike
Mr. McNeill–
Thank you. I have posted over 500 articles containing tips & tweaks and advice. The articles are search-able by keyword, and archived by month. I hope you’ll stay and look around some.
Here’s one more free tip: hit the key on your keyboard just above the left Shift key, and release the Caps Lock. (You either have it on accidentally, or you like SHOUTING on the Internet.. And I’m not hard of hearing.. Yet. I love your enthusiasm, though.)
LikeLike
Awesome! Now my wife won’t find my recently viewed fetish pornography… (at least until she arrives home early one day and finds me wearing her underwear and rodgering our pet goat.)
Thanks Techpaul, you’ve saved my marriage!
LikeLike
Dave,
Umm.. Yeah. Thanks for visiting and I’m glad I could help.
You might also want to regularly use an app like CCleaner or TracksEraser to flush your browser history and temp folders too…
LikeLike
This only works if you’re using the Vista standard menu. If you switch to classic menu view, it will display your recent documents if you have not cleared the history. I’ve been trying to find a way to remove this feature altogether, however I have not been able to find a way for you to keep Windows from tracking your recent document access while using the classic view. Have you, or anyone else, encountered a solution? Thanks!
LikeLike
James,
If you are a ‘power user’ and comfortable with editing the Registry, you might find this article helpful (click http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-9953244-68.html).
LikeLike