There are times when recent files found in Windows are rather handy. You can find them easily, and do not have to go hunting for them. However, there are also times when you will want to remove them so others cannot see them. This article will go over some strategies you can use to remove recent files from your Windows computer.
When you click on the Start menu, you will find recent documents. You will see a list of documents that have been recently opened. It can be convenient, but it can also be a security risk when keeping these around too long.
For example, someone may ask you to use your computer. If you let them, they can go to the recent section and see files that you have worked on in the past few days or weeks. Therefore, it is a good idea to know how to clean these off after some time.
One of the easiest things to do is to right click on the task bar near the Start Menu. You will want to click on Properties once that window opens.
Once inside Properties, click on Customize and then the Advance tab.Once inside there, you can click on Clear List under the Recent documents section. Click on OK and the files will be removed from that area. The files will still be on your hard drive, but the reference to them in the recent files will be removed.
It may be that you want to completely remove the option for recent files from your computer. In order to accomplish this, you will have to dig into the Windows Registry. To get into the Windows Registry, you can click on the Start button and type “regedit” in the blank Run window that appears. You will want to change the DWORD of the appropriate ekey. This can be found at : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\General\RecentFiles
You need to be very careful when editing entries in the registry. It is a good idea to back up the registry and your system when making changes in there. A mistake could result in your computer not being accessible.
When you clear out the Recent files, it is a good idea to go ahead and clear out the temporary interne files and cache. This can be found in the options of your favorite browser.
The recent files can also be removed using popular third-party tools like cccleaner. Many of these are free tools that will clear the Recent files and your system cache.
The Recent files can be a handy feature in Windows. But, it is a good idea to keep it properly maintained. And, if you have to loan your computer to someone, it is a good idea to clear all this out before letting the on your PC.