How to Remove – Empty the Recent Documents List – Entries in Windows XP

After you open a document or a multimedia file on your computer, it gets listed in the My Recent Documents list in Start -> Documents. It prevents you from maintaining your privacy as it displays what documents you opened. You can remove those entries from the My recent documents list as follows:

(the steps may be somewhat similar for windows and mac)

Just a little right of the start button in the task bar, Right click and then select properties.

(For beginners: You have to right click not on the icons right of the task bar. Right click on the task bar not on the icons.)

After selecting properties, go to Start Menu

Then there will be two options 1) Start menu and 2) classic start menu

Select start menu and click the “customize” button

Here you can increase or decrease the icon size for the “Programs” under the general tab.

You can also clear – remove – delete the list of programs which display when you click start.

You can also set the number of programs there.

To Empty – Remove – Delete the recently opened documents, Click the Advanced Tab.

Then at the bottom, press the clear list button and your recent items will be removed / cleared.

If you want to not show recent documents / items again, you can clear the checkbox near “List my most recently opened Documents”

See more Windows advanced and beginners XP Tips and Tricks here