Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

How to Clear Recent Items and Documents on Exit of Windows 7

   Information
This will show you how to have recent items and documents clear automatically when specific or all users exit Windows 7. Clearing Recent Items will also clear the Recent items in Jump Lists as well.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Note
This does not clear items that the users have pinned to the Jump Lists, or Tasks that the application has provided for their menu.




OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download


NOTE: This option will affect all users on the computer.
1. To Enable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit for Only Current User
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Enable_Clear_History_of_Recently_Opened_Documents_on_Exit.reg

Download


2. To Disable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit for Only Current User
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.
Disable_Clear_History_of_Recently_Opened_Documents_on_Exit.reg

Download


3. Save the .reg file to the desktop.

4. Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.

6. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.







OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor


1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Start Menu and Taskbar. (see screenshot below)
2.PNG
3. In the right pane, double-click on Clear history of recent opened documents on exit. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit
A) Select (dot) Enabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
5. To Disable Clear history of recent opened documents on exit
A) Select (dot) Not configured or Enabled, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Not configured is the default setting.
Capture.PNG
6. Close the Local group Policy Editor and restart your computer.
Thats it, ;)
Dinesh.






 

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Last edited by a moderator:
Awesome! Thanks a lot. Rep''d you :)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Multirama PC Expert [Bulgaria]
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium [64-Bit]
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33 GHz
Motherboard
GIGABYTE GA-G31M-S2C
Memory
4094 MB DDR2
Graphics Card(s)
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6970 (2 GB VRAM)
Sound Card
Realtek ALC883 @ Intel 82801GB ICH7 - High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster BX2235 [21.5" LCD with LED Backlight]
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Hitachi HDT721075SLA360 - 750 GB
PSU
Cooler Master GX750 - 750W
Case
Multirama (Black / 2010 Revision)
Cooling
Stock + Cooler Master
Keyboard
Logitech G510 (Gaming Keyboard)
Mouse
Razer Lachesis (4000 DPI, Blue Version)
Internet Speed
Vivacom Optical [100 Mbps]
Browser
Chrome [Windows]
You are Welcome Mate.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Samsung NP530U4B-S02IN
OS
Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
CPU
Intel® Core™ i5 Processor 2467M (1.60GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard
Samsung Electronics
Memory
6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1,333MHz (on BD 4GB + 2GB x 1)
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ HD7550M 1GB DDR3 (Ext. Graphic)
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
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35.56cm (14.0) SuperBright 300nit HD LED Display
Screen Resolution
1366x768
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1TB S-ATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM) with ExpressCache 16GB SSD
Internet Speed
sucks
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Google Chrome (Sync enabled)
Most Interesting

Thanks Dinesh,
For me this was a very interesting look at some of the inner workings of the OS. As I do a lot of back and forthing with programs, losing all the clutter with a log off or restart is just what I needed.
While in the Editor I spotted how to put a Run icon in the Start Up Menu, so that's 2 birds with one stone. Most excellent. :D
I'm not sure if this is the place to ask, but doing some reading on the items listed in this area I was wondering just as a piece of information, what this meant.
"If you enable this setting, certain notification balloons that are marked as feature advertisements will not be shown."
What on earth is a 'feature advertisement'. Surely Bill and the boys are not trying to flog us stuff from inside the system :roflmao:
Real good tutorial, thanks.
All the best,
Mick C.
 

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Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Arbico i7 PC
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit - SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7 920 (2.66GHz 8MB L2 Cache)
Motherboard
Asus P6X58D-E
Memory
6Gb (3 x Kingston 2Gb PC12800 DDR3 1600MHZ)
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ATI Radeon HD 5850 1Gb
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AMD HIgh Def HDMI
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 24EB23 Digital
Screen Resolution
1920x1080 (32bit) (60Hz)
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Samsung HD103SJ
Samsung HD5021J
Samsung HD204UI
Samsung M3 External USB 3
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Nexus RX-8500 850w
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NZXT Hush Black ATA
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3 x Xilence Red Wing 120mm Case Fans
Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Keyboard 6000 v3.0
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Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 v 2.0
Internet Speed
60.0 Mbps Average
Antivirus
Spybot Search & Destroy
Browser
Avant Browser
LOL thanks Mick.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Samsung NP530U4B-S02IN
OS
Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
CPU
Intel® Core™ i5 Processor 2467M (1.60GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard
Samsung Electronics
Memory
6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1,333MHz (on BD 4GB + 2GB x 1)
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ HD7550M 1GB DDR3 (Ext. Graphic)
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
35.56cm (14.0) SuperBright 300nit HD LED Display
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
1TB S-ATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM) with ExpressCache 16GB SSD
Internet Speed
sucks
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Google Chrome (Sync enabled)
Thanks. But where are the recent items stored? I want to add it to my Favourites so I can easily access them every time I click open or go to explorer, but I don't know which folder it is.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7
Thanks. But where are the recent items stored? I want to add it to my Favourites so I can easily access them every time I click open or go to explorer, but I don't know which folder it is.

Thanks.
Hi deejay, the recent items are stored in
C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Samsung NP530U4B-S02IN
OS
Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
CPU
Intel® Core™ i5 Processor 2467M (1.60GHz, 3MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard
Samsung Electronics
Memory
6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1,333MHz (on BD 4GB + 2GB x 1)
Graphics Card(s)
AMD Radeon™ HD7550M 1GB DDR3 (Ext. Graphic)
Sound Card
Realtek High Definition Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
35.56cm (14.0) SuperBright 300nit HD LED Display
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
1TB S-ATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM) with ExpressCache 16GB SSD
Internet Speed
sucks
Antivirus
Microsoft Security Essentials
Browser
Google Chrome (Sync enabled)
I tried to follow the step on the top. It showed me "no items match your search" after I typed "pgedit.msc". How can?
 

My Computer

OS
windows 7
I tried to follow the step on the top. It showed me "no items match your search" after I typed "pgedit.msc". How can?

Are you using home premium? I don't get it either, I think it's Ultimate and Pro.
Just a guess.:huh:
 

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PC/Desktop
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Self Built
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Win 10 Pro x64
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Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
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16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
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EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
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ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound
Monitor(s) Displays
auria eq2367
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
1TB WD Blue
1TB Hitachi
PSU
SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
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Corsair Obsidian 750D
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Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
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Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
Mouse
Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
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Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
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Edge, IE11, Chrome
Other Info
Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
Good tutorial and I thank you.
 

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Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
CPU
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
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ASUS P4P800-VM Motherboard Chipset: Intel 865G + ICH5
Memory
2.50 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
Sound Card
SoundMax Integrated Digital Audio (Chip)
Monitor(s) Displays
ViewSonic VX 1962 wm
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1050
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 80 GB
ST380215A ATA Device 18.6 GB
Western Digital "My Book" external hard drive 750 GB
Cooling
Fan based
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 v10 USB
Mouse
Logitec optic USB
Internet Speed
3.01 Mb/s download 0.64 Mb/s upload
I tried to follow the step on the top. It showed me "no items match your search" after I typed "pgedit.msc". How can?

Hello Jackuals,

It should be gpedit.msc instead, but you would need to have at least a Windows 7 Professional or higher edition to have it included in Windows 7 by default. :(
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
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2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Updated with OPTION ONE. :)
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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