Windows 7: How disable/clear File name dropdown lists in Common Dialog Boxes

I recently moved from XP Professional SP3 to Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 and I note that the last 20 files that were opened, saved, saved as are automatically stored and accessable/viewable via the "File Name" dropdown list at the bottom of the Windows 7 Common Dialog Boxes. Also if a file or picture was downloaded previously, that file path is also available in the dropdown box the next time an item is downloaded.

As in the past, this creates a hugh Privacy Issue on a shared computer.

In XP there was a Group Policy Setting under Windows Components>Windows Explorer>Common Open File Dialog that allowed you to suppress files from appearing in these Dialog Boxes.

Also in XP most of these items were kept in the Registry under HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/ComDlg32.
The entries were shown in plain english and could also be easily deleted. In fact this area could be cleared by a button in the classic start menu.

I note in Windows 7 Professional, that the Group Policy is still there, but it has no effect on the newer Windows 7 Dialog Boxes.
I also note that the Registry entry is still there, but it is now more elaborate and the entries are in binary code.


So, regarding the File name dropdown list at the bottom of the box:

>Does anyone know how to prevent the names from appearing by any means (looks like the last 20 names are in the list)?

>Does anyone know how to delete them either individually or all at once?

Thanks

Hello Lexus, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It's still there at the Group Policy location below with the Hide the dropdown list of recent files in Windows 7.

Common Dialog Boxes - Enable or Disable Dropdown List of Recent Files

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer\Common Open File Dialog




You might also be interested in this as well.

Windows Explorer Auto Suggest - Turn On or Off




Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks.

I had previously set this when I first got my system, but forgot and then also noticed that the file names where being shown.

Interestingly, the Policy was still shown as Enabled (disabling the feature). I un-Enabled it and then re-Enabled it and it now works as it should.
Only thing I can figure out is that after I had Enabled this, I did install Office 2010 so maybe that caused some conflict.
All is well, but I also just posted requesting a manual way to delete these just in case they show up again and I need a quick fix.

I found the below from Orbital Shark and it works well; however it is cumbersome to enter the registry and perfom this manually each time so...............

how about one of the gurus on this forum with registry expertise create a registry edit file that performs these deletions and then we all can save it and create a shortcut to it on our computers to easily use whenever we need?

Don't know if it matters or not, but I am interested in this for Windows 7 64bit.

Thanks







Thanks again

Lexus,

Here you go.

Common Dialog Boxes - Clear Dropdown List of Recent Files History