Windows 7: Registry keys and residual file names

Hi,

Previous suggestions for removing residual file names from "Save/Save As" dialog boxes involve deleting the following two keys from Registry (complete paths/strings omitted from this thread inquiry):

"LastVisitedPidlMRU", and

"OpenSavePidlMRU"

I noticed though that, in addition to those two keys in that Registry location, there is another & similar key entitled "LastVisitedPidlMRULegacy".

1) Is it advisable to also delete that third "...Legacy" key as well, and if not, why not?

2) What is the function of that third "...Legacy" key?

3) What would removing it do, or not do?

Thanks a bunch, Win

bumped- thanks much!

Just download Ccleaner and run that. It will take care of what you're trying to do here in deleting those remnant save histories and you won't have to worry about which registry keys do what. Deleting those keys might cause issues, but clearing out their values (like Ccleaner does) will not harm anything.

Thank you FliGi7; but I already know how to remove the residual file names. I have used the above technique of removing those two Registry keys several times, and it is the 'original' and best method to remove the residual file names. It is easy, it is effective, it doesn't involve any other software downloads and/or installations and I am comfortable doing it [that way]. Additionally, in all likelihood, all that those other software packages that you referenced are doing is an automated-behind-the-scenes-version of the manual process that i described. There is really no "other" way to remove residual file names in Windows other than deleting those two Registry key entries; so that is essentially simply the same process that your recommended accessory program is performing anyway- it merely does it "behind the scenes".

My question was specifically and solely about the function of the third key ("LastVisitedPidlMRULegacy") at that Registry location.

Anyone have any ideas as to the significance of that third key? Thanks much- Win

You're right, it's probably the easiest way to permanently remove the ability to save the history of the recent open/save dialogs for programs that implement it. All that Ccleaner does is remove the values of those keys, not delete the keys themselves, so you would have to run in every time you wanted to clear them rather than them not being stored there at all, like you're currently implementing.

LastVisitedPidlMRULegacy is supposed to store values of the location of the last executable used in the open/save dialog, just like LastVisitedPidlMRU. However, given that you are that much into your registry, it seems you are in more of a position to tell us how it is being used on your system than we can. What values does it contain? Are they the same as the LastVisitedPidlMRU key? What does it store? Does it act in the same way and save values as the LastVisitedPidlMRU key?

To directly answer your questions:

1) It is rarely to never advisable to delete any registry key of a Windows operating system, with the definition of advisable meaning someone on here would recommend that you delete a key for the betterment of the OS. In terms of being advisable to achieve a certain goal that is not the intention of the OS or officially supported by it, that is a different story.

2) The function of the third key is as I explained above.

3) Removing it would most likely have much the same effect as removing the others. However, you are in more of a position to tell us what it would do to your system. It should be very simple to test, given you have already been in there and deleted other keys, so you know how to go about it.

Got it! :

"LastVisitedPidlMRULegacy" = last visited folder

"CIDSizeMRU" = recently used apps

"RunMRU" = recently run item

Thanks again- I had wondered about those other keys

BTW: deleting those keys does *not* permanently remove the ability of the OS to save that information- it merely removes all such information to date. Unless the change described next is made, Windows simply recreates the keys 'fresh & new' again, and then starts saving the info again from that point forward. To permanently remove that ability as you referenced, it is necessary to access Windows' "Local Group Policy Editor" (this is only available with Win Pro & Win Ult, not with Win Hm Prem) to change the settings for "Common Open File Dialog".

Sure thing. Here's a good page to check out on some of those keys:

http://computer-forensics.sans.org/b...lastvisitedmru
Windows 7 Registry Forensics: Part 4 - Page 2 | Forensic Magazine

If you're interested in registry stuff, the SANS computer forensics blog a lot of good info there.

Thanks again for the link

Using registry cleaners tool is good solution for this problem to fix..