Solved Start Menu Shortcuts - Permanent MRU!

[lehnerus2000]

Occasionally when I install programs, they create permanent shortcuts in the MRU area of the Start Menu.
Normally I can delete them by deleting the original icon (in All Programs) and making a new one to replace it.

Scumbag companies (e.g. EPSON, Samsung) seem to have "wised up" to this tactic and now it is impossible to remove certain icons.
When you make a replacement icon, the permanent MRU icon returns.

Does anyone know which Reg Keys to delete/edit to eliminate this blight?

 

[Britton30]

Try this, right click on the Start menu or Windows orb and...

Of course this will clear the MRU's.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Hi Britton30

Thanks for your suggestion.

I can "remove" the icons that way, however it means that no programs will place icons in the MRU area (occasionally I find them handy).
Also if I re-enable the options the permanent shortcuts return.

I have also tried cleaning with CCleaner and Glary Utilities (with the options selected and de-selected) without luck.

Sometimes rogue icons will go away:

• If you choose Remove from this list in the context menu and then reboot.
• If you run the program and then choose Remove from this list in the context menu and then reboot.

Note:
Normally the rogue icons remain until AFTER I reboot (using the actions above).

Neither of these actions worked this time (the icons remain/reappear after rebooting).

 

[Britton30]

Second method, which I use, is to disable as in the screenshot then select "Pin To Start Menu" by right clicking the program's .exe file. That way there will be a quick link to the programs you use.
Here's mine.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Pinned Items

The programs that I use daily are pinned to the Task Bar.
Programs that I use regularly are pinned to my Start Menu.
The rest are in All Programs.

My Desktop, Start Menu, All Programs & Desktop
(Click thumbnails for animation and large wallpaper)



As you can see I have a few items pinned to the Task bar and a lot pinned in the Start Menu.
I have created category folders in the All Programs section to reduce chaos.

Note:
In this gif a shortcut called ASSDraw3 (Aegisub) is in the MRU area.
This icon is "permanent".
I deleted the original EPSON and Samsung icons from All Programs, which eliminated them from the MRU area.

 

[lehnerus2000]

They go away eventually

The shortcuts go away after an undetermined number of reboots/days.

 

[Britton30]

Glad you have it fixed if not figured out. Windows has always had some spookiness to it, such as IE opening as a postage stamp size at will. :sarc:

 

[lehnerus2000]

C'est la vie

I wouldn't necessarily say the problem is solved.
I actually want to be able to eliminate these shortcuts at a time of my choosing.

I'm sure there must be a section in the Registry, which keeps track of these shortcuts.

C'est la vie.