Why Remove My Recent Documents?
You could just remove the My Recent Documents icon from Start menu’s properties, but a smart user could always enable them again, this Registry hack would prevent your users (that you manage) from using this feature. This would be handy on a public computer (or if you’re a spy).
What Are My Recent Documents?
The My Recent Documents icon appears in your Start Menu and displays the most recent documents that have been opened on your computer. The list is composed of shortcuts to the actual documents, so deleting the list won’t affect the original files.
How To
As always, please read this important information on editing the System Registry.
- Hit the Windows Key+R, type regedit into the run dialog and hit OK.
- Now that you’re in the the Registry, navigate to this key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
- Create a new DWORD value by right-clicking the right pane and click New, then DWORD
- Name this newly created value:
NoRecentDocsMenu - Double Click NoRecentDocsMenu and, in the Value Data text box, assign it this value[1]:
1
- Close the Registry and reboot your machine.
You can now say goodbye the My Recent Documents Icon, and no one would be able to enable them through the Start menu’s properties because the option is completely removed!
Uninstall
To enable the My Recent Documents menu again, just remove this Registry key and reboot.
Download
You can download this Registry key and call it at will! Just download and double-click the entry you’d like to add to your system. Also, if you’d like to make sure that there isn’t any malicious code (which I suggest, it’s your system – don’t trust anyone!), right-click the downloaded file and click Edit (or open it in Notepad). The code should closely match the instructions above.
Troubleshoot
Having trouble? Discus your problem in the Samanathon.com Windows Registry forum!
[1] A value of 0 enable the My Recent Documents menu, regardless of the option selected in the Start menu’s properties.
We can do it right from properties, can’t we. But I haven,t yet tried it through registry..Nice one Saman.
and thanks for the Stumble- its giving me traffic
Nice!
This registry trick is good. Now it’s time to find how to remove that option from the start Menu’s properties. 
That’s exactly what this hack does! It removes the menu from the Start menu and the option to enable it!
Is this some kind of double post or something. What’s with the same title? It make my brain hurt.
Not a double post and the titles are different!
Oh yeah…need to change my glasses. Whoops.
I probably should have changed the title a little more…
Good information. Thanks for the pictures that really makes it user-friendly. (I came to your blog through your comments on PureBlogging, it’s good to see your work).
Welcome Steven!
I do enjoy posting images in my How-To’s. I’m a visual person and I know they would help me, especially when doing anything on the System level - you wouldn’t want to mess that up!
You must have read my mind, because I’ve been tinkering with that thing for a while.. thanks!
Nice, cool tip. Thanks for sharing.
Can come in handy anytime
haha nice post! but i really see the need to remove it that extensively!
Isnt it possible to disable it on some server systems with profiles? You can make only few APPs appearing in start menu and you can even disable right click so users can realy do only basic stuff.
I don’t know about profiles - are you talking about installing Windows via LAN?
excellent work bro
I like this idea, keeps people from seeing what you were working on if they use your computer.
Is it possible to remove the Start button at all?
This hack also works for Vista 64bit. You have the option to create DWORD and QWORD in vista x64, but if you just stick with the DWORD value you’ll be fine…
That’s good to know, thatnks!!