Clearing Out MS Word's MRU List

[Hack]

I picked the name of one of the document in my MS Word MRU List, and did a registry search for it. I figured if Regedit found that document, then all of the other documents in my MRU would be listed as well, and I could just delete them all.

However, Regedit did find the document I asked it to find, but it was the only entry in registry section. Is there a specific spot where MS Word stores all of its MRU list, or are they scattered all over the place?

[RobDog888]

There are three places MRU data is stored.

1. C:\Documents and Settings\VB-Guru\Recent
   Windows MRU data.
   
   
2. C:\Documents and Settings\VB-Guru\Application Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent
   Office's own copy of Windows MRU data but for Office files only.
   
   
3. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Word\Data\Settings
   This one stores binary data of the MRU.

Deleting the two windows file locations of all the MRU data will not clear it out.
The binary data file in the registry need to be either edited or deleted.

[Hack]

Thanks RobDog. So, in order to clear the MRU list, all items stored in all three locations must be removed. Is this a valid statement?

[RobDog888]

Umm, the first location is for your "My Recent Documents" in Windows start menu.
The second file location ???
I deleted the two file locations and opened Word and the MRU was still there. It could be that the reg location is the
source and the second file location is perhaps used for searches or something else?

[Hack]

Whew...I'm so glad you said that, because that is exactly what I did, with the same results.

That is why I posted this question. I figured these document names had to be stored somewhere that was not showing up with a hard drive search and/or a regedit search. The question before the house, is where?

[RobDog888]

I think they are stored in the registry Settings binary key (#3). If you view the contents you can see the same
file paths as whats in your Words MRU.

[RobDog888]

Actually, I renamed the Setting key and opened Word and the MRU items were gone.
I renamed it back and they didnt appear either. I think because the MRU Office files were previously deleted by me.

So #2 and #3 are linked. It might have been since I deleted the MRU office files Word looked in the reg. Then after
I renamed the reg file it couldnt find MRU data in either of the two places so it went clear. After I renamed the reg
file back, I noticed that it no longer contained the office file system MRU data. So it updated from the office
MRU system files.

[Hack]

Cool. I'll give that a shot.

I wonder if all of the office products MRU lists are stored in the same fashion, but at the moment, I'm only concerned with Word.

This issue came up because my Manager is working on notes that he will be using for everyone's upcoming reviews, and he is saving those notes in different Word documents. He didn't want these particular documents listed in the MRU list and asked me if he could specify what went into the list and what didn't. I'm not a Word guru, but I figured I was on safe ground when I told him no. What you open is what will be stored, so then he wanted to know how to clear it out.

[RobDog888]

This would be better for him then and easier...

Go to Tools > Options > General tab > "Recently used file list" and uncheck it. This will disable the MRU for Word.
All of Offices other suite programs MRU data are stored this way too.


Now you can tell him that your an Office Guru now.

[Hack]

Now you can tell him that your an Office Guru now.

I doubt if he will believe that, but one never knows do one?

Thanks for the tip...

[bluerider822]

download a program called ControlHistory from www.controlhistory.com its a good program that clears the browser's history, temporary files, etc.etc. and more.

Clean up recent file lists (MRUs) from applications like Word, Excel, Paint, Acrobat Reader etc.
Allows selective deletion of just one shortcut or just one website which was visited.