'My Recent Documents'...what for?

I'm using WinXP, which was installed by my system manufacturer and about which I know little....hence this perhaps dumb quesiton:

Under Documents & Settings/my user name/My Documents is another folder called 'my recent documents'. It seems to contain everything I've ever done including files I thought I'd deleted as well as files that are stored in other folders.

Is there a purpose for this file?

 

As far as I know, it's the folder to which the My Recent Documents on the Start menu points to. All the entries in that folder are shortcuts so they can be deleted. It's just a convenience...which comes in handy for files you use a lot.

 

Thanks Miz.....

A supplimentary question, if I might....assuming I don't really need or want this file, is there a way to disable the process that creates it?

 

http://www.dougknox.com/security/scripts_desc/docshist.htm

 

Thanks, Brett...much appreciated.

 

recent documents in xp

so is there a way to disable it? and if it is a shortcut and can be they can be deleted, how do you get them to delete. i have deleted files in my documents but they are still showing up under recent file.

 

If you want to eliminate the "My Recent Documents" entry from the start menu completely:
Right click on the taskbar, choose Properties>Start Menu tab>Customize button (next to "Start Menu ")>Advanced tab. At the bottom of that window you can uncheck the box next to "List my recently used documents" to stop "My Recent Documents" from being displayed on the menu.

If you want to keep the feature but remove all the current entries, click the "Clear List" button.

If you just want to clear specific entries from the list, go to Start>My Recent Documents, right click on the one you want to remove and choose "Delete. "

 

my recent doc's

thank you so much. and no it is not too simple for me. i have stated i am a novice, so you have to talk to me like i am 6 years old. then once i get it, i have got it.
boy you all on this message board have helped me a lot.
thanks
sheila

 

I don't care whether you like it or not. EAT IT!!!