Windows Media Player "File" dropdown

On my Windows Media Player, when I left-click the "File" dropdown, different commands show up , like open , add, exit, etc. . My question is, "How do I add/delete to this file list, and how do files get on this list when I do not knowingly put them there?" I have went to the file itself and deleted it, but it is still on the "file dropdown" on media player. HELP!

 

Are you talking about the MRU [Most Recently Used] list of files:

The MRU [Most Recently Used] lists contain links to the last 5 to 10 items that have been used and are found in Windows Media Player application under the OPEN, SAVE AS, and other options. It's like a history list and are only links or shortcuts. Deleting any folder or application that these links refer to will not affect this list and vice versa.

====As you are a Beginner, you may wish to ignore the information given below and put up with this list. It will change as files are opened and closed. Evenutally what ever the file reference is that's bothering you, that falls into the list, will disappear. But..........
Remember to back up any Hkey prior to an edit by highlighting the Hkey concerned and from the file menu choose to export it to a safe storage folder of your choice. These will be *.reg files that when double clicked on will merge the old data back into the registry. [Known as reg patches]

If that seems like to much trouble or being overly cautious, at least make a txt file note to yourself on what you did, how you did it, and how to undo it. Still to much trouble... than make sure you are familiar with the procedure for restoring a backup of previous registry by exiting into dosmode and using the command switch of scanreg /restore.

Having said that^ See below:

To expand on the issue.........
Every file/path you open or run in Windows Media Player is recorded, they are kept in the MRU (Most recently used) in the registry. This is meant to be a convenient way for accessing frequent or recent paths and files that you may wish to rerun, but some may wish that others not see this nfo and can eidt this list via the registry:

To remove the media Player history:
1. Click Start --> Run and type regedit
2. Navigate to this Directory called "RecentFileList" and click on it:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/MediaPlayer/Player/RecentFileList

3. Right click on each key in the right window, and choose delete. i.e File 0, File 1 etc
4. Also check the folder below it called "RecentURLList" and do the same.

NOTE*You may wish to prevent the building of this list all together:

To prevent Media Player from entering more data in the list:
1. Click Start --> Run and type regedit
2. Navigate to this Directory :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/MediaPlayer/Preferences

3. In the right window double click on the key called "AddToMRU"
4. Double click that key and set the value to 00 (two zeros).
The actual documents or files themselves are not removed, only the references to these items in the MRU are removed.