Recently Used Documents empties when I switch off

[Evi]

When I switch my computer off the list of recently used documents in
Documents folder on the Start menu empties itself. Is there any way I can
stop this happening?

I bought my PC second hand and it was probably set up this way for security
reasons but I don't need this.

Evi

 

[Guest]

r u using win 2k or xp ?

 

[Evi]

Windows 2000. I use Office 97.
Evi

r u using win 2k or xp ?

 

[John Wunderlich]

When I switch my computer off the list of recently used documents
in Documents folder on the Start menu empties itself. Is there any
way I can stop this happening?

I bought my PC second hand and it was probably set up this way for
security reasons but I don't need this.

In the Control Panel, select "TweakUI".
Under the "Paranoia" tab, uncheck the box:
"Clear Document history at logon".

If you don't have TweakUI, you should install it.
<http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp>

HTH,
John

 

[Evi]

I don't have TweakUI. Is TweakUI safe with Win2000? I did hope that there
might be a way of doing this without installing this kind of software since
my system is otherwise very stable. Many people seem to want this behaviour
and alter the registry to get it so I assume that it isn't the default
behaviour of Win2K.

Perhaps I need some help in editing the registry. I've read in the Tricks
and Tips website on how to force this behaviour:
"you can implement the Clear history of recently opened documents on exit
Group Policy at User Configuration\AdministrativeTemplates\Start Menu &
Taskbar.

If this policy is Not configured, you can enable it by setting the
ClearRecentDocsOnExit value name, a REG_DWORD data type, to 1, at
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explore
r.

How and where do I enter ClearRecentDocsOnExit
into my registry. How do I 'set the REG_DWORD data type to 0' (which
logically should turn OFF this function)
Evi

 

[John Wunderlich]

If this policy is Not configured, you can enable it by setting the
ClearRecentDocsOnExit value name, a REG_DWORD data type, to 1, at
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policie
s\Explorer.

How and where do I enter ClearRecentDocsOnExit
into my registry. How do I 'set the REG_DWORD data type to 0'
(which logically should turn OFF this function)

Start --> Run --> regedit
When regedit starts, click the '+' in front of HKEY_CURRENT_USER. This
will expand this key. Then look for "Software" and click the "+" in
front of that. Continue until you arrive at the Explorer key. Click
once on it to select it and look in the right-hand pane. If
ClearRecentDocsOnExit exists, double-click on it to change it. If it
doesn't exist go to Edit-->New-->DWORD value then rename it to
ClearRecentDocsOnExit. Then double-click on it to set the value.

Be careful. Regedit is a live editor and changes to registry take
effect immediately. There is no Undo. Tweak-UI is a safer method to
make the changes if it will work. According to the web page I cited,
TweakUI is safe for Windows 2000.

HTH,
John

 

[Evi]

Thanks John, I'll back up my reg before making any changes using the
Emergency Rescue Disk

Evi

PS this morning, when I switched on, the Recent Documents list was there!!!
Maybe I should start looking for little green men in the PC.