Q:
In Windows XP, is there a way to empty “My Recent Documents” or to just get rid of it ?
A:
“My Recent Documents” holds the last 15 items that you opened. You can delete individual items in the usual manner (Right-click then choose “Delete”), but the number stays at fifteen. That’s because the contents are in a hidden file called “Recent” that is stored in your user profile. With Windows XP you have a few options:
You can clear this list by right-clicking the Start button, choosing “Properties”, then clicking “Customize”. Now click the “Advanced” tab and click “Clear List”. Zap! The files are gone. While you’re there, you can also remove “My Recent Documents” from the Start menu—just clear the checkbox for “List My Most Recently Opened Documents”
And there you have it!
~David