Technology Mindset

This is a simple tip to clear recent commands on Windows XP. When you run a command using Run dialog it will create a log or history. Is not caused any problem to your PC, but just incase if you want to remove the old items listed on the Run dialog, sometimes is often very useful, but if this bothered you, there isn’t an obvious way to remove it.

The simplest way is by using cleaner or tuner applications that will do this for you, but this tips is show you how to do it manually.

I’m going to show you in two different ways, first by clear the entries Through Regedit, secondly using taskbar and start menu properties.

1. Clear a recent command “Run Dialog Entries” Through Regedit

Open the registry window, click start and run and type regedit (it will call regedit.exe)

Navigate down to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU

All lists on the right side are indicating an entry or log generated by Run dialog, you can clear or delete it. But in order to take effect to your windows you need to logoff and then back on and you will not see that list on run dialog.

2. The easier way to clear a recent command “Run Dialog Entries”

This is the easier and user friendly way to custom and manage your recent open documents, empty the recycle bin and also remove a recent command that caused by run dialog box.

Right-click at the windows task bar, click properties than navigate to start menu

Select the “Classic Start menu” option, and click the Customize button

Now click the Clear button to remove all of the recent documents and applications from the start menu. You don’t need to logof just see the result.

Please Note that this method will clear anything… consider to use the registry if you only want to remove a single item.