“Clear Recent Items List” option missing when you right-click on the Recent folder
When you open the Windows Vista Start menu and right-click Recent Items, the option Clear Recent Items List may be missing. Also, the Recent folder may be displayed with a generic folder icon in Windows Explorer.
This happens if the desktop.ini file in the Recent folder is deleted. Thanks & Credits to dean-dean for the Tip.
1. Click Start, type “%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows” and press {ENTER}
2. Right-click the folder named Recent, and choose Delete. Click Yes when prompted.
3. Type the command “shell:recent” in Start - Search box, and press {ENTER}.
Note: The above command re-creates the Recent folder, along with a new desktop.ini file and opens the folder. For additional information on Shell: command, see this blog entry: Shell commands (shell:) to access the special folders in Windows Vista
4. Logoff the user account and login back.
You should now see the context menu entry Clear Recent Items List when you right-click on the Recent Items folder in the Start menu.
Alternately, you may use my VBScript to quickly clear the recent documents history.
Copyright © 2008 Ramesh Srinivasan. All rights reserved.
RELATED POSTS
- Clear Recent Documents history in a single click in Windows XP and Vista
- Add CCleaner button to Internet Explorer Toolbar
- Speed up the Send To menu in Windows
- Shell: commands to access the special folders
- Restore Missing Pin to Start menu Context menu option in Windows XP
- How to Clear System Information Tool (MSInfo32.exe) History in Windows XP
- Quickly clear the Google Chrome Cache using Script
- Fix for Contacts folder missing “New Contact” and other buttons in the Command Bar
- Thumbnail Preview not shown for pictures in Vista?
- Script to List Control Panel Items with Path and GUID
BOOKMARK THIS PAGE
BlinkList | del.icio.us | Digg it | Furl | ma.gnolia | Newsvine | reddit | Spurl | Wink |
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you 
Prefer an E-mail subscription?