How Disabling "Recent Documents" Can Protect Your Privacy and Improve Your Computer's Performance

The folder "Recent Documents," is a standard file that is present in almost all computers. It was programmed to keep easy access to files that have just been opened. Its basic and sole aim is to enable the user to access documents easily, a feature for which most users find very beneficial. However, there's a downside to it: it prevents privacy and could prove hectic to work with especially for people who work on shared computers. In as much as it provides easy access to recently opened documents, it also allows other individuals to lurk into whatever file you are currently working on in your computer.

More often than not, some people find the use of this folder problematic to work with. Whether on a private or shared computer, users are advised to get rid of it or disable it. But for people who are working on private computers and who find the folder useful, keeping it is not a problem.

Just as some experts have been found out, disabling the Recent Documents folder can significantly cut the time your computer takes to boot. In other words, you are increasing the booting speed in addition to protecting your privacy. It is considered helpful for people who are using Windows Vista version to login to the classic view first before they disable the folder.

Once logged in, the next step is to identify the classic view. The classic view for start up menu is normally similar to those found in the older versions of windows.

The following procedures should be followed to switch to classic start menu view:

- With your mouse, right Click on the START button. It is found on the lower left corner of your screen. For windows vista it appears as an icon of the Microsoft windows logo.

- Click properties from which you pick the option: Classic Windows view, and then Click OK.

After you have changed it, the same procedure could be used for other window versions when disabling recent document folder.

After doing that, the next step is to disable teh "Recent Document" folder. The following steps should be used in order to disable the "Recent Document" folder.

- Click START

- Click on the RUN tab

- Type 'Regedit' on the text bar.

These three steps leads to the opening of a new window. You then browse to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/Currentversion/Policies/Explorer.

When you must have done all these, create a new DWORD value, it is basically the same as creating a new folder, all you have to do is use the key "NoRecentDocsHistory" and pick 1 for the value. Simple!

You have just taken the simple steps to disable the "Recent Document" folder in your computer. You will have to restart it for the necessary adjustment to take place. You will find that upon restarting your computer, it no longer contains a record of your recent documents.

Finally you will notice that the time it took for your computer to boot will be faster. Not only that, you do not need to worry about some prying eyes or curious cats who are eager to get their hands on whatever you have been doing in your computer lately. Generally, the whole process is looked at from the perspective of being preventive against problems that may arise, especially when it comes to your privacy. It is however important to note that your computer can function as a whole without this feature.

Sources:

*Microsoft, "How to Restrict Users from Running Specific Windows Programs by Using Group Policy", Microsoft Help and Support

*Microsoft, "Restrict Run", Microsfot Tech Net