Windows stores the list of the commands we have executed from Run window. This ‘Run’ command history can be seen by clicking on the drop down list in Run window.
This history of Run commands is saved in registry key which is specific to each user of the computer. One can clear this command history by deleting all values under this registry key.
This registry key is
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
So to delete command history we can simply run the below command from command prompt.
reg delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /va /f
Note that after running the above command you would still be able to see history for the current login session. Once you logoff and login back you won’t be able to see the history.
The above tip is applicable to all Windows editions(XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008 and Windows 7).
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View Comments
Are you guys talking about Windows 7? Deleting RunMRU does not delete the "suggested" list of commands. As far as the "2nd way", "Properties" in Windows 7 brings "Taskbar and Start Menu Properties" that has three tabs; Taskbar and Start Menu have their own Customize buttons. Please verify your solutions before posting them.
Anonymous,
The solution posted in this article works for Windows 7 too.. just pause few seconds after deleting the regkey and open 'Run'.. I have just tried this on my windows 7 machine and it has worked fine...
I am not sure about the solution posted by D2 above..
Solution works on 32 and 64 bit windows 7... Thanks!
You just have to right click the start button then properties uncheck the boxes and thats it.
Frey, thanks for adding the comment.. Yes we can do the same from UI too..But in case if you want to clear the run history repeatedly then running this command from a script is a good idea..suppose if I want to clear the cache everytime I login, then running this reg command from login script is a simpler solution compared to the UI one..
It's working on windows 7 thanks.
Thanks,
Dear,
it (reg delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU /va /f)
Works on Win-7
Thanks It working very nice.
Another Solution
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open start button properties -> click on start menu tab -> uncheck 'store and display recently opened programs in the start menu'.
It works but not totally bcoz its limited only 28 nos of entries get listed in there it doesn't let us delete all the histories