Clear Windows Media Player history?, Part 2

In yesterday's issue of the Infopackets Gazette, Jerry D. asked if there was a way to erase the history which contains the names of all previously loaded files in Windows Media Player. The feature is also known as the "Most Recently Used", or MRU file history.

Unfortunately, there is a downside to the MRU feature.

Although MRU saves time by allowing users access to recently used data, it also compromises privacy: anyone who can gain access to a shared PC can also see what files have been accessed recently.

I personally did not know the answer to Jerry's dilemma, so I used searched Google for a solution. Google provided two viable approaches to resetting the MRU history, and I reiterated my findings in a brief report.

Clear Windows Media Player history?

Even so, both reviewed methods were cumbersome. I asked Infopackets Readers if they knew of a freeware utility that could easily erase MRU history -- requiring much less effort. I am happy to announce that I received *many* great suggestions! Infopackets Reader James G. and a quite a few others suggested MRU Blaster. From the web site:

" [With over] 25,532 MRU items in detection database ... MRU-Blaster is [able to] ... detect and clean MRU (most recently used) lists on your computer. These MRU lists contain information such as the names and / or locations of the last files you have accessed. "

http://www.wilderssecurity.net/mrublaster.html

J. Thomas recommended BClean. From the web site:

" BeClean is the complete suite of system cleaner. It has Registry Cleaner, Internet Cleaner, History Cleaner, Temporary Files Cleaner, Disk Cleaner, Desktop Cleaner and Start Menu Cleaner. You can even create your own cleaner! "

http://boozet.xepher.net/beclean/

Julie B. recommended a program called Disk Cleaner. From the web site:

" With Disk Cleaner you can easily clean up disk space that is now used by temporary files like those in the system temporary folder, the Internet Explorer Cache and Cookies folder, and the Recycle Bin. "

http://www.xs4all.nl/~mp2004/

AquaMan emailed me to say that he highly recommended using a Spyware / Adware remover, such as Spybot Search and Destroy: it not only removes Spyware and Adware from your system, but it can also clean Recently Used history items.

He writes:

" I've run across a number of free utilities that will clear the Windows Media Player history, including URLs. If I recall correctly, Spybot does this. Regardless, you should have Spybot installed on your system anyway! "

http://security.kolla.de/

Richard J. also gave me this 'heads-up' for LavaSoft AdAware, which does about the same as Spybot S&D:

" The answer [to your question] is Lavasoft AdAware. It's simple, makes backups, and deletes all tracks from just about everything. It will even remove the banners from DAP (a download manager program) -- and DAP still works! "

http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Reminder: What is Adware and Spyware?

[ Continued ]