Windows 98/98 SE
Tricks + Secrets - Part 1

Go to Windows 98 ©Tricks + Secrets Contents

1. No more centered dialog boxes/windows, enabled in Win95/OSR2 ONLY by using 3rd party video/desktop drivers/programs, like ATI Technologies Mach/Rage Win95/OSR2 video drivers/tools, available for free at the ATI tech support web site, for all ATI PCI/AGP video controllers owners.

2. No more virtual desktops, larger than the selected Desktop size, built-in the Display Properties applet, also available to Win95/OSR2 users by using 3rd party video drivers/tools.
   And a BUG I have found:

3. The "Stretch wallpaper to fit desktop" feature introduced by MS Plus! Pack for Win95, and built into OSR2's Display Properties applet, is NOT available if you uncheck the "IE4 enabled" and/or "Active Desktop enabled" boxes in TweakUI's IE4 tab [110 KB, free, unsupported].
   To install TweakUI, right-click on Tweakui.inf and select Install. When done, open Control Panel and (double)-click on TweakUI.

• AutoSizer.
• WinSize.

• Ethernet networks: MTU = 1500
• SLIP servers: MTU = 1006
• PPP protocol (Internet TCP/IP): MTU = 576.

1. Run Control Panel -> Network -> Dial-Up Adapter -> Advanced -> IP Packet Size. Change the IP Packet Size from "Automatic" (Win98 default: dynamically adjusts the MTU setting depending on connection type) to "Small" (MTU fixed at 576, ideal for TCP/IP Internet connections).
   MTU = Maximum Transmission Unit (IP packet size in bytes).
   Make sure the "Client for Microsoft Networks" item is present on your Network applet list (install it if necessary), to enable the saving of your ISP logon password!

2. Uncheck the "Log on to Network" box in Dial-Up Networking -> Server Types.
   This will affect only your login time. Beware that in certain cases it is necessary to leave this box checked!

3. Start Regedit, and go to (default Win98 Registry key):
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000
   Make sure you modify these values ONLY under the Net keys that display:
   "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter"
   or (AOL users ONLY):
   "DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter"
   in the right hand pane!
   1. In the right hand pane, double-click the "SLOWNET" hex value, and change its number from 01 to 00.
      This won't dramatically increase your transfers but will reduce timeouts.

   2. Change the "IPMTU" string to read 576.
      Win98's default is 0, corresponding to the "Automatic" IP Packet Size setting: Control Panel -> Network applet -> Dial-Up Adapter -> Advanced -> IP Packet Size (see above).
   Various Win98 TCP/IP configurations may contain the "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" values under different Registry subkeys. Double-click on the "Net" key (see above) to view all its subkeys. Substitute the "00nn" key below with the appropriate integer number(s) present on your machine (valid values for nn: from 00 up to 50):
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\00nn
   Then track down all "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" instances and modify them as described above.

4. Run Regedit and go to:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000\Ndi\params\IPMTU   

   The same "00nn" -> "0000", "0001"... etc substitution principle (see above) applies here.
   Change the "default" string found in the right hand pane from 0 (Win98 default "Automatic" setting) to 576, Win98's "Small" setting: Control Panel -> Network applet -> Dial-Up Adapter -> Advanced -> IP Packet Size (see above).

• "AOL MAXMTU REVISITED" in AOLTIPS.TXT: only Win9x AOL users;
• "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2" in TIPS98.TXT: only Win98 users;
• "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 1" in REGISTRY.TXT: only Win95 users;
• "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 2" in REGISTRY.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "56K MODEMS @ 56K SPEED" in MYTIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "MAP YOUR HOSTS" in TIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "SPEEDUP MY DUN!" in TIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "FAST, FAST, FAST" in MYTIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "DON'T DROP BACK!" in TIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "SYSTEM.INI TWEAKS" in MYTIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "ISPS KNOWN MTU VALUES" in MYTIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users;
• "FIND YOUR ISP'S MTU" in TIPS95.TXT: all Win9x users.

• Do not allow the creation of new backups:
  Backup=0
  Default is 1 (allows the creation of new backups).

• Skip the Registry automatic optimization:
  Optimize=0
  Default is 1 (allows the Registry automatic optimization).
  If Optimize=1, Scanregw compacts the Registry files automatically (default) if they contain more than 500 KB of empty space (unused blank gaps).

• Increase/decrease the number of daily backups, by modifying this line:
  MaxBackupCopies=10
  Default is 5, maximum allowed is 99.

• Change the backup directory/folder where the .CAB files are held:
  BackupDirectory=D:\Backups
  Default backup folder is C:\Windows\Sysbckup.

• Have Scanregw add other System Files to the daily .CAB backups, by using the following System Folder codes on separate "Files=" lines:
  10 = windir (default is C:\Windows)
  11 = system dir (default is C:\Windows\System)
  30 = boot dir (default is C:\)
  31 = boot host dir (deafult is C:\)
  The maximum number of additional files you can add is 16 for a total of 20.
  Example: to add your AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, CONTROL.INI + WINFILE.INI to the daily backups, add/modify these lines to read:
  Files=30,AUTOEXEC.BAT,CONFIG.SYS
  Files=10,CONTROL.INI,WINFILE.INI
  Default is to backup only SYSTEM.DAT, USER.DAT, SYSTEM.INI + WIN.INI.
  NOTE: See the "Scanreg.exe Does Not Back Up User.dat When Using User Profiles" MSKB article.
  Directory code and filenames are separated by a comma (,).

"Windows Registry Checker Usage: SCANREG [/<option>]
<option>
?          : Displays usage.
BACKUP     : Backup the registry and related system configuration files.
RESTORE    : Choose a backup to restore.
FIX        : Repair the registry.
COMMENT="<comment>"
           : Adds the specified comment to the CAB file while backing up."

• /BACKUP = Creates a new backup .CAB file manually.
  The .CAB files created by SCANREG are uncompressed.
  To view the last 5 backup CABs, run SCANREG and select "View Backups" from the summary screen.

• /COMMENT = Adds a comment to the CAB while backing up.
  Example: run:
  SCANREG /BACKUP "/COMMENT=My 7-27-98 Windows Backup"
  If you choose to view your recent backups (see above), the text string after the equal sign will be displayed as comment.
  The maximum text length is 29 characters (text beyond this limit is truncated).
  NOTE: See the "Registry Checker Tool Displays Only Some Backups with Time Stamp" MSKB article.

• /FIX = Rebuilds the Registry.
  Used automatically if Scanreg detecs ANY Registry problems or corruption, that may prevent Windows from functioning properly.
  Example: use it if you don't have any valid Registry backups.
  This switch checks and rebuilds the Registry structure NOT its contents, therefore certain invalid Registry entries may NOT be fixed this way!

• /OPT = Compacts (shrinks) the Registry files.
  Example: use it after uninstalling an application from Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs menu, because certain deleted Registry keys, entries or strings do NOT free unused empty space in the Registry files.
  SCANREG /FIX performs a similar job.
  SCANREG /OPT is used automatically if there are more than 500 KB of wasted/blank space within the Registry.

• /RESTORE = Restores the Registry using the most recent backup .CAB.
  Example: use it if your Registry becomes corrupted, or if you canNOT start Windows in normal GUI mode.

• Get all tools discussed here (and more):
  SCANFRAG.EXE [1 MB, free].
• Scanreg.ini editing tool:
  SREDIT.EXE [64 KB, free].
• How to Backup and Restore Your Registry in Windows 98.
• MSKB: Command Line Switches for Registry Checker Tool.
• MSKB: How to Customize Registry Checker Tool Settings.
• MSKB: Registry Checker Continues to Detect Registry Damage.
• MSKB: Registry Checker Tool Changes in Windows ME.

1. I have installed Windows 98 over Windows 95B OSR 2.1.

2. I have copied the OSR2 version of the MSHDC.INF file [date-time stamp 8-24-96 11:11:11] to the Windows \Inf hidden subfolder, overwriting Win98's MSHDC.INF (you can rename it to something like MSHDC98.INF).

3. I have removed the "Intel 82371SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller" item from the "Hard disk controllers" menu, you can see when you open Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager tab.

4. When the computer rebooted into Win98, the Hardware Wizard automatically redetected the new hardware (PCI IDE Controller), prompted me to install the default Win98 driver (Intel 82371SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller) and gave me the choice of selecting several drivers from a list (you get this list if you choose NOT to install the recommended Win98 driver). Among them was "Intel 82371SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller (Microsoft) 4-28-96" (the OSR2 version). I selected it, and guess what? My CD-ROM drive was successfully detected (FINALLY!), and is now working properly, the "CDROM" item is now listed in Device Manager, and ALL the drives in my system are now using Win98's "File System: 32-bit", as stated in the System Properties Performance tab.

1. BACKUP YOUR SYSTEM + REGISTRY FILES FIRST!
2. If you believe you have a similar problem, download the OSR2 MSHDC.INF file [6 KB].

• You may break a particular application (usually only slightly).
• You may break a program's ability to update using patching technology.
• You may be violating a license agreement by modifying copyrighted files.

• Information Week.
• C. Wayne Dixon.

1. Delete, but FIRST BACKUP to a safe location using Explorer's right-click menu Copy function, ALL .LG* files: .LGC, .LGD, .LGE... etc, located in your %windir%\APPLOG subfolder, depending on how many hard drives/partitions you have: C, D, E... etc. This will get rid of all .LG* files (including the 0 bytes files) created for "buggy" apps that do not meet the requirements defined in %windir%\APPLOG\Optlog.txt (you can view its contents in Notepad), and which are just taking disk space.
   Not to worry, these files will be recreated for each app, the first time you run a particular program, if Task Monitor is running when Windows loads (see above). :)

2. Defrag your drives with the "Rearrange program files so my programs start faster" box checked.
   Repeat this procedure periodically (at least once a month), eventually scheduling periodic unattended defrags on all your fixed drives using Task Scheduler. A good idea is to ScanDisk all your fixed drives prior to defragging them, to fix eventual lost clusters or disk errors.
   On large drives (over 2 GB), especially if partitioned with FAT32, these tasks can take a long time (sometimes hours) to complete, so it is advised to leave your computer on at all times, and/or schedule such maintenance chores at night time (or when your machine is not in use).

3. Follow the guidelines in this comprehensive Windows Magazine WinAlign page, to properly "align" the programs you want, or "unalign" the ones that have already been modified.

1. "I applied your recommendations on how to optimize load times, as soon as I saw this on your site. However, over the time I noticed that my fav apps only loaded slower and slower. I had clocked the times some of my apps would take to load right after having converted my discs to FAT32, and when I compared these times with the ones I was getting lately I was shocked.
   WordPerfect was down to 13 sec vs 4-5 sec and Netscape took 11-12 sec vs 7-8 in the beginning. To make a long story short: I got this advice from Dr Gokart at Lockergnome Newsgroups:
   "Check out this how-to on everything dealing with Walign.
   And something else: Walign does not run unless Microsoft Office is installed. Adding the following Registry key will make it run:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Office8.0
   Just an empty default entry is sufficient."
   This has worked wonders! Before applying this, neither WordPerfect nor Netscape were even present in my Optlog.txt, and after creating above Registry line they immediately swung up on top.
   Now after running Walign and Defrag, my apps' load times are almost down to where they were after switching to FAT32, those times being fractionally slower than with FAT16."
   [Thank you Jan!]

2. "When aligning your programs, deleting WinAlign's history doesn't always work, no matter how much memory you have, or how many times you have defragged your drives. Fortunately, there are 2 ways to force program "alignment".
   First, try WinAlign [41 KB, free, unsupported], part of the Microsoft Windows 98 Resource Kit (RK), which partially recompiles a given file to optimize it into 4096 Byte (4K) segments, by matching the program's code with the 4 KB page size used by Intel Pentium/Pro/II/III/IV CPUs. This allows them to load by using less memory.
   Second, try Windows Magazine's WMAlign batch file [36 KB, free, unsupported], which does the exact same thing, but in a different way, using the "dumbed-down" version of 98/ME WAlign, which is also used by Disk Defragmenter when you optimize your files by "making your programs to load faster".
   It even makes a backup copy in case the alignment corrupts a program!
   WAlign also creates a log of optimized files to prevent a program from being realigned.
   If you have reinstalled a program, changed its file attributes, moved it around etc, and need to realign it, you need to delete WinAlign's history.
   To do this, run Regedit and go to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinAlign\Drives
   and delete all entries found there. Then delete the "Files" subkey.
   Now you can safely realign your programs."
   [Thank you Andrew!]

1. Get the "fixed" Win98 SE MSCONFIG.EXE 4.10.2223, which also disables the Fast shutdown Registry setting.
   More info.
2. Microsoft disabled Fast shutdown completely in the Windows Millennium Edition (ME) Registry and MSCONFIG.EXE.

1. In your Windows 98 folder:
   • ACCSTAT.EXE = Windows Accessibility Status Indicator
   • ASD.EXE = Automatic Skip Driver
   • CLEANMGR.EXE = Disk Space Cleanup Manager
   • CVT1.EXE = FAT32 Drive Converter tool
   • DEFRAG.EXE = Disk Defragmenter (includes Intel application optimizer)
   • DRWATSON.EXE = Dr. Watson Windows Diagnostic tool
   • HWINFO.EXE = Hardware Information
   • REGEDIT.EXE = Registry Editor (16-bit, also available in native MS-DOS)
   • RSRCMTR.EXE = Resource Meter
   • SCANDSKW.EXE = Scan Disk tool
   • SCANREGW.EXE = Registry Checker
   • SIGVERIF.EXE = Signature Verification tool
   • SNDVOL32.EXE = Volume Control
   • SYSMON.EXE = System Monitor
   • TASKMAN.EXE = Task Manager
   • TASKMON.EXE = Task Monitor (used by DEFRAG.EXE + SCANREGW.EXE)
   • TUNEUP.EXE = Maintenance Wizard
   • VCMUI.EXE = Version Conflict Manager
   • WINFILE.EXE = Windows File Manager (FM) (16-bit, LFNs unaware)
   • WINIPCFG.EXE = TCP/IP Configuration tool
   • WINPOPUP.EXE = WinPopup network messaging tool
   • WINREP.EXE = Problem Report tool (send to Microsoft support)
   • WINVER.EXE = Windows Version utility
   • WSCRIPT.EXE = Windows Scripting Host
   • WUPDMGR.EXE = Windows Update Manager (Internet connection required)

2. In your \Windows\System subfolder:
   • ACCWIZ.EXE = Microsoft Accessibility Wizard
   • IESHWIZ.EXE = Customize Folder tool
   • INTERNAT.EXE = Keyboard Language Indicator monitor
   • MAGNIFY.EXE = Magnify tool
   • MKCOMPAT.EXE = Make Compatible App tool
   • MSCONFIG.EXE = System Configuration tool (use with CAUTION!)
   • MSTASK.EXE = Task Scheduler
   • SAGE.EXE = Task Scheduler Sage Compatibility
   • SFC.EXE = System File Checker
   • SRW.EXE = System Recovery Wizard
   • SYSAGENT.EXE = Task Scheduler loader
   • SYSEDIT.EXE = System Editor tool (16-bit, edit: AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, SYSTEM.INI + WIN.INI)
   • SYSTRAY.EXE = System Tray Applet (used by MSTASK.EXE/SAGE.EXE, POWERCFG.CPL + SNDVOL32.EXE)
   • WALIGN.EXE = WinAlign tool

3. In the \Program Files folder, in the...
   • \Program Files\Accessories\Backup subfolder:
     MSBACKUP.EXE = Backup tool
   • \Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Msinfo subfolder:
     MSINFO32.EXE = System Information

4. On your Windows 98 Setup CD-ROM [NOT installed by default!], in the...
   • \Tools\Msutil\Fat32ebd subfolder:
     FAT32EBD.EXE = FAT32 Emergency Boot Disk
   • \Tools\Reskit\Config subfolder:
     FAT32WIN.EXE = FAT32 Conversion Information
     TZEDIT.EXE = Time Zone Editor
   • \Tools\Msutil\Pmtshoot subfolder:
     PMTSHOOT.EXE = Power Management Trouble Shooter
   • \Tools\Reskit\Netadmin\Poledit subfolder:
     POLEDIT.EXE = Policy Editor
   • \Tools\Reskit\Desktop subfolder:
     CLIPTRAY.EXE = Clipboard Tray (add selected text to the Clipboard)
     CHKLNKS.EXE = Links Check Wizard
     QUIKTRAY.EXE = Quick Tray (add programs to the Tray)
   • \Tools\Reskit\File subfolder:
     TEXTVIEW.EXE = Text File Viewer
     WINDIFF.EXE = File Comparison tool
   • \Tools\Reskit\File\Lfnback subfolder:
     LFNBK.EXE = Long File Names Backup tool
   • \Tools\Reskit\Powertoy subfolder:
     TWEAKUI.INF = TweakUI Power Toy Information file: right-click on it and select Install. When done, open Control Panel and (double)-click TweakUI.

1. full power-off
2. standby
3. hibernation

1. Load your MS-DOS mode CD-ROM driver in your CONFIG.SYS, load MSCDEX.EXE in your AUTOEXEC.BAT (both these files reside in C:\ root by default) and then reboot. Create (if not present) or modify them with Notepad/Sysedit in Windows or EDIT.COM in DOS. Examples:
   • CONFIG.SYS CD-ROM driver line (replace CDROM.SYS with your MS-DOS mode CD/DVD driver):
     DEVICE=C:\CDROM\CDROM.SYS /D:MYCDROM

   • AUTOEXEC.BAT MSCDEX line:
     MSCDEX.EXE /D:MYCDROM
   Note that your CD/DVD drive name ("MYCDROM" in this example) MUST be IDENTICAL on BOTH lines above!
   See "CD-ROM DRIVERS 4 DOS", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for more details.

2. IF you are installing the OEM full release of Win98, rename all the WIN*.* files ("*" is a DOS wildcard to include all files containing the "WIN" string at the beginning of the filename, no matter the extension): WIN.COM, WIN.INI, WINVER.EXE etc, found ANYWHERE on your fixed disks to something like: WINOLD.COM, WINOLD.INI, WINVEROL.EXE etc, or move them temporarily to a removable disk(ette), into appropriate directories, so you know which versions of Windows they originated from.

3. This step is necessary ONLY for OEM installations of Win98. Create a new "dummy" file called NTLDR in C:\ root (only if you don't already have one from a previous Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 install) by running this DOS command:
   ECHO.>C:\NTLDR
   Then install Win98 OEM by running:
   SETUP /NTLDR
   from the native MS-DOS.

4. If you try to install the Win98 Upgrade on an empty disk/partition, you will be asked to insert the Setup CD-ROM or floppies that contain an older version of Windows/WfWG. Win98 Setup checks for ANY: WINSETUP.BIN, PRECOPYx.CAB and WIN_95xx.CAB files supposedly located on a Win95/OSR2 install CD-ROM, and/or for Windows/WfWG 3.xx install floppies.
   If you have any of these CD-ROMs/floppies, you can copy the installation files to a directory on your hard disk to speedup the search.

5. Run the Win98 OEM release SETUP from the real (true) MS-DOS mode: change to your CD-ROM drive, type SETUP and press Enter.

6. If you run SETUP from Windows, there is a possibility you might have a SETUPPP.INF file installed by almost any Win95 version in your \Windows\Inf subfolder. Open it in Notepad and add/modify these lines under the [data] section to read:
   OEMUP=1
   ProductType=1
   Now run Setup from the Win98 CD-ROM, and stop at the license agreement (EULA) screen. Hold CTRL and press ESC to bring up the Start Menu. Run Notepad, browse to the \Windows.000 or \Wininst0.400 temporary folder, and open Setuppp.inf. Insert/change the same lines as shown above, under the [data] header and save the file. Hold ALT and press TAB to return to Setup, and finally, continue the installation.
   Another advantage of having these lines present in ALL your copies of Setuppp.inf is that you won't be prompted to insert your old Windows 3.xx/95 Setup CD-ROM/floppies anymore when installing the Win98 upgrade.

• "WIN98: NO INSTALL CODE!", also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to install Win98 [retail ONLY, NOT Win98 SE(U)!] without a Product Key code.
• Install Windows 9x/ME without a CD Key.
• "95/98/ME SETUP SWITCHES", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to custom-install Windows 9x/ME on your machine, especially if you own an older PC (i.e. 486SX, 486DX/33).
• "CD-ROM DRIVERS 4 DOS", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn about using alternative (smaller memory footprint) CD-ROM DOS mode drivers in your AUTOEXEC.BAT, especially if you are using older CD-ROM based MS-DOS applications/games that NEED to run from the native/real/true/pure MS-DOS mode.

• See also NEWLOGO.TXT and "COMPLETE MSDOS.SYS REFERENCE" [also in MYTIPS95.TXT], both part of W95-11D.EXE, to learn how to create your own Win9x/ME logos and how to master MSDOS.SYS parameters to boot into Windows the way you want.
• These pages feature a huge collection of free animated and static Win9x/ME logos.

To unclutter your Start Menu, and to enable only the items you want listed when you click the Start button, run Regedit (found in your Windows folder) and go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
1. To make the "Log Off" prompt disappear from your Start Menu, look in the right hand pane for the "NoLogOff" entry. Create it if not present, by right-clicking in the left hand pane, and then selecting New -> Binary Value. Name it NoLogOff. Double-click it and assign it the Value Data below (don't type the spaces):
   01 00 00 00
   Don't worry about the other zeroes already present, the values you typed are inserted automatically.
   Click OK to save your change. Close Regedit and then restart your computer.
   To reenable the Log Off menu, change "NoLogOff" to read (this is the default):
   00 00 00 00
   or delete it entirely.
   You only need (or have installed) the Log Off prompt if your machine is connected to a network, thus enabling different users to log on under their own separate system configurations (mainly for security purposes), in which case it's wise to keep it on the Start Menu.

2. This one is for users who don't like using the IE Favorites folder outside the IE interface (the only difference is when you open the Favorites menu from the Start button, it displays its contents in the same window). It also takes quite a while to "dig" through all your Favorites folders and subfolders to get to the link you're looking for, if you have a load of them, like I do.
   To make the Favorites item disappear from your Start Menu, run Regedit and look in the right hand pane of the same Registry key (shown above) for the "NoFavoritesMenu" entry.
   If it's not there, create it: right-click and choose New -> DWORD Value. Rename it to read "NoFavoritesMenu" (no quotes). Now double-click on it and give it a Value Data of 1. Click OK to save it. Now close Regedit and restart Windows.
   You can still access the Favorites menu from any Explorer window, but not from your Start Menu from now on.

3. Want to further slim down your Start Menu? Well then, I have another one for you.
   To disable the Documents menu from the Start button AND to "annihilate" the \Windows\Recent subfolder, go to the Registry key mentioned above, and search in the right hand pane for the "NoRecentDocsHistory" entry. If you can't find it, create it. Right-click it and select New -> Binary Value. Name it NoRecentDocsHistory. Double-click on it and type in the Value Data field:
   01 00 00 00
   Don't type the spaces though. Click OK or press Enter to save.
   Now you need to repeat the steps above to add/modify another Binary Value called "NoRecentDocsMenu" (don't type the quotes), and then give it the same numeric value, but don't type the spaces:
   01 00 00 00
   Close the Registry Editor and restart your system.
   You'll notice that the Documents item is now absent from your Start Menu, and your \Windows\Recent folder has disappeared. Hocus-pocus, all gone!