Suggested additions

Just tried the program for the first time. Thanks for writing it.
It didn't catch the MRU lists for two programs
- VirtualDub
- Mp3DirectCut

I know that it would be difficult to identify each app available, but these seem common enough to repay attention.
Thanks again.

I'm assuming these won't disappear on restart; I didn't see them on the list of items I deleted, though I may have just overlooked them.

 

In Windows XP, at least, if you right click on a blank space in the systray (near the clock) you'll see Customize Notifications... If you click on that, you'll find a list not only of current icons, but also a list of Past Items.
I would very much like to get rid of the Past Items.
Hope there's a way of doing that.
Thanks!
(Forgot that when I was looking at apps.)

 

Here's an article for you:

How to Clear Past Items from the Notification Area

I don't know whether everyone would like these to be deleted by default, though.

 

Thanks for the information about how to clear the Past Items. I'm leary of editing the Registry myself, and it appears this process would have to occur every time I wanted to clear the list.
So I'm still hoping clearing Past Items could be incorporated into this program.
By the way, a reboot did not clear VirtualDub and Mp3DirectCut.
It did clear the recently used programs list in XP, the left column after clicking Start. I don't mind keeping that, so could someone tell me how that item is being referred to in MRU Blaster so I can clear that checkmark? Beats trial and error.
Thanks again.

 

About the Registry part of clearing out the past items, you could facilitate that:

Copy the bold to notepad, save as streams.reg (Save as "all files"), and doubleclick, and these values will be deleted without the need of actually going in and manually editing the Registry:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\TrayNotify]
"IconStreams"=-
"PastIconsStream"=-


You can even make a desktop shortcut to that regfile.

 

These items will be added in the next database update of MRU-Blaster. Thanks for bringing them to my attention.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

VirtualDub isn't hard to add - it is simply stored in the registry.

Mp3DirectCut will be a little harder - you can unzip the files to anywhere, there need not be any entries in the registry showing where the files are stored, and the MRU list is stored in an .ini file in the directory you unzipped it to. Maybe its time for the "add your own MRU list" feature?

To sum it up - VirtualDub will be in the next update for sure.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

Thanks for the addition of VirtualDub.
On the 'Add your own MRU list' feature, which sounds good, how would I know about where the MRU is stored? Would I just have to lead MRU-Blaster to the executable (I hope) and see a list of current contents in the MRU so I can be sure the entries to be deleted are correct?
Trust the Past Items deletion is on your to be added list as well; I'm using the little program written for the occasion, but would feel more comfortable with it in MRU-Blaster. And that record seems to be retained for a very long time. What's the point of it in the first place?
Finally, in Win XP, could someone mention what the most recently used program list is called. I haven't unchecked the right block yet.
Thanks again.

 

This would take some work, but yes that is my goal. The small number of applications that store MRU data in files located in the same folder as the executable (but that don't install or leave any other traceable remains outside of that folder) would have their own section in MRU-Blaster where you could "opt-in" to such cleaning by simply pointing MRU-Blaster to the executable.

No promises as to when this will be implemented.

Many people find it useful, but I will be adding it to MRU-Blaster.

I should note that it will NOT be set to clean on default (i.e. it will be disabled unless you check it in settings).

If you mean the recently used program list in the XP Start menu, unchecking the "Windows UserAssist MRUs" in Settings will allow you to keep it. (I have never understood why XP stores that data there...) Hopefully I'll remember to add a question mark next to it in the next version describing what it stores in XP.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

Just downloaded the new version, and the program works very well.
I particularly like the chance to get rid of index.dat files. I have more than the one you list; a search produced 7 of them (I use 2 identities on Win XP) and there may be more. Though some may be holding useful info, the ones for past url's and cookies have no redeeming virtues. Any chance of adding to the list? Or will I be able to get rid of them by scanning once in each identity?
I don't want to sound ungrateful, but the list of past icons in the systray is still there. You did say something about not cleaning 'em out by default, but I couldn't find any option to check.
Thanks!

 

Right now, you'll need to scan in one identity, reboot, then scan in another, reboot, etc. I may add a plug-in just for index.dat cleaning in the future.

I'm still doing some tests with this list - I'll try to add it as soon as possible (that may or may not be the next update). Be assured, I am working on it.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

Just used MRU Blaster for the 1st time. Works great but it didn't clear the MRU for DivX Player.

 

Which version of DivX player?

TIA.

-Javacool

 

Just thought I'd add that Quicktime Player Version 6 wasn't picked up in the scan either.

 

I think he was talking the DiVX player 2.0 Alpha with DiVX pro bundle... or the one to play Video On Demand wich should be version 1.4.1

 

Yes that's the version

 

Because it sounds like this forum will turn into an archive, hope you don't mind if I remind you about my 2 favorite issues.
First,
on the 'Add your own MRU list' feature, I would like to lead MRU-Blaster to the executable and see a list of current contents in the MRU so I can be sure the entries to be deleted are actually an MRU. The app would be added to the list after approval.
Second,
in XP, right clicking near the clock and then on Customize Notifications... shows the list of past items in the systray. Long past items. I'd appreciate being able to clear that listing as one more unnecessary history.

Sorry to repeat, but I think these additions to the program really would help.
Thanks for your patience.

 

Almost!
I downloaded the most recent update and saw that the XP Customize Notifications... item was included. Thanks!
The only problem is that the icons get removed, but the listings remain. All the listings are still there, but they now show a folder icon.

Also, I want to keep the most recent download folder listing for Outlook Express; saves time rather than click through to the Downloads folder every time. Which block should I uncheck?

Thanks again.

 

It should be completely blank after a reboot. Windows XP caches the information.

There currently is no way to permanently set that to "ignore" - I'll add it to the Settings area in the next version.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

Just rebooted. The listing lives. Might work after I shut the pc down for a while, but thought I'd mention it.
Sorry.

 

Just used the new version.
The old programs listing under Customize Notifications... is still there.
I used it 3 times and rebooted 3 times. I also switched identities, and it didn't work on the other identity either.
Sorry!

 

Well that is certainly odd. MRU-Blaster is cleaning the items per a document in the Microsoft Online Knowledgebase. And in every test I did, it worked correctly.

I'll take another look at it, but unless the Knowledgebase document is somehow wrong (which is always possible), I'm not sure what is causing this issue.

Best regards,

-Javacool

 

As mentioned, the listing associated with cleariconstream in the mru-blaster portion of the registry has Ignore at the end of the listing.
The small program earlier in this thread doesn't work.
I located the entry using regedit and tried to delete the data in the values box (select all / delete) and it wouldn't let me.
This is a very resistant listing. Is there anything else I can do to check what's going on?

 

As mentioned, I renamed IconStreams and PastIconStreams in the registry by putting an X in front.
After I rebooted, the X'ed items were still there, and so were new copies with the original names and the same content as before.
From this I'm guessing that there's an automatic restore. MRU-Blaster is working, but the entries get put back.
Am I right? Is there any way I can keep the restore from happening?
Thanks, as always.