When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that file in the
Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable cluttering of the
Local Disk file display. How do I disable this feature?

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word makes a
variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should be removed when
Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of records about the files you
open. Neither can be prevented. If you identify which files you are
referring to, then it may be possible to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the Local Disk
(C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I have on the C:
drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the file|open drop down menu to
open a file, say addresses.doc, a shortcut to that file (addresses.doc)
appears on the C: file list display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it
remains after Word is closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double clicking on
the file name also opens it in Word with the same result, the shortcut is
created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a valid shortcut, double
clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office setting
not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the same thing.
Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad or Adobe Photoshop,
does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not want a
shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet found the way
to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word makes a
variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should be removed when
Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of records about the files you
open. Neither can be prevented. If you identify which files you are
referring to, then it may be possible to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

It sounds like the recent documents folder has been moved to the root of the
C:\Drive. You can restore this folder to its original location simply with
TweakUI. It is a Windows issue rather than a Word issue.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





fj wrote:
An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the
Local Disk (C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I
have on the C: drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the
file|open drop down menu to open a file, say addresses.doc, a
shortcut to that file (addresses.doc) appears on the C: file list
display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it remains after Word is
closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double
clicking on the file name also opens it in Word with the same result,
the shortcut is created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a
valid shortcut, double clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office
setting not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the
same thing. Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad or
Adobe Photoshop, does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not want
a shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet found
the way to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word
makes a variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should
be removed when Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of
records about the files you open. Neither can be prevented. If you
identify which files you are referring to, then it may be possible
to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

The recent documents folder is in the directory C:\Documents and
Settings\UserId. Files opened with any program (Word, Excel, Notepad, Adobe,
etc) show an entry in that folder as expected.

Files opened with Word or Excel also show a shortcut entry in the root
directory (C:\). No other programs I have used create this second entry.
Clearing the Recent Documents list clears the Recent documents folder. It
does not clear the duplicate entries in the root directory. Deleting the
entries created in the root directory has no effect on entries in the Recent
documents folder.

I am not familiar with TweakUI. When I try to run it the system cannot find
it. Search does not find it either. I am running Windows XP, Home Edition,
SP2 installed.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It sounds like the recent documents folder has been moved to the root of the
C:\Drive. You can restore this folder to its original location simply with
TweakUI. It is a Windows issue rather than a Word issue.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





fj wrote:
An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the
Local Disk (C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I
have on the C: drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the
file|open drop down menu to open a file, say addresses.doc, a
shortcut to that file (addresses.doc) appears on the C: file list
display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it remains after Word is
closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double
clicking on the file name also opens it in Word with the same result,
the shortcut is created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a
valid shortcut, double clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office
setting not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the
same thing. Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad or
Adobe Photoshop, does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not want
a shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet found
the way to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word
makes a variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should
be removed when Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of
records about the files you open. Neither can be prevented. If you
identify which files you are referring to, then it may be possible
to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

TweakUI -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

However given your further comments about the recent files folder, something
very odd is going on here that I cannot explain.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
The recent documents folder is in the directory C:\Documents and
Settings\UserId. Files opened with any program (Word, Excel,
Notepad, Adobe, etc) show an entry in that folder as expected.

Files opened with Word or Excel also show a shortcut entry in the root
directory (C:\). No other programs I have used create this second
entry. Clearing the Recent Documents list clears the Recent documents
folder. It does not clear the duplicate entries in the root
directory. Deleting the entries created in the root directory has no
effect on entries in the Recent documents folder.

I am not familiar with TweakUI. When I try to run it the system
cannot find it. Search does not find it either. I am running
Windows XP, Home Edition, SP2 installed.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It sounds like the recent documents folder has been moved to the
root of the C:\Drive. You can restore this folder to its original
location simply with TweakUI. It is a Windows issue rather than a
Word issue.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





fj wrote:
An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the
Local Disk (C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I
have on the C: drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the
file|open drop down menu to open a file, say addresses.doc, a
shortcut to that file (addresses.doc) appears on the C: file list
display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it remains after Word is
closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double
clicking on the file name also opens it in Word with the same
result,
the shortcut is created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a
valid shortcut, double clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office
setting not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the
same thing. Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad
or Adobe Photoshop, does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not
want
a shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet
found
the way to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word
makes a variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should
be removed when Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of
records about the files you open. Neither can be prevented. If you
identify which files you are referring to, then it may be possible
to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that
file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

I haven't found a solution yet either. I may have to try removing and
reinstalling Office. Seems drastic though.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

TweakUI -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

However given your further comments about the recent files folder, something
very odd is going on here that I cannot explain.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
The recent documents folder is in the directory C:\Documents and
Settings\UserId. Files opened with any program (Word, Excel,
Notepad, Adobe, etc) show an entry in that folder as expected.

Files opened with Word or Excel also show a shortcut entry in the root
directory (C:\). No other programs I have used create this second
entry. Clearing the Recent Documents list clears the Recent documents
folder. It does not clear the duplicate entries in the root
directory. Deleting the entries created in the root directory has no
effect on entries in the Recent documents folder.

I am not familiar with TweakUI. When I try to run it the system
cannot find it. Search does not find it either. I am running
Windows XP, Home Edition, SP2 installed.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It sounds like the recent documents folder has been moved to the
root of the C:\Drive. You can restore this folder to its original
location simply with TweakUI. It is a Windows issue rather than a
Word issue.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





fj wrote:
An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the
Local Disk (C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I
have on the C: drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the
file|open drop down menu to open a file, say addresses.doc, a
shortcut to that file (addresses.doc) appears on the C: file list
display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it remains after Word is
closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double
clicking on the file name also opens it in Word with the same
result,
the shortcut is created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a
valid shortcut, double clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office
setting not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the
same thing. Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad
or Adobe Photoshop, does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not
want
a shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet
found
the way to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word
makes a variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should
be removed when Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of
records about the files you open. Neither can be prevented. If you
identify which files you are referring to, then it may be possible
to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that
file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?

I think I found the solution. Office stores the recent files list in the
folder "'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application
Data\Microsoft\Office\Recent" . This folder was missing and in it's place
was a file of the same name. Deleting the file named Recent and creating a
folder named Recent seems to have solved the problem. I haven't performed a
thorough test yet but the initial indication is that things are working
normally after this change.

"fj" wrote:

I haven't found a solution yet either. I may have to try removing and
reinstalling Office. Seems drastic though.

"Graham Mayor" wrote:

TweakUI -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...powertoys.mspx

However given your further comments about the recent files folder, something
very odd is going on here that I cannot explain.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
The recent documents folder is in the directory C:\Documents and
Settings\UserId. Files opened with any program (Word, Excel,
Notepad, Adobe, etc) show an entry in that folder as expected.

Files opened with Word or Excel also show a shortcut entry in the root
directory (C:\). No other programs I have used create this second
entry. Clearing the Recent Documents list clears the Recent documents
folder. It does not clear the duplicate entries in the root
directory. Deleting the entries created in the root directory has no
effect on entries in the Recent documents folder.

I am not familiar with TweakUI. When I try to run it the system
cannot find it. Search does not find it either. I am running
Windows XP, Home Edition, SP2 installed.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It sounds like the recent documents folder has been moved to the
root of the C:\Drive. You can restore this folder to its original
location simply with TweakUI. It is a Windows issue rather than a
Word issue.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org





fj wrote:
An example: When I open My Computer, and then double click on the
Local Disk (C icon, it displays a list of the files and folders I
have on the C: drive. If I then open Microsoft Word and use the
file|open drop down menu to open a file, say addresses.doc, a
shortcut to that file (addresses.doc) appears on the C: file list
display. It is not a temporary shortcut, it remains after Word is
closed and after the system is shut down and restarted.


Navigating through the C: file list to the file and then double
clicking on the file name also opens it in Word with the same
result,
the shortcut is created on C: and shows in the file list. It is a
valid shortcut, double clicking on it opens the file.

Further investigation indicates that it may be a Microsoft Office
setting not unique to Word, since opening a file in Excel does the
same thing. Opening files with other applications, such as Notepad
or Adobe Photoshop, does not exhibit this behavior.

This is a new development, it did not used to do this. I do not
want
a shortcut created on C: for every file I open. I have not yet
found
the way to disable this feature.


"Graham Mayor" wrote:

It is difficult to understand what you are referring to here. Word
makes a variety of temporary files on the hard drive (which should
be removed when Word is closed) and Windows makes all kinds of
records about the files you open. Neither can be prevented. If you
identify which files you are referring to, then it may be possible
to recommend a work around.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org




fj wrote:
When I open a file in Word 2003, it creates a shortcut to that
file
in the Local Disk (Hard Drive). The result is an undesirable
cluttering of the Local Disk file display. How do I disable this
feature?