How can I stop the Recently Used Programs list from generating and displaying in Windows Mobile 5.0? I'd rather not install some launcher or task manager utility. I've done some searching and the closest I came to a solution were in the following two threads.

http://discuss.pocketnow.com/showthread.php?t=18980
I tried rich-k's method of moving folders out of the Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder. The Recently Used list went away and I was pleased to be presented with the same Start Menu every time. Sort of a nested menu system. Nice. However, at least the way I did it, I could no longer install applications - neither from active sync or from .cab files. Maybe his method actually works, but I screwed it up somehow.

http://groups.google.com/group/micro...537c1a66a31057
I tried Chance Hopkins registry hack. Navigate to \HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Shell and delete the TaskSwitch Key (and all subkeys/values). It works but is not permanent.

btw. How do you search this forum for a key phrase? I couldn't figure out to search for the phrase "recently + used".

I'll have to give that a try, but when you say it's not permanent, you mean the value gets restored after subsequent soft-resets or do you mean a hard-reset? If it's a soft-reset, then yeah, that's not too useful.

Another post, WM2K3.2 but not significantly different in this regard, here.

www.AKAJohnDoe.com

"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible" - Frank Zappa

  

Regarding the TaskSwitch key under \HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Shell - that's the same key programs like Tweak2k2 and SkTools delete when you enable the option to clear the Program List. It doesn't prevent a new Start Menu list from being created.

The values get restored (regenerated) the next time you open an application. No power off or reset necessary.