What cleans out RUN ?

Sebastian42 · 06 Jun 2023

In x32Win10ProV22H2, I want to keep the entries in RUN, but often find them gone. I do monthly cleaning and scanning with various 3rd party programs, and suspect that one of those processes cause the deletion. To scientifically determine which it is, would take trial and error but end up with certainty. That would be a LOT of effort, and as a shortcut, I'd like to ask if forum members happen to have isolated particular programs, parts of which would cause such deletions. I have tested Disk Cleaner and its does NOT.

Paul Black · 06 Jun 2023

Hello @Sebastian42,

Are you talking about this ? > Clear File Explorer and Run Dialog Box History in Windows 10

I hope this helps.

Sebastian42 · 06 Jun 2023

Yes, that WOULD probably empty RUN, but since I do NOT use that link, it can't be blamed for the result I want to avoid.

Paul Black · 06 Jun 2023

Hello @Sebastian42,

Sebastian42 said:

I want to keep the entries in RUN, but often find them gone. I do monthly cleaning and scanning with various 3rd party programs, and suspect that one of those processes cause the deletion.

Yes, most 3rd-Party programs will clear that sort of data, a bit like cleanmgr in Windows.

I would think there maybe a setting in the 3rd-Party programs that allows you to skip that particular part, but there are so many parameters in such software that tracking them down may well take some time.

In Windows, I think the data is held in the following if this helps . . .

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RunMRU.

Sebastian42 · 06 Jun 2023

'take some time' - that is exactly what I thought and that is why I asked in this forum, in case others had experience.

Paul Black · 06 Jun 2023

Hello @Sebastian42,

Sebastian42 said:

I do monthly cleaning and scanning with various 3rd party programs, and suspect that one of those processes cause the deletion.

Listing the 3rd-Party programs that you are referring to might help those that use them to give you advice !

Sebastian42 · 06 Jun 2023

EMMINENTLY sensible suggestion - they are :

AdwCleaner
Privazer
Glary Utilities
Autoruns

Security Task Manager
Malware Hunter
IObit Malware Fighter
Avast antivirus Free
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
ERARemover
Malwarebytes

Try3 · 06 Jun 2023

Privazer claims that

Privazer said:

With simply one click, PrivaZer is able to clean securely
...
Histories of visited websites, videos, software, opened docs, etc

so you might choose to start by checking that one out.

Denis

Sebastian42 · 06 Jun 2023

As stated before, 'checking them out' is what I was hoping to avoid by making the post. I think it was already happening before I installed Privazer. I would expect that more than one 'cleaner' would target that RUN.

pepanee · 06 Jun 2023

I agree with Paul's post from above. The search results are listed in regedit at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

How to Delete Run History in Windows: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

I only have one search history in my Run history:

As for which app can clear it out automatically, I'm not sure.
This search result may help you find some app that does:
free app to clear out run history windows 10 - Search