Here's a quick fix to disable the recent documents menu from windows xp.

Just follow these steps :-

1. Remove caching of recently opened documents in recent documents folder.
   

• Open run prompt (winkey+r)
• Type gpedit.msc (The group policy editor) .
  
• Then expand user configuration and select administrative templates.
• After that select "start-menu and taskbar"
  
• The window on the right provides various options that you can enable/disable. In this case scroll down to find "Do not keep history of recently opened documents" and then right click on it and enable it.

• Right click on start menu and then select properties.
• Now select start menu tab and choose customize.
• Then click on advanced tab and un-check "List my recently opened documents" at the bottom, then click ok and apply and then ok so as to apply these settings.