You could use a macro:

Option Explicit
Sub testme()

Dim iCtr As Long
Dim MRUMax As Long
Dim TestStr As String

With Application.RecentFiles
MRUMax = .Maximum
For iCtr = .Count To 1 Step -1
TestStr = ""
On Error Resume Next
TestStr = Dir(.Item(iCtr).Path)
On Error GoTo 0
If TestStr = "" Then
.Item(iCtr).Delete
End If
Next iCtr
.Maximum = MRUMax
End With

End Sub

If you're new to macros, you may want to read David McRitchie's intro at:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm

Be aware that if you sometimes connect to different network drives and you
aren't mapped/connected to that drive when you run this, you'll lose that file
from the MRU list.



"DB." wrote:

On opening Excel I get on the RHS the list of recently-opened files
that is so useful in retrieving those files which I use frequently. My
list is of 9 files - I guess that to be the default number.

Occasionally I do some tidying up - maybe deleting, re-naming or
moving a file to a different folder. That RHS list remains the same -
though clicking on a line may lead nowhere. Is there a way I can easily
delete that entry from the list without opening more and more files
until it disappears off the bottom of the list?

A list of 9 is normally quite enough for me (providing I've no
'dead' ones in that list) but is there a way I could increase it? I
realise, of course, that I can retrieve any further files by clicking on
'More' at the bottom of the list, but it's so handy to have them there
on the RHS at start-up.

TIA of any replies.

--
DB.

--

Dave Peterson