Recent Items not updating

[Guest]

The Recent Items list in Vista was working fine. I'm not sure what caused
the problem, but I noticed it stopped updating around the same time I
compressed a number of folders.
When I tried "Clear Recent Items List' by right-clicking on "Recent Items"
in the start menu it would hang and I'd have to restart Windows to get it
back. I finaly got it cleared by turning off the option altogether and then
turning it back on. However, it still doesn't work. If I go directly to the
folder at C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent I do see
shortcuts showing up when I open files but the shortcut is always to the
folder of the item; not the item itself. If I manually edit the shortcut and
point it to the file, it shows up in the Recent Items list and I can click on
it to open it. However, it replaces the modified shortcut with the shortcut
to the folder. I'm fairly certain this is a Vista bug. Anyone else see the
same thing?

 

[James Matthews]

Are you using the files!

 

[Guest]

Not sure what you mean. I open the file from Explorer, work with them while
they are open and then close them from the application. At no point do they
show up in the Recent Items list. Doesn't work when opening from inside the
application, either, although they do show up in the application's recent
documents list (for example, in Word 2007).

Update: some documents that are in Office 2003 format (for ease of use by
others) do show up in Vista's Recent Items list. Maybe an Office 2007 issue?

Are you using the files!

--

http://www.goldwatches.com/watches.asp?Brand=14

The Recent Items list in Vista was working fine. I'm not sure what caused
the problem, but I noticed it stopped updating around the same time I
compressed a number of folders.
When I tried "Clear Recent Items List' by right-clicking on "Recent Items"
in the start menu it would hang and I'd have to restart Windows to get it
back. I finaly got it cleared by turning off the option altogether and
then
turning it back on. However, it still doesn't work. If I go directly to
the
folder at C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent I do
see
shortcuts showing up when I open files but the shortcut is always to the
folder of the item; not the item itself. If I manually edit the shortcut
and
point it to the file, it shows up in the Recent Items list and I can click
on
it to open it. However, it replaces the modified shortcut with the
shortcut
to the folder. I'm fairly certain this is a Vista bug. Anyone else see
the
same thing?

 

[Sharon F]

The Recent Items list in Vista was working fine. I'm not sure what caused
the problem, but I noticed it stopped updating around the same time I
compressed a number of folders.
When I tried "Clear Recent Items List' by right-clicking on "Recent Items"
in the start menu it would hang and I'd have to restart Windows to get it
back. I finaly got it cleared by turning off the option altogether and then
turning it back on. However, it still doesn't work. If I go directly to the
folder at C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent I do see
shortcuts showing up when I open files but the shortcut is always to the
folder of the item; not the item itself. If I manually edit the shortcut and
point it to the file, it shows up in the Recent Items list and I can click on
it to open it. However, it replaces the modified shortcut with the shortcut
to the folder. I'm fairly certain this is a Vista bug. Anyone else see the
same thing?

Properties for start orb. Make sure recent items is enabled on the start
menu tab.

Also check "history" settings. If you delete "History" in various places
within Vista (Start Menu properties, for example) or with a third party
internet security program, the list is erased. Change history settings so
that the trail is retained.

 

[Guest]

I am having the same problem. I have tried the registry mod startmenuinit,
checked the boxes in the start menu properites to no avail. I am not sure
where the history items you mentioned are. This problem, for me, started
after a series of problems due to a recent McAfee upgrade. I noticed that you
mentioned the internet security programs -- any idea what to look for there?

The Recent Items list in Vista was working fine. I'm not sure what caused
the problem, but I noticed it stopped updating around the same time I
compressed a number of folders.
When I tried "Clear Recent Items List' by right-clicking on "Recent Items"
in the start menu it would hang and I'd have to restart Windows to get it
back. I finaly got it cleared by turning off the option altogether and then
turning it back on. However, it still doesn't work. If I go directly to the
folder at C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent I do see
shortcuts showing up when I open files but the shortcut is always to the
folder of the item; not the item itself. If I manually edit the shortcut and
point it to the file, it shows up in the Recent Items list and I can click on
it to open it. However, it replaces the modified shortcut with the shortcut
to the folder. I'm fairly certain this is a Vista bug. Anyone else see the
same thing?

Properties for start orb. Make sure recent items is enabled on the start
menu tab.

Also check "history" settings. If you delete "History" in various places
within Vista (Start Menu properties, for example) or with a third party
internet security program, the list is erased. Change history settings so
that the trail is retained.

 

[Guest]

I have been troubleshooting this for some time and found that file in the
location you mentioned, so it is there but not working. It has a special file
icon associated with it. I tried to simply move a file to that directory but
it will not let me do that. It simply doesn't respond. I agree that there is
something in the registry causing the problem but I have no idea what to do.
Does anyone else have a solution to this problem?

 

[dean-dean]

If you've used a 3rd party cleaner, it may have deleted the desktop.ini in
the Recent Items folder. If you navigate to C:\Users\(Your
Name)AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, does the Recent Items folder have a
special icon? If it doesn't, and only shows the generic manila one, or if the
folder is just called Recent (without the word Items), right-click on the
Recent folder and choose Delete. Log Off and then Log On. Open your Start
Menu and type, in the Start Search box:

shell:recent

Press Enter. This should restore the folder with the correct desktop.ini,
which will then restore the right-click context menu item "Clear Recent
Items List". (Right-click inside the Recent Items folder that pops up to
test that, after having typed shell:recent).

 

[Guest]

Thanks for trying but that doesn't work. I have used a third party cleaner
(Tweak VI) but the folder is the special folder for recent items and right
clicking on recent items in the start menu has always had the clear recent
items box. I tried your procedure anyway. The first problem I ran into was
there was no delete option in the right click dialogue box. I tried moving it
to another folder and that worked. BAsed on the warnings, there is a
desktop.ini file in that folder. I then followed your suggested - logged on
and logged off, the selected Start the Search and typed shell:recent. The
only response was that it could not fin that item. I tried opening a word
file, making changes and closing it. Then I checked recent items but it still
didn't contain the recently opened file.

I use McAfee for security and I know they had a bad update in August that I
am still trying to fix. I wonder if that could have caused the problem. I am
still trying to get McAfee to run after hours of troubleshooting with McAfee.

Does anyone have any other suggestions. This is a very irritating problem
for me.

If you've used a 3rd party cleaner, it may have deleted the desktop.ini in
the Recent Items folder. If you navigate to C:\Users\(Your
Name)AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, does the Recent Items folder have a
special icon? If it doesn't, and only shows the generic manila one, or if the
folder is just called Recent (without the word Items), right-click on the
Recent folder and choose Delete. Log Off and then Log On. Open your Start
Menu and type, in the Start Search box:

shell:recent

Press Enter. This should restore the folder with the correct desktop.ini,
which will then restore the right-click context menu item "Clear Recent
Items List". (Right-click inside the Recent Items folder that pops up to
test that, after having typed shell:recent).

I also have the same problem, however I have noticed that my Admin. user
account "Recent Items" area does update properly. Only my standard user
accts. don't update the Recent Items area. I've found that by going to
the folder identified by Pengalo above
(C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent) my Admin.
user ID has a "Recent Items" file while my other user ID's don't have
this file. So that's the issue. The question is how do we correct it?
I could copy the file from Admin. and paste it in one of the user ID's
to see if that helps but I think there should also be some Registry
changes required to get it to be used properly.

 

[dean-dean]

Well, my suggestion to compTMan was for the Recent Items folder that met the criteria of a generic icon and the name Recent, instead
of Recent Items (which criteria indicates the desktop.ini is missing). Too, if the desktop.ini is missing, Delete will be in the
context menu when right-clicking on the folder.

Check this key in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

(Note that in the registry, the folder is called Recent, not Recent Items: the path is exactly as written. The "Recent Items" name
is a function of the desktop.ini.). And check this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

C:\Users\(Your Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

Should you need to modify the Data values, log off and back on. Then type shell:recent to see if the folder pops up...

Thanks for trying but that doesn't work. I have used a third party cleaner
(Tweak VI) but the folder is the special folder for recent items and right
clicking on recent items in the start menu has always had the clear recent
items box. I tried your procedure anyway. The first problem I ran into was
there was no delete option in the right click dialogue box. I tried moving it
to another folder and that worked. BAsed on the warnings, there is a
desktop.ini file in that folder. I then followed your suggested - logged on
and logged off, the selected Start the Search and typed shell:recent. The
only response was that it could not fin that item. I tried opening a word
file, making changes and closing it. Then I checked recent items but it still
didn't contain the recently opened file.

I use McAfee for security and I know they had a bad update in August that I
am still trying to fix. I wonder if that could have caused the problem. I am
still trying to get McAfee to run after hours of troubleshooting with McAfee.

Does anyone have any other suggestions. This is a very irritating problem
for me.

If you've used a 3rd party cleaner, it may have deleted the desktop.ini in
the Recent Items folder. If you navigate to C:\Users\(Your
Name)AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, does the Recent Items folder have a
special icon? If it doesn't, and only shows the generic manila one, or if the
folder is just called Recent (without the word Items), right-click on the
Recent folder and choose Delete. Log Off and then Log On. Open your Start
Menu and type, in the Start Search box:

shell:recent

Press Enter. This should restore the folder with the correct desktop.ini,
which will then restore the right-click context menu item "Clear Recent
Items List". (Right-click inside the Recent Items folder that pops up to
test that, after having typed shell:recent).

I also have the same problem, however I have noticed that my Admin. user
account "Recent Items" area does update properly. Only my standard user
accts. don't update the Recent Items area. I've found that by going to
the folder identified by Pengalo above
(C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent) my Admin.
user ID has a "Recent Items" file while my other user ID's don't have
this file. So that's the issue. The question is how do we correct it?
I could copy the file from Admin. and paste it in one of the user ID's
to see if that helps but I think there should also be some Registry
changes required to get it to be used properly.

 

[Guest]

I had already done a search of the registry looking for any items with
"recent" that did not seem correct. I noted that each time the recent items
was listed as a directory it was exactly as you wrote.

When I try to open folder "recent items" or when I type shell:recent
command, a window pops up and closes before I can see what it is.

Well, my suggestion to compTMan was for the Recent Items folder that met the criteria of a generic icon and the name Recent, instead
of Recent Items (which criteria indicates the desktop.ini is missing). Too, if the desktop.ini is missing, Delete will be in the
context menu when right-clicking on the folder.

Check this key in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

(Note that in the registry, the folder is called Recent, not Recent Items: the path is exactly as written. The "Recent Items" name
is a function of the desktop.ini.). And check this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

C:\Users\(Your Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

Should you need to modify the Data values, log off and back on. Then type shell:recent to see if the folder pops up...

Thanks for trying but that doesn't work. I have used a third party cleaner
(Tweak VI) but the folder is the special folder for recent items and right
clicking on recent items in the start menu has always had the clear recent
items box. I tried your procedure anyway. The first problem I ran into was
there was no delete option in the right click dialogue box. I tried moving it
to another folder and that worked. BAsed on the warnings, there is a
desktop.ini file in that folder. I then followed your suggested - logged on
and logged off, the selected Start the Search and typed shell:recent. The
only response was that it could not fin that item. I tried opening a word
file, making changes and closing it. Then I checked recent items but it still
didn't contain the recently opened file.

I use McAfee for security and I know they had a bad update in August that I
am still trying to fix. I wonder if that could have caused the problem. I am
still trying to get McAfee to run after hours of troubleshooting with McAfee.

Does anyone have any other suggestions. This is a very irritating problem
for me.

If you've used a 3rd party cleaner, it may have deleted the desktop.ini in
the Recent Items folder. If you navigate to C:\Users\(Your
Name)AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, does the Recent Items folder have a
special icon? If it doesn't, and only shows the generic manila one, or if the
folder is just called Recent (without the word Items), right-click on the
Recent folder and choose Delete. Log Off and then Log On. Open your Start
Menu and type, in the Start Search box:

shell:recent

Press Enter. This should restore the folder with the correct desktop.ini,
which will then restore the right-click context menu item "Clear Recent
Items List". (Right-click inside the Recent Items folder that pops up to
test that, after having typed shell:recent).


I also have the same problem, however I have noticed that my Admin. user
account "Recent Items" area does update properly. Only my standard user
accts. don't update the Recent Items area. I've found that by going to
the folder identified by Pengalo above
(C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent) my Admin.
user ID has a "Recent Items" file while my other user ID's don't have
this file. So that's the issue. The question is how do we correct it?
I could copy the file from Admin. and paste it in one of the user ID's
to see if that helps but I think there should also be some Registry
changes required to get it to be used properly.

 

[dean-dean]

Actually, the folder popping up and disappearing occurs when "Store and display a list of recently opened files" is not checked in
Taskbar and Start Menu Properties. Right-click on the Start Menu button on your Taskbar, and choose Properties. On the Start Menu
tab of that dialog, make sure, under the Privacy section, that that entry has a checkmark (Apply, OK). Then try the shell:recent
command again.

I had already done a search of the registry looking for any items with
"recent" that did not seem correct. I noted that each time the recent items
was listed as a directory it was exactly as you wrote.

When I try to open folder "recent items" or when I type shell:recent
command, a window pops up and closes before I can see what it is.

Well, my suggestion to compTMan was for the Recent Items folder that met the criteria of a generic icon and the name Recent,
instead
of Recent Items (which criteria indicates the desktop.ini is missing). Too, if the desktop.ini is missing, Delete will be in the
context menu when right-clicking on the folder.

Check this key in the Registry Editor:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

(Note that in the registry, the folder is called Recent, not Recent Items: the path is exactly as written. The "Recent Items"
name
is a function of the desktop.ini.). And check this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

In the left-hand pane, the default Data for the Name "Recent" (no quotes) should be:

C:\Users\(Your Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

Should you need to modify the Data values, log off and back on. Then type shell:recent to see if the folder pops up...

Thanks for trying but that doesn't work. I have used a third party cleaner
(Tweak VI) but the folder is the special folder for recent items and right
clicking on recent items in the start menu has always had the clear recent
items box. I tried your procedure anyway. The first problem I ran into was
there was no delete option in the right click dialogue box. I tried moving it
to another folder and that worked. BAsed on the warnings, there is a
desktop.ini file in that folder. I then followed your suggested - logged on
and logged off, the selected Start the Search and typed shell:recent. The
only response was that it could not fin that item. I tried opening a word
file, making changes and closing it. Then I checked recent items but it still
didn't contain the recently opened file.

I use McAfee for security and I know they had a bad update in August that I
am still trying to fix. I wonder if that could have caused the problem. I am
still trying to get McAfee to run after hours of troubleshooting with McAfee.

Does anyone have any other suggestions. This is a very irritating problem
for me.

:

If you've used a 3rd party cleaner, it may have deleted the desktop.ini in
the Recent Items folder. If you navigate to C:\Users\(Your
Name)AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows, does the Recent Items folder have a
special icon? If it doesn't, and only shows the generic manila one, or if the
folder is just called Recent (without the word Items), right-click on the
Recent folder and choose Delete. Log Off and then Log On. Open your Start
Menu and type, in the Start Search box:

shell:recent

Press Enter. This should restore the folder with the correct desktop.ini,
which will then restore the right-click context menu item "Clear Recent
Items List". (Right-click inside the Recent Items folder that pops up to
test that, after having typed shell:recent).


I also have the same problem, however I have noticed that my Admin. user
account "Recent Items" area does update properly. Only my standard user
accts. don't update the Recent Items area. I've found that by going to
the folder identified by Pengalo above
(C:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent) my Admin.
user ID has a "Recent Items" file while my other user ID's don't have
this file. So that's the issue. The question is how do we correct it?
I could copy the file from Admin. and paste it in one of the user ID's
to see if that helps but I think there should also be some Registry
changes required to get it to be used properly.

 

[dean-dean]

Try this, compTMan, (substitute USERNAME for the actual name of the account):

1. Right-click Command Prompt, and choose Run as Administrator. Type the
following command, and then press ENTER:

takeown /f C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER to grant
administrators full access to the file:

icacls C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent /grant administrators:F

3. Then type:

icacls C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent /grant USERNAME_PC/USERNAME:F

Press ENTER.

 

[Guest]

This didn't work either. I got an error message on instruction 3. In any
case, it had no effect.

Earl

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Earl

Are you using Vista Ultimate or Business?

If so, right click the Recent Items on the Start Menu and select
Properties/Previous Versions Tab. Select the oldest file there and click the
Restore Button.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

This didn't work either. I got an error message on instruction 3. In any
case, it had no effect.

Earl

 

[dean-dean]

Earl, you aren't getting an "access denied" as was compTMan, so those
commands weren't appropriate to your situation. The behavior you are
describing is more like the the checkmark in "Store and display a list of
recently opened files", in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, isn't
"sticking". Try toggling that entry; that is, turn it off, so that Recent
Items (on the right-hand side of the Menu) ISN'T listed in your Start Menu,
and then turn it back on, so that Recent Items IS listed in your Start Menu.
The sudden disappearance of the window when you type shell:recent acts just
as you describe, when that entry in Properties is not checked.

This didn't work either. I got an error message on instruction 3. In any
case, it had no effect.

Earl

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

compTman

Thank you very much for the excellent recap, I wish more people would take
the time to return and do this.
Thanks to Dean for providing the solution.

 

[vanilla]

Yes, thank you ... I agree with wishing to get this kind of affirmative
feedback. I save good messages for the future in case the same thing
happens to me (g) ... might not, but you never know ... well done ...
vanilla

 

[Donna]

If you have a Folder just called "Recent" - try this

1) navigate to
C:\Users\YOUR USER\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

2) Right click on Recent Folder and Rename it to "Recent Items"

3) Single Click Start Button

4) Then Right Click on "Recent Items" - and Select "Clear Recent Items
List"

5) Find any document and open it up - then go back and check "Recent
Items"


It worked for me ..

I tried this to fix a problem I was having and it did not work. It saved it
as a file and now I do not have an option to rename or delete.