Where in Windows 7 can I find the recent items menu?

Anonymous
2009-09-04T15:19:56+00:00

Where in Windows 7 can I find the recent items menu that was on the main menu in Vista.

*original title - How do I enable recent items?*

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2009-09-04T17:10:45+00:00

Right click the 'Taskbar', click 'Properties' > select the 'Start Menu' tab > click 'Customize' > in the dialog displayed, check off the appropriate menu link, 'Recent Items'


Andre Da Costa http://adacosta.spaces.live.com http://www.activewin.com

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Anonymous
2010-11-06T02:41:12+00:00

I am having problems with Microsoft WORD not populating the Recent files used from it's icon on the Task Bar.  But... my excel works fine.  I have Windows 7 and Microsoft Office Professional 2007. 

I've right-clicked the Start Menu: Properties: Customize: and Selected that recent files should appear. 

Plus, I have even dragged certain documents to the task bar icon that I want pinned in Word and they will not show up. 

Hi Catjone

The behavior that you are describing can happen if the Virtual file that holds the data for a pinned programs Jump List becomes corrupted.

  1. Copy the following path.

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

Open Windows Explorer, click in the Address Bar and press the backspace key to clear the address bar.

Right click in the address bar and select Paste. Press the Enter Key. This will open the Automatic Destinations folder.

Note:  This folder is Super Hidden and this is the only way that you can access that folder.

  1. Locate the following file in that folder:  adecfb853d77462a.automaticDestinations-ms 

Right click that file and select Delete.

Exit all running programs and restart the computer.

  1. Use the Word 2007 taskbar icon to open a few random files. Exit Word.
  2. Right click the Word taskbar icon and test the Jump List.

Let us know the results.


Ronnie Vernon MVP – Windows Desktop Experience

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-29T17:09:45+00:00

    yes it's an option called "recent items" in the customize !!!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-03T10:27:33+00:00

    First step >

    Right click the 'Taskbar', click 'Properties' > select the 'Start Menu' tab > click 'Customize' > in the dialog displayed, check off the appropriate menu link, 'Recent Items'

    2nd Step>

    Click on start button>All Programs>Microsoft office> Double click on Microsoft office 2007..

    and try now.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-01T16:07:52+00:00

    I read through this whole file and realized that my problem (no recent files pinned to the Task Bar Application Icons") began when I installed the Office Home edition. I went back and deleted the Office Starter (that came with my system). The "other 2010 office applications" that were "pre-installed". I then "Repaired" my Home Office installation and finally I have restored the "Pinned To Task Bar Recent Files" which I find one of the more useful features of Win 7. None of the other discussions regarding the customization of the task bar or the deleting of the "Automatic Destinations" files helped in any way.

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