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
    2011-07-11T02:09:26+00:00

    The lab reports are reviewed by a committee of people intimately familiar with the new UI options which no new user of the product would ever be.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-06-21T17:12:06+00:00

    despite all the suggestions below (all of which i have tried), i still cannot get files to pin to the jumplist for Word - using Win7 and O2010, 64-bit.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-17T00:31:17+00:00

    I hope you are still monitoring this site/post Ron

    I had the same problem, jump lists for WORD 2007 disappeared on start button but Excel and others remained. I followed your advice deleting the file, rebooting and insuring word and excel were on start list.

    This cleared EXCEL list and WORD remains clear.

    However neither now will pick up the last used files and remain clear, no arrow.

    Suggestions please.

    NOTE both WORD and EXCEL files previously listed correctly for past 6 months.

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