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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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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105 additional answers

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-01T17:37:21+00:00

    Returning to the original question: Why don't .xlsx files appear in my jump list when I right-click the Excel icon in my taskbar (only .xls files are listed) whereas .docx files appear along with .doc files when I right click the Word icon in my taskbar?

    I have ploughed through most of the 10 pages above and am still not clear if a solution exists! I have also looked at several of the links taking me to pages about XML converters and get even more confused.

    Is there a simple answer to the .xlsx files issue? 

    I have Office 2010 and Windows 7.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-10-02T16:42:33+00:00

    The problem I'm having is I cannot "pin" any files to my Excel tab on my taskbar at the bottom of my screen.  I used to be able to and have a bunch of files on there but I cannot any longer.  But, I CAN pin any file I want to Microsoft Excel Starter 2010.  I know my Excel is the 2002 version but I was able to at one time.  Any idea why???  Thank you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-10-02T16:06:22+00:00

    This thread is old, but I recently had the issue of .xlsx files not showing up in the taskbar jump list of Excel and I found the solution:

    you need to change the file type association for .xlsx from Microsoft Open XML Converter to Excel

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