How to get "My Recent Documents" in Windows 7

Anonymous
2010-07-07T00:54:16+00:00

Original title: My Recent Documents

I NEED  "my recent docs". I purchased Win7Pro because I asumed it was created with professionals in mind. People who rely on their computer for their livelyhood rely on "my recent docs" for a million things.

The "Recent Items" function does not seem able to locate any but the last version. When an earlier version is shown in he jump folder, Windows can't find it.  I need to know what I did yesterday, last week, and in 2002. XP does that, (pro and home b.t.w.).

Please tell me there is a setting some place that I just haven't found.  Everyone in my field  relies heavilly on "my recent Docs".  I can't believe it is gone.

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

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Anonymous
2010-07-13T08:42:34+00:00

Here is how I got it back:

  1. Right click the Start/Win button, select Properties
  2. Click the Start Menu tab (it should be select as default)
  3. Click the Customize button
  4. Scroll down and check the Recent Items check box
  5. Click Ok
  6. Click Apply
  7. Click Ok

You should now have a "Recent" option in the start menu.

This is one of the nice things about Microsoft—backward compatibility :P

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Anonymous
2010-07-07T20:42:33+00:00

Hi carzonthehill,

My Recent Documents is removed from the Start menu in Windows 7. Windows 7 categorizes recent items by the program used to open them, and each program on the Start menu or the taskbar has a Jump List of recently opened documents, websites, or files.

This feature is by design in Windows 7.

Additionally, restoring the “Recent items” into the File Save & Open dialogue box doesn’t seem to be feasible.

You can open recent items from a Jump List in one click, or pin favorite items to the top of each list. For more information, see Using Jump Lists to open programs and items. 

However, if you wish to have the feature reinstated in Windows 7, you may leave your feedback/suggestion at the Windows 7 Feedback and Microsoft Connect  site.

Hope this information helps.


Gokul - Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-06-04T19:13:12+00:00

    I have been very frustrated with this, so this is what i did...

    Once you have added your useless LIST of "recent items" to your start menu, right click on the "recent items" and click "properties". 

    select and copy the location of the list

    go to windows explorer and paste it into the address bar

    find "recent items" and drag it to the start menu.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-04T19:00:37+00:00

    What do you mean "no link"? When I follow Ignatius' directions, I get a Recent Items list, and I can click every single one of them to get to the file in question.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-06-04T18:49:59+00:00

    Here is how I got it back:

    1. Right click the Start/Win button, select Properties
    2. Click the Start Menu tab (it should be select as default)
    3. Click the Customize button
    4. Scroll down and check the Recent Items check box
    5. Click Ok
    6. Click Apply
    7. Click Ok

    You should now have a "Recent" option in the start menu.

    This is one of the nice things about Microsoft—backward compatibility :P

    This did not help me at all.  It DOES display a LIST, but no link to the actual documents that you see.  It is of no use to me whatsoever.

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