Windows 7 - Trying to restore start menu default settings - Not Working

I have looked everywhere here and elsewhere...there are a lot of great tutorials and other posts...but I can only find one set of directions for my purpose and following them is NOT working.

The left hand side of my Windows 7 Premium Home 64 bit start menu is completely blank (why or how I am not sure)...I have repinned a couple of programs just to see if I could populate it again, which I can.

So far I have:
1) Control Panel - Start Up - Customize - Restore default settings - Apply - OK
This has consistently not worked.

2) ...Customize - check/uncheck options - ... store and display recently opened each checked - Apply - OK
Again, not worked.

...........restarted all times

3) I have seen a great number of interesting tutorials and posts, but nothing that captures this problem, the opposite of most queries.

I'm wondering if I have to set up a new user account? and switch settings for the accounts? i.e. account profile corrupted? (How does this even happen?)

Anyone with any other ideas how I might restore the start menu default settings besides the obvious (that should work!!) Customize option, I would be greatly appreciative.

Thanks,
Avery

The recently opened can be cleared everytime you reboot if you have it set to do so. Have you checked here, how to pin and unpin to start menu?

Just re-read your post with me glasses on, I see you have tried pinning,. Sorry, do they/ did they stick?