Windows 7: Can't delete pinned items from taskbar

I pinned Microsoft Excel to my task bar, and then I pinned some frequently used document shortcuts to that. I have a few of the frequently used shortcuts that will not unpin. I have even deleted the original document and then tried to open it. It would say something like, the link to this document is no longer available, do you want to remove this shortcut and I would say yes, but it would still not delete. I tried unpinning Microsoft Excel from the taskbar, but when I pinned it back on, the same shortcuts were there. Is there a way to remove these shortcuts? I am even willing to reset the taskbar to where I would have to re-organize it to the way I have it, but I can't figure that out either Thanks for any help you can give me!

Hey.

Folow the instructions form this tutorial:

Taskbar Pinned Items - Reset and Clear in Windows 7

Download the file, and run it.

It will automatically re-set the pinned items in the taskbar.

If in your circumstances, It still shows the documents as pinned, Try clearing you're recent items folder.

Recent Items List - Clear

I tried everything you suggested, even the download and running it, but still have documents that won't unpin from the taskbar programs. When I right click and go to unpin, it just turns an orangish color and stays right there. If I try to move it down on the list, it just makes a second shortcut and stays right where it is. Not sure what to do next.

See if the following works; (same as tutorial above)

Before performing the following steps BACKUP THE REGISTRY!

1.Delete all shortcuts in “C:Users%USERNAME%AppDataRoamingMicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchUser PinnedTaskBar”
2.Delete all values in “HKCU/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/Taskband”
3.Restart Explorer.exe process.

HTH

This deleted all the shortcuts on the taskbar, but when I pinned them back on, the same documents were still pinned to the shortcut and I still cannot delete them. What it is exactly, like I said before, I have Microsoft Excel pinned to my taskbar, then I drag a document that I frequently use to the taskbar and it pins it to Excel. All I have to do is right click on the the Excel icon on the taskbar and it shows a list of documents that I have pinned to it. That is the place that I cannot get some things to unpin. I can unpin the Excel icon all day from the taskbar, but the documents pinned to Excel is where I am having problems.

I don't use Excel so this is just a shot in the dark, but is there a place INSIDE of Excel to remove them? Say in a recent document list? Sounds to me to be more of an Excel problem than a Windows problem, but I could be wrong. I'd look for a cache/recent doc./recently opened etc. folder/file and go from there.

Hello Nettie, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You are referring to items in it's Jump List instead. You might see if using the tutorial below to reset and clear all jump lists may help.

Jump Lists - Reset and Clear All Items

I guess it is called the Jump List.
I used "C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestina​tions" in Windows explorer, deleted the AutomaticDestinations files, and WooHoo, it solved my problem. I have been trying to figure this out FOREVER! Thanks for everyone's help!

You're most welcome Nettie. Glad we could help.