Recent Items Settings in Win 7 Registry?


  1. mignolan
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Professional
       New #1

    Recent Items Settings in Win 7 Registry?


    Howdy. While working to fix something -- that had a much simpler solution, once I realized it -- while editing the Windows 7 registry I seem to have disabled the "recent items" functionality: the folder, I believe (assuming the Recent Items folder in the Start Menu simply picks up what's there). Right now, the Recent Items folder has nothing in it, and nothing goes into it, no matter what files or folders I open.

    Might someone be able to provide a sense of what that related registry code should look like? Its values?

    Or might there be a tool to reestablish those settings? (The Win 7 install disc can't perform that function, can it? Is there a "disc doctor" function in it?)


    Many thanks!


    Mig
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  3. Jonathan_King
    Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       New #2

    Welcome!

    You're looking for a tool to revert those settings? Look no farther than Windows 7's built-in System Restore. Don't worry about losing your programs and the like; it allows you to scan for affected programs first.

    Good luck!

    ~JK
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  4. monkeys breath
    Posts : 108
    windows
       New #3

    i would just leave the recent feature turned off. it is one thing if you are the only user of your computer, however in most case you are not. leaving or turning it off makes nosy people have to dig for what they are looking for.
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  6. mignolan
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thank you for your responses.

    Jonathan ... I've just completed a reinstall/upgrade of Windows 7, and ... no difference. Is is possible that it carried over my "preference" for a malfunctioning "Recent Items" folder from the old version of the OS to the new install?

    Monkeys Breath ... I'd certainly consider leaving that feature off (and my have to do so) but I'm a heavy user myself. I don't have any real concerns about folks snooping. ; )

    Any other ideas?

    Thanks again!
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  7. Jonathan_King
    Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       New #5

    Try this: Recent Items - Turn On or Off

    Hope this helps,
    ~JK
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  8. mignolan
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Thanks again -- unfortunately not. In a few days I'm going to back up my user profile and do a complete reinstall of Windows 7. I'm just hoping that the issue isn't part of my user profile!
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  10. Jonathan_King
    Posts : 13,354
    Windows 7 Professional x64
       New #7

    Why not just create a new user profile to test?
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  11. mignolan
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Jonathan, I sure do like that idea. Sure do!

    I'll let you know how it goes.


    Mig
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  12. mignolan
    Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Professional
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    So the answer is ... yes: it's tied in to my account. That is, the new "test" account I created has a fully functional recent items. Is there a way I might export the registry on the "test" account and edit the parts I'm missing into my main acc't? (I'll keep a back-up this time.)

    I'm sure glad I didn't go through the whole reload of Windows 7 again, and import my acc't settings. Sheesh.
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