"Recent Places" folder always empty

[pjfarr]

I'm Running Windows 7 64 bit, Home Premium, fully updated.

On my laptop (64 bit Win7), "Recent Items" works properly, showing all docs I've opened only (no folders, as it should be). The taskbar Jumplists for each program also show recent docs opened in that program.

The "Recent Places" folder, however, is always empty, nor do recent folders show on the Jumplists for folders.

Searching has turned up nothing useful, but tells me I'm not the only one with this issue.

What I've tried already:

• sfc /scannow
• making sure both the "Store and display" options in Taskbar and Start Menu Properties are checked.
• making sure the reg key HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Recent points to the correct folder (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent Items) and that the folder itself is actually named "Recent Items" and not just "Recent"
• running a disk scan (chkdsk)
  
• Safe mode
• deleting/restoring default links in the Favorites list
  

Essentially, it seems as if documents opened are recorded but not folders. I'm stumped at this point. Anyone know what's up with this?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

PJ by disk scan did you mean a chkdsk? if no the try that

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < use the /f and /r switches in Option 2 if necessary
As a precaution run these too

http://www.superantispyware.com/

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

download from bleeping computer – delete any rubbishthese find.

 

[BrightBlessings]

Remove Recent Places and restore to default

Click Start, click Computer.
In the left pane, right click on Recent Places and click Remove.
Right click on Favorites in same pane, click Restore favorite links.
Close Windows Explorer and check.
If that does not work you may have a corrupt users account. Test with a new users account.

 

[pjfarr]

IC: Yes, chkdsk

BB: I did try deleting/restoring the folder. Forgot to add that to my "Tried already list" but will add it. I'll give the new user account dealy a shot.

 

[pjfarr]

Okay, tried a new User Profile I created for test purposes and both "Recent Items' and "Recent Places" work properly in that profile. So how can I find out what or where the corrupted settings are and replace them with the working versions from the temp profile?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I think Bright Blessings has nailed the answer for that one in that the account (data) is corrupted itself v

 

[BrightBlessings]

Okay, tried a new User Profile I created for test purposes and both "Recent Items' and "Recent Places" work properly in that profile. So how can I find out what or where the corrupted settings are and replace them with the working versions from the temp profile?

Have a read here, it should help. Fix a corrupted user profile - Windows Help

 

[pjfarr]

Just curious, but what is the System File Checker supposed to do exactly? Is it not supposed to find and replace corrupted/missing system files? Every time I've used it over the years it never seems to find anything wrong when Windows is acting up. In my situation here, creating a new user profile cleared up the problem with Recent Places which seems to suggest a particular system file was recreated in the new account that had become corrupted in the old user profile. Why wouldn't a "System" file check correct this...?

 

[Layback Bear]

SFC /SCANNOW checks Windows 7 System Files.
Your user account is not a system file.

 

[BrightBlessings]

My understanding is if sfc does not repair a file it is because the same file is also corrupt in the windows\winsxs folders. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Did you get your problem sorted? if so please mark this thread as solved.
Cheers

 

[pjfarr]

Thanks everyone for contributing.

Still working on it. I tried copying the Recent Items/Recent Places folders from the new profile to the original one (that worked for a few others with this same prob), but no go for me. So it doesn't seem like it could be the folders themselves but the environment.

I've been trying to find info as to how these 2 folders work together. I'm assuming the Recent Places folder gets its info from the Recent Items and filters out docs so as to show folders ("places") only. But it seems to be filtering out everything. If I can figure out where the filtering is taking place or how...

 

[Isaac Pickary]

1. Type in the search field from Start: "Recent Places" folder always empty" and click Enter.
2. Right-click on "Recent Items" and drag it to the "Favorites" List and choose "Create Shortcuts here".