Missing Recent/Frequent Programs from Start menu

alegna=angela · #1 (**permalink**) 12-29-2008

I have Vista Business. My problem is that the recent programs is not showing up on the start menu. Please do not confuse this with recent documents, this is working fine. When I click the start button, I only have Internet explorer and Microsoft Office Outlook. Below that is blank until the All Programs list. I have checked all the obvious stuff. Right click on the start button, properties, check "store and display a list of recently opened programs", click customize, make sure that 9 (default value) is showing. I've changed this number to 0, restarted, changed it back to 9, restarted, nothing shows up after opening and closing programs several times. I've checked the startmenuinit in the registry to make sure it's value is 3, it is there and it's 3. I've tried other things too that I cannot remember.
Any Suggestions please?
Angela

Mikey62 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009

I have the same problem. I have tried everything that I know to get these programs to show back up. It must be a registry key has become corrupted but I do not know which one it is. I hope someone can help us. Thanks!

alegna=angela · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2009

I posted this back in December before Christmas I think. This is the first response that I've gotten. I'm sorry you're still having the problem. I finally just re-installed windows (Fresh Install). I really wanted to avoid that and I know it's not really a solution either. Good luck finding a solution. If you do fix yours, I'd really like to know how, so please post. And also, if anyone else has the problem, they would find a solution here.

Mikey62 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009

OK here is the solution.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Advanced in

the D_Word Start_ShowRecentDocs

I didn't extensively test, but I found mine to be at 2 and setting this value to 1

seems to have brought all my recently used programs back to my start menu. (You

will have to logoff / logon to fully reset this registry key to make it work)

alegna=angela · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009

Thanks for posting this fix. If it ever happens to me again I will try it. I'm sure that someone out there will find this useful. I searched for days looking for a solution and then resorted to posting here. If anyone tries this and is successful, please post back.

MelissaGuzz · #6 (**permalink**) 08-21-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna=angela

Thanks for posting this fix. If it ever happens to me again I will try it. I'm sure that someone out there will find this useful. I searched for days looking for a solution and then resorted to posting here. If anyone tries this and is successful, please post back.

I have had the same problem with my Vista Start menu not showing recently used programs, even tho' I have it set to do so.
I tried going in to the Registry as Mikey suggested, but I only get as far as the Advanced folder, and do not see D_Word Start_ShowRecentDocs. So I'm still stuck!
Melissa