Enabling recent documents

**zonkd** · April 3rd, 2009, 07:13 AM

How can I get start/recent documents to show, experts? (I use XP pro)

**GroundZero3** · April 3rd, 2009, 07:14 AM

Start > documents > the most recent documents accessed will be there

**zonkd** · April 3rd, 2009, 07:34 AM

Thanks, GroundZero3, but they are not there. That's why I'm asking. When recent documents aren't set to show, as in the config of this PC, there is a process you have to go through to enable it. That's what I'm hoping to find. Cheers.

**GroundZero3** · April 3rd, 2009, 07:51 AM

Disable Recent Documents History to Start Windows XP Faster, Also Maintain Your Privacy - Digital Inspiration

Seems like a registry hack. Here is how to disable it, so just follow this to enable it!

**JLK03F150** · April 3rd, 2009, 09:07 AM

Right click the Task Bar & click Properties
Click Start Menu Tab, then the Customize... button
Click the Advanced Tab
Check the box for "List my most recent opened documents"

**zonkd** · April 3rd, 2009, 10:30 AM

Thanks very much, JLK03F150, and GZ3. Tried both of those things, but sadly they don't do it. Of JLK's suggestion, there is an option to show MyDocuments as a list, but not for Recent Docs. Course, I tried it just in case, but it doesn't bring back recent docs.

And with the hack, which I have tried before, the DWORD value for recent docs isn't there to be enabled.

Anyway, appreciate the suggestions, gents. Cheers
paul

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 3rd, 2009, 10:44 AM

This should be it....

**JLK03F150** · April 3rd, 2009, 10:44 AM

You don't have this box at the bottom (circled in red)?

LOL NLM. We're thinking alike!

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 3rd, 2009, 10:47 AM

What is it they say about great minds...??

(I must've just been lucky with it..!!)

**zonkd** · April 3rd, 2009, 10:55 AM

No, nothing like that, JLK and LNM. I suspect that facility was not installed to improve XP performance. But it is a really useful thing to have - especially if you forget where you saved something and you've forgotten the name. (!)

It seems, too, to stop Word from showing recent documents, and from letting the user choose how many recent ones he wants displayed.

Thanks very much for the suggestions.

**JLK03F150** · April 3rd, 2009, 11:07 AM

Does your XP user account have adminstrator rights? If not, that could be the reason you don't see the option.

**zonkd** · April 3rd, 2009, 11:25 AM

Yes. It's mine and I work for myself.

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 4th, 2009, 09:08 AM

I don't have admin rights on the computer I took the snip from before, although I used to, but I don't have admin rights on this computer...

Both have the option for "Recent Documents" available for me to choose.

One question, which I've just thought of....

How many columns do you have when you click the Start menu...?

If you've only got the one, then you need to select "Start Menu" instead of "Classic Start Menu" in the first properties window... [You should be able to see that in the snip I posted before...]

**zonkd** · April 4th, 2009, 12:11 PM

Thanks very much, NLM. Yes, I did try classic and start, but it doesn't appear in either. Somehow - probably for XP start up speed - the 'show recent documents' has been bypassed.

Very good of you to try to help further. Thanks so much
paul

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 5th, 2009, 05:33 PM

You didn't answer the question about the number of columns you have in your Start menu....

It could be that, if you haven't changed it to "Start menu" (and applied it) that it still thinks it is only supposed to be using the single column "Classic Start menu" version, thereby somehow not working in the same way as the 00's - if not 000's - of other XP computers I've had dealings with...

You might even need to change to the "Classic Start menu" and then back to the "Start menu" for it to pick itself up properly... I've had other things with OS's where things don't always go as they should - but when you change it to something, apply the changes, then change it back, then it will do what it should.........