Strange Vista Recent Items problem

[sdms96825]

When I click on my Recent Items icon, I only get the first 15 recent files in alphabetical order. For example, I just clicked on it and it showed 15 recent files in order with files beginning with numbers first and then other recent files alphabetically. It stops with files beginning with the letter "f". I have more recent files than those that begin with the letter "m" and further down the alphabet but they are not listed at all. I don't understand this. How can I get this to show my most recent 15 files, no matter what letter they start with?

Thanks.

 

[kimsland]

I did a search and found this info
Please let me know if it works, so as to help others with similar issues


This happens if the desktop.ini file in the Recent folder is deleted.

Click Start, type "%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows" and press <ENTER>
Right-click the folder named Recent, and choose Delete. Click Yes when prompted.
Now, type the command "shell:recent" in Start - Search box, and press <ENTER>.

Logoff and log back on. You should now see the context menu entry Clear Recent Items List when you right-click on the Recent Items folder in the Start menu.

 

[sdms96825]

Thanks kimsland. Did it. Now I will hae to wait until I have more than 15 documents that have been opened to see if this works. I will let you know.

 

[kimsland]

ok, that can be quick too, just by creating 16 text documents ! (they can be blank too, they just need a name like a.txt b.txt.)

Once you have opened all these documents (one at a time)
Then create a new document called Z.txt (note you may not see the notepads .txt)

Then reply back with the answer
I'll be waiting.

 

[sdms96825]

kimsland,

It did not work. As soon as I opened the 16th document, it bumped off the one beginning with the lowest letter of the alphabet -- not the oldest document. I just don't understand this. Recent items (documents) worked great in XP. This is frustrating because it is an easy way of accessing my most recently drafted documents. Any other ideas?

Thanks.

 

[kimsland]

Start-->Run--> shell:recent

When the folder opens, double click on Desktop.ini file, and paste the info (inside the file) to here.

Note: If you do not see "Desktop.ini" you may need to turn on view all files, including System files in Folder Options

 

[sdms96825]

kimsland, I don't have start-run. When I click start I see my recently used programs and all Programs and on the right side a menu with Recent Items, etc.

 

[kimsland]

Click Start

In the blank area, just above Start. Right click on it, and select Properties
Select Customize, then select Advanced

Go through the list, and tick "Run Command"
Apply OK Ok

 

[sdms96825]

kimsland,

I think this is it

[LocalizedFileNames]
migwiz.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\migwiz\MIGUIRes.dll,-103

 

[kimsland]

lol

I haven't tried that yet, but I take it that it fixes run ?

 

[sdms96825]

Maybe I didn't understand what to do. I now have the run command in the panel on the right when I click on Start. I clicked the run command and ran "shell:recent" but when I could not find the Desktop.ini file, I went to search and typed in "Desktop.ini" and it gave me one file -- desktop. I double clicked that file and what I posted above is what was in the notepad that opened up.

 

[kimsland]

Oh !

Mine doesn't say that (but it's Xp and I haven't a Vista handy)
But I'll try and search Google if that's the correct line

You did try deleting it, and restarting didn't you ?

 

[sdms96825]

kimsland, no. Should I delete the desktop.ini file?

 

[kimsland]

Actually rename it to Desktop.old then restart

Geez, I found all these, but not Recent !!

Desktop.ini contents for various shell folders in Windows Vista

Documents

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-235

Pictures

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21779
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12688
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-113
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-236
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Pictures.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21805

Music

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21790
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12689
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-108
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-237
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Music.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21806

Videos

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21791
InfoTip=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-12690
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-189
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-238
[LocalizedFileNames]
Sample Videos.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21807

Searches

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-9031
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-18
[LocalizedFileNames]
Indexed Locations.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32811
Everywhere.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32814
Shared By Me.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32802
Recent Music.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32803
Recent Documents.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32804
Recent Pictures and Videos.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32806
Recent E-mail.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32807
Recently Changed.search-ms=@shell32.dll,-32813

Downloads

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21798
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-184

Favorites

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21796
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-115
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173

Contacts

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10100
InfoTip=@%CommonProgramFiles%\system\wab32res.dll,-10200
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-181

 

[sdms96825]

I right-clicked on the file to rename it but it did not give me the option to renameit. What should I try now?

 

[kimsland]

Found another excellent page
But still no recent
Also this page doesn't help with Vista much (but good for a reference)
http://www.xs4all.nl/~hwiegman/desktopini.html

Still trying!
How did you go?

 

[sdms96825]

I can't find a way to rename the desktop.ini file from the search function and cannot find it using explorer.

 

[kimsland]

Ok I've been off searching (ideally we just need to confirm with anyone's Vista shell:recent Desktop.ini <- now we're getting technical! )

I'd say delete it, it goes in the bin anyway

 

[sdms96825]

The recent items is still having the same problem -- it does not list the 15 most recent items, but the 15 of the most recent ** items in alphabetical order. Is this just a big flaw in Vista which cannot be fixed?

 

[kimsland]

All software issues are fixable. But it just so happens that some sofware faults are quicker to fix by backing up and re-installing Windows.

Post#2 above is the fix that is required in this situation.
Sadly has not worked for you

It may be best to backup and install a clean install of Windows, or continue to put up with this issue until somebody (possibly me in the future!) provides an answer to this issue.