Help! Missing "recent files list"

[John O'Boyle]

I have Microsoft Office XP Professional - with all the current updates.
In no component am I able to see a "recent file list". In the
"General Options" of each component, "Recent File List entries" is
greyed out. I first thought it was an "office" issue but have now
decided that it's probably a WinXP glitch. I've NO "Recent Files" option
on the "Start Menu" even though it's checked as allowed in Tweakui. "My
Recent Documents" folder contains only a desktop.ini file.

I've three active systems in my home. All of them are basically
configured the same. TWO of the systems exhibit this "recent files"
problem. The third appears to operate properly.

WinXP Pro, SP2 + all follow-on updates.

Can someone give me any idea how to correct this? Did I miss a setting
somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.
JLOB

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Start Regedit.exe and go to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Delete the values namely "NoRecentDocsMenu" and "NoRecentDocsHistory" in the
above two locations (if present).

Close Regedit.exe and restart Windows.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I have Microsoft Office XP Professional - with all the current updates.
In no component am I able to see a "recent file list". In the
"General Options" of each component, "Recent File List entries" is
greyed out. I first thought it was an "office" issue but have now
decided that it's probably a WinXP glitch. I've NO "Recent Files" option
on the "Start Menu" even though it's checked as allowed in Tweakui. "My
Recent Documents" folder contains only a desktop.ini file.

I've three active systems in my home. All of them are basically
configured the same. TWO of the systems exhibit this "recent files"
problem. The third appears to operate properly.

WinXP Pro, SP2 + all follow-on updates.

Can someone give me any idea how to correct this? Did I miss a setting
somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can offer.
JLOB

 

[John O'Boyle]

Ramesh,

That did the trick! Thanks. I was also hoping that it would cure another
anomaly I have on two of these systems. When I need to browse for a file
starting with "My Computer", the system takes an inordinate amount of
time to return the "drive list". This is only true within "Office"
apps. All other apps work perfectly.

Thanks again.

JLOB

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

One of these might help, John.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313937
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=833041
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=835404
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326364
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321126
http://www.google.com/search?q=office+dialog+slow+site:support.microsoft.com

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

That did the trick! Thanks. I was also hoping that it would cure another
anomaly I have on two of these systems. When I need to browse for a file
starting with "My Computer", the system takes an inordinate amount of
time to return the "drive list". This is only true within "Office"
apps. All other apps work perfectly.

Thanks again.

JLOB

 

[John O'Boyle]

Ramesh,

Alas no joy there. I thought you had something since you were so bang-on
with the first solution. I did get some ideas that I tried - stopping
my virtual network and the associated Hamachi - but to no avail. Any
other thoughts.

Thanks.

JLOB

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

JLOB,

Do you have mapped drives, either disconnected or active? Perhaps they are
causing the delay.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Alas no joy there. I thought you had something since you were so bang-on
with the first solution. I did get some ideas that I tried - stopping
my virtual network and the associated Hamachi - but to no avail. Any
other thoughts.

Thanks.

JLOB

 

[John O'Boyle]

Nope. I thought of that too.
J.