MFU (Most Frequently Used) list dissappeared off start menu

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrWonton
  • Start date Start date
M

MrWonton

The MFU list that usually appears below the snap-ins (by
default your browser and e-mail client) has disappeared
off my main user account. I use the list extensively, and
I've tried everything I can think of to bring it back, to
no avail. I've tried switching to classic mode and back
again. I've tried clearing the list, changing the number
of icons displayed, and rebooting... None of these have
brought the list back.

Any ideas?
 
I hope this does not sound patronising but have you
looked in your customize My Startbar menu?
If you rightclick anywhere on the Start bar then choose
Properties it will bring up a menu. Choose the Start Menu
tab and then hit customise. Then under programs there
will be a box with a number in, nxt to a box saying Clear
List. If this number is 0 then that will be why. If you
raise this number it will showyour most recent programs
again.
Hope this helps
 
Previously posted by MVP Kelly:

<quote>
Check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu.

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If you have this Value Name: NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList change the Value Data to 0 or delete the Value Name.

</quote>

This is a known issue! The following workaround might help as well.

* Change to Classic Start Menu and run a program and then revert back to New Start Menu [as a one-time procedure]
* Type Regsvr32 /i Shell32.dll in the Run box. Similarly, register browseui.dll. Restart Windows

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


The MFU list that usually appears below the snap-ins (by
default your browser and e-mail client) has disappeared
off my main user account. I use the list extensively, and
I've tried everything I can think of to bring it back, to
no avail. I've tried switching to classic mode and back
again. I've tried clearing the list, changing the number
of icons displayed, and rebooting... None of these have
brought the list back.

Any ideas?
 
I checked the registry for that policy, and it was not present in one location, and disabled in the other. I tried switching to the old style menu, running a program I know should show up, switching back, registering those dlls, and rebooting... but unfortunately the menu still did not function properly. If you have any other ideas I'd appreciate it.

Thanks for the hel

----- Ramesh [MVP] wrote: ----

Previously posted by MVP Kelly

<quote
Check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedi

Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explore

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explore

If you have this Value Name: NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList change the Value Data to 0 or delete the Value Name

</quote

This is a known issue! The following workaround might help as well

* Change to Classic Start Menu and run a program and then revert back to New Start Menu [as a one-time procedure
* Type Regsvr32 /i Shell32.dll in the Run box. Similarly, register browseui.dll. Restart Window

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MV
Windows XP Shel

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2
http://www.mvps.or


The MFU list that usually appears below the snap-ins (by
default your browser and e-mail client) has disappeared
off my main user account. I use the list extensively, and
I've tried everything I can think of to bring it back, to
no avail. I've tried switching to classic mode and back
again. I've tried clearing the list, changing the number
of icons displayed, and rebooting... None of these have
brought the list back

Any ideas
 
[Apart from creating new profile], no further ideas, sorry. Will check on this [being a frequent issue]... Kelly or others might have an idea...hang on.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


I checked the registry for that policy, and it was not present in one location, and disabled in the other. I tried switching to the old style menu, running a program I know should show up, switching back, registering those dlls, and rebooting... but unfortunately the menu still did not function properly. If you have any other ideas I'd appreciate it.

Thanks for the help

----- Ramesh [MVP] wrote: -----

Previously posted by MVP Kelly:

<quote>
Check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu.

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If you have this Value Name: NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList change the Value Data to 0 or delete the Value Name.

</quote>

This is a known issue! The following workaround might help as well.

* Change to Classic Start Menu and run a program and then revert back to New Start Menu [as a one-time procedure]
* Type Regsvr32 /i Shell32.dll in the Run box. Similarly, register browseui.dll. Restart Windows

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


The MFU list that usually appears below the snap-ins (by
default your browser and e-mail client) has disappeared
off my main user account. I use the list extensively, and
I've tried everything I can think of to bring it back, to
no avail. I've tried switching to classic mode and back
again. I've tried clearing the list, changing the number
of icons displayed, and rebooting... None of these have
brought the list back.

Any ideas?
 
You'd probably start a new thread mentioning what you've tried already.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


[Apart from creating new profile], no further ideas, sorry. Will check on this [being a frequent issue]... Kelly or others might have an idea...hang on.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


I checked the registry for that policy, and it was not present in one location, and disabled in the other. I tried switching to the old style menu, running a program I know should show up, switching back, registering those dlls, and rebooting... but unfortunately the menu still did not function properly. If you have any other ideas I'd appreciate it.

Thanks for the help

----- Ramesh [MVP] wrote: -----

Previously posted by MVP Kelly:

<quote>
Check your settings here: Start/Run/Regedit

Note: This setting only applies to the Windows XP Start Menu, not the Classic Start Menu.

HKEY CURRENT USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

If you have this Value Name: NoStartMenuMFUprogramsList change the Value Data to 0 or delete the Value Name.

</quote>

This is a known issue! The following workaround might help as well.

* Change to Classic Start Menu and run a program and then revert back to New Start Menu [as a one-time procedure]
* Type Regsvr32 /i Shell32.dll in the Run box. Similarly, register browseui.dll. Restart Windows

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k
http://www.mvps.org


The MFU list that usually appears below the snap-ins (by
default your browser and e-mail client) has disappeared
off my main user account. I use the list extensively, and
I've tried everything I can think of to bring it back, to
no avail. I've tried switching to classic mode and back
again. I've tried clearing the list, changing the number
of icons displayed, and rebooting... None of these have
brought the list back.

Any ideas?
 
MFU or MRU (Most Recently Used)?


-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol.
 
MFU. The bar on the left on the WinXP start menu

----- cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote: ----

MFU or MRU (Most Recently Used)


-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Click to expand...
Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol
 
On Tue, 6 Apr 2004 16:56:02 -0700, "MrWonton"
MFU. The bar on the left on the WinXP start menu.
Click to expand...

Ah, I don't use that taskbar view, so dunno anything about it. It
must be populated via a per-user regisry setting somewhere, so what I
might do to track this down would be:

1) Log into an account that works
2) Create an app with unique name (e.g. Copy CALC.EXE !_!_!.EXE)
3) Use the newly-created app frequently so it appears
4) Search Regedit for references, export them
5) Stare at the results until they make sense
6) Look at corresponding registry entries in the broken account
7) Attempt to fix what I see, keeping an Undo path throughout


-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol.
 
----- cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote: ----

On Tue, 6 Apr 2004 16:56:02 -0700, "MrWonton"
MFU. The bar on the left on the WinXP start menu
Click to expand...

Ah, I don't use that taskbar view, so dunno anything about it. I
must be populated via a per-user regisry setting somewhere, so what
might do to track this down would be

1) Log into an account that work
2) Create an app with unique name (e.g. Copy CALC.EXE !_!_!.EXE
3) Use the newly-created app frequently so it appear
4) Search Regedit for references, export the
5) Stare at the results until they make sens
6) Look at corresponding registry entries in the broken accoun
7) Attempt to fix what I see, keeping an Undo path throughou


-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Click to expand...
Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol
-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -
Click to expand...


I'm not on the machine at the moment, so I can't validate this, and I plan on trying your suggestion when I'm back from work, but I do believe that this won't work because the registry data for keeping track of the items in the MFU are somehow obfuscated. The reason behind this is to keep unwanted programs from being able to put themselves there (a la Real Player). As a result, I don't think that the relevent registry keys will be present in plaintext.... I'm not sure about this, I'll check it and make sure, but I remember reading that this applies both to the MFU list, and the list directly above it, where icons can be "pinned" to the start menu
Thanks for the help
 
----- cquirke (MVP Win9x) wrote: -----
Click to expand...
It must be populated via a per-user regisry setting somewhere, so what I
might do to track this down would be:

1) Log into an account that works
2) Create an app with unique name (e.g. Copy CALC.EXE !_!_!.EXE)
3) Use the newly-created app frequently so it appears
4) Search Regedit for references, export them
5) Stare at the results until they make sense
6) Look at corresponding registry entries in the broken account
7) Attempt to fix what I see, keeping an Undo path throughout
Click to expand...
I do believe that this won't work because the registry data for keeping track
of the items in the MFU are somehow obfuscated. The reason behind this is
to keep unwanted programs from being able to put themselves there (a la
Real Player).
Click to expand...

One rule for MS, one rule for everyone else? I think MFU is a naff
idea anyway, as it presupposes the apps you don't use every day are
apps you don't need see and be aware of. That makes it more difficult
motivating folks to backup, update av etc. regularly.

If an exported .REG appears as binary stuff, but the settings are
legible via RegEdit, then you may be seeing the effect of one of XP's
new registry data types. This supports a wider range of content than
the old "escape character" ASCII can manage.

OTOH if it appears as gibberish within RegEdit too, then you'd be
right; a Find isn't going to, and it will be less easy.
As a result, I don't think that the relevent registry keys will be
present in plaintext.... I'm not sure about this, I'll check it and
make sure, but I remember reading that this applies both to the
MFU list, and the list directly above it, where icons can be
"pinned" to the start menu.
Click to expand...

More useful than this overly dummied-down UI would have been an easier
way to re-arrange the "real" Start, Programs menu, with tracking so
that uninstallers could find and remove their entries even after these
had been relocated or renamed by the user.

Leaving app vendors to populate Programs menu is always going to be a
mess, with everything grouped by software vendor rather than category.


-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol.
 
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