How to fix Recent Items not being remembered problem in Start Menu in Windows Vista?

Recent Items in Start Menu:



Figure 1


Before proceeding further, first be sure about two things:

1) Recent Items list is enabled in Start Menu. If not then enable it using following link:
Enable Recent Items List in Start Menu

2) The number of recent programs to be displayed must be at least five. Check it out through the following link:
Change Number of Recent Programs to be displayed in Start Menu


If the above settings are in place then follow these steps to fix the problem:

1) Open Registry Editor

2) Expand the key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\Advanced in the left pane



Figure 2


3) Now double click the DWORD StartMenuInit in the right pane as highlighted above.

Note: If you do not have StartMenuInit DWORD then create one by right clicking on an empty space in the right pane and then choosing New and then DWORD (32-bit) Value options. Name that DWORD StartMenuInit thereafter.

4) Now type 3 in the Value data textbox.



Figure 3


5) Click OK button and close Registry Editor.

6) Finally Log off and then Log on or restart for the changes to take effect.