Maximum PC

Usually I can figure out anything, but this has me stumped. My list of recently used programs (just above start button) is empty. I did not empty it and when I use programs, nothing shows back up anymore. I've scanned for spyware & viruses and nothing, the system is clean. I've also run cws shredder and hijack this and everything is normal.

Any thoughts before I format and reinstall? It's running XP pro with all the latest patches too.

Did you check to make sure it's still enabled?

Right click START
Properties
Click Start Menu tab
Click Customized button
Look to see that the "number of programs on start menu" is greater than 0.

I'm wondering if anyone else has access to your system that could have messed with some settings or if you've run a third party program looking for enhanced security.

Bah, I put that in the category of useless "improvements." I can't stand that or the personalized menus.

Try running your programs a bunch of times and closing them right away to see if your programs come back. I bet the usage tracking file was cleaned out or deleted.

yes it's still enabled. No I didn't clear it out . I keep running the programs and they don't come back.

format/reinstall?? Because you can't see the programs that you've recently opened?

Try clearing the list, changing the number around, opening more programs, etc. If nothing changes, no biggie... who needs that anyway?

did you happen to mess around with TweakUI? In TweakUI there is a paranoid tab, gives you options to wipe out all your usage history upon exiting...