TIPS & TRICKS: Frequently Used Programs list is reset to defaults during every logon in Windows Vista

In Windows Vista, when the start menu is clicked, there's a list of programs, which reflect the most recently used programs. I came across a machine that reset this list to a default list. The default list included Welcome Center, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Player, Windows Photo Gallery, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Calendar, and Windows Meeting Space.

I tried clearing it by, first removing all the existing icons manually, then by clearing the list through unchecking the box for "Store and display a list of recently opened programs" for Start Menu Properties. Neither method withstood a restart.

The cause turned out to be an improperly set registry value (thanks a lot Gateway). The registry value is called StartMenuInit. Here are the instructions:

- Click Start, type regedit.exe and press ENTER

- Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Advanced

- In the right-pane, create a new DWORD value named StartMenuInit

- Double-click StartMenuInit and set 3 its data

- Close Regedit.exe

Hope that helps someone. Good luck.