Pinning shortcuts to start menu - reverts upon logout/reboot

[Force Flow]

I take advantage of the start menu's "pinning" feature where I can drag and drop shortcuts onto where "recent programs" would normally appear. "Recent programs" are turned off.

By default, I only see the browser and email program icons.

So, when I turn those off and pin my own shortcuts to the menu, they stay until I either logout or reboot. After a logout/reboot, the shortucts I've pinned to the menu have disappeared and the browser and email program icons return.

I tried a system restore, but didn't have a point that was before the issue started happening.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[EzyStvy]

"Recent programs" are turned off.

For grins/test, turn it back on and see if it helps.

[EzyStvy]

I doubt this will help - but make sure the pinned apps Don't show up in the entry below.

How to Prevent a Program from Being Displayed in the Most Frequently Used Programs List
WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
1. Start Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).
2. Add an empty string value named NoStartPage to the following registry key, where Program name.exe is the name of the executable file that is used to start the program:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\Program name.exe
3. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

[EzyStvy]

Maybe a Group Policy is causing the problem?

Policy settings for the Start menu in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292504/en-us

[Force Flow]

I'm not trying to prevent specific programs from appearing on the list of recent programs...I have those turned off.

I looked at the group policy...nothing was set in there. Just for the heck of it, I tried setting "remove pinned programs list from the start menu" to disabled. The menu reverted again after a reboot.