compTMan

I don't know when my problem started but I too recently loaded an anti-virus application (AVG).

As Earl mentioned, the icon for my Recent Items file is a special icon and the file name includes the work "Items." Dean-dean, do you have any other suggestions?

I did find one interesting point. If I'm logged on as a standard user and attempt to access the Recent Items file (using the shell:recent command) I'm told I need permission to access the file. It then ask me to enter the Admin. password. When I enter the correct password I'm "denied access" and told to use the "security tab" to gain access!