compTMan

Well, I finally solved my problem with the help of some of dean-dean's advice. Just to recap my problem, I could log in as the Admin. and the "Recent Items" would update whenever a file is opened. However, when I'm logged in under a standard user ID the Recent Items area would not update.

By looking at the registry as defined earlier in this thread, my "Recent Items" for standard users was pointing to a shortcut located in the C:\User\(your name) directory. I could not determine where the shortcut was pointing because if I attempted to open it's properties I was denied access because I "didn't have permission" (even if I was logged in as the Admin.). So taking the advice of dean-dean earlier in this thread I deleted the shortcut file and entered the SHELL:RECENT command in the "Start Search" area of the START menu to create the special file required for the Recent Items area. This apparently worked because the Recent Items window opened.

I then went to the START menu but did not see the "Recent Items" menu item, so taking another of dean-dean's suggestions I opened the "properties" area of the START button and cleared the checks on the following:

"Store and display a list of recently opened files..."
"Store and display a list of recently opened program..."

I performed a restart, logged back into my standard user ID (not my Admin. ID), and opened the properties area of the START button again. I reselected the two items above (replaced the checks for each item) and clicked APPLY. My Recent Items area now works properly, recording any files that are opened.

Thanks dean-dean for all your help and I hope my narative here helps others to solve their problem as well.