...my recent documet lists are missing

I run Win 7 and I constantly use MS office in my work. I recently have a previous computer problem and I seem to be missing my recent documents list whenever I open one office application. My research tells me that it might be an application, registry or my anti-virus software. Personally, I do not have a clue. I am still smarting from my previous problems and I think my patience is stretched already. I think it might have been in the registry since I didn’t change any application. Thank for those who can help! Tried changing the number of recent documents but has no effect whatsoever