Yeah it is a windows 7 thing. I'm new to it too. My last computer had it, but only lasted 4 months.....
BUT, it's SMplayer stopped doing that once I changed that VLC setting, so if any win7 people ever have both these programs installed and only have recent files unchecked in one, and have the same problem, hopefully they'll search and find out the reason in this thread.....
I don't have an SMPlayer icon in my system tray like you do. Maybe that's a setting didn't check? No matter, I have it "pinned to taskbar" so even when I close the program, the icon stays exactly where it was, it just turns flat instead of 3D..... I guess it serves the same purpose. But you're right, it's a win7 thing for sure because the right click doesn't display SMPlayer options like yours........ mine are "stock" win7 options.
Thanks again, rvm
Mudddd