On Windows Vista, I cannot navigate to the files from NetBeans IDE via File -> Open File -> "Recent Items"

The JFileChooser() API does not currently work properly with all current Java SE release(s) 1.4.2, 5.0, 6.0 due to Microsoft changes made to the filechooser API(s) in Windows Vista. A fix is in the works and currently targeted to be made available first in 6u2, later in updates for 5 and 1.4.2 trains

Workaround: manually navigate to the files