Search Options - Change or Restore

    Search Options - Change or Restore

    Search Options - Change or Restore

    How to Change or Restore Default Search Options in Windows 7 and Windows 8
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    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Change or Restore Default Search Options in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       Information
    This will show you how to change or restore the default Search Options for the What to search, How to search, and When searching non-indexed locations settings in Windows 7 and Windows 8.





    OPTION ONE

    To Change or Restore Default Search Options in Folder Options

    1. Open Folder Options in Windows 7 or Windows 8, and click/tap on the Search tab. (see screenshots below)
    Search Options - Change or Restore-search_options.jpg Search Options - Change or Restore-search_folder_options.jpg
    2. To Restore the Default Search Options
    A) Click/tap on the Restore Defaults button, and click/tap on OK.
    3. To Change the Search Options
    A) Select or unselect the options for how you want to have your searches done in Explorer, and click/tap on OK when finished.



    OPTION TWO

    To Manually Change Search Options in Registry Editor

    1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and press Enter.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

    3. To Change the "What to search" Options
    A) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    Code:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\PrimaryProperties\UnindexedLocations
    Search Options - Change or Restore-reg-2.jpg
    B) In the right pane of Preferences, double click/tap on the SearchOnly DWORD, then do step 3C or 3D below (see screenshot above)

    C) Type 1 and click/tap on OK, if you wanted to select: In indexed locations, serach file names and contents. In non-indexed locations, search file names only. (see screenshot below step 3D)

    D) Type 0 (zero) and click/tap on OK, if you wanted to select: Always search file names and contents. (see screenshot below)
    Search Options - Change or Restore-modify.jpg
    4. To Change "How to search" and "When searching non-indexed locations" Options
    A) In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    Code:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Search\Preferences
    Search Options - Change or Restore-reg-1.jpg
    B) In the right pane of Preferences, double click on the name of the DWORD in the table below for what "How to search" option you would like to change. (see screenshot above)

    DWORD Name Option
    SearchSubFolders Include subfolders in search results when searching in file folders
    AutoWildCard Find partial matches
    EnableNaturalQuerySyntax User Natural language search
    WholeFileSystem Don't use the index when searching in file folders for system files
    SystemFolders Include system directories
    ArchivedFiles Include compressed files


    C) To Uncheck (turn off) the option, type 0 (zero), and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 3D)


    D) To Check (turn on) the option, type 1, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 3D)
    5. When finished, close regedit.
    That's it,
    Shawn Brink





  1. Posts : 285
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       #1

    Thank you Brink!

    zx81
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 23
    Windows 7 Professional 32bit
       #2

    Thanks
    Just found the solution for my problem and never think of that place to look for.
    You are a diligent genius, Brink! +rep
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    You're welcome zx81 and Boras. :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,113
    windows 7 professional & ultimate 64bit laptops
       #4

    how can I use the start menu to search for favories like I had in vista?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hello Carmine,

    I use these settings below for a full non-indexed search that may help.

    See also: Search in Windows 7

    Search Options - Change or Restore-folder-options.jpg

    Hope this helps some,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,113
    windows 7 professional & ultimate 64bit laptops
       #6

    Brink said:
    Hello Carmine,

    I use these settings below for a full non-indexed search that may help.

    See also: Search in Windows 7

    Search Options - Change or Restore-folder-options.jpg

    Hope this helps some,
    Shawn

    tried it...not working yet, i'll reboot

    still nothing. few more days to figure it out then back to amazon it goes. thanks Shawn
    Last edited by Brink; 19 Mar 2010 at 11:33. Reason: merged consecutive posts
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Tutorial updated to add OPTION TWO for how to manually change your search options in registry editor. :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
       #8

    Search choices


    Mark this thread as solved.

    I finally found this buried in Windows Seven Forums, or was it support.microsoft?
    Anyway, to open a second Search window, simply touch the "Windows" key and "F" at the same time. Much too easy.
      My Computer


 

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