How to Specify Default Search Options

Do you get tired of setting parameters every single time you search for something? With this registry tweak you don’t have to do that any more. You can now modify standard search parameters so that they do not have to be reset when you conduct an individual search.

You have to be on a computer running Windows XP for this to work. This tweak requires you to edit your registry, so you should back up first. It’s always safer to have a backup so that you can revert to your original settings in case something goes wrong. There is always a risk when editing your registry, so be sure to create a backup.

To specify default search options:

  1. Click on Start and go to Run. Enter regedit. Your registry editor will come up on the screen.
  2. Locate HKEY_CURRENT_USER on the left side of your registry editor. Expand it by clicking on the cross on the left side of the folder.
  3. Go to Software. Expand it.
  4. Now go to Microsoft and expand it. Look for Windows.
  5. Expand Windows. Locate CurrentVersion.
  6. Expand CurrentVersion and go to Explorer.
  7. Now look at the right side of your registry editor. You will be looking for several value names. Check and see if all are present.

    CaseSensitive
    IncludeSubFolders
    SearchHidden
    SearchSlowFiles
    SearchSystemDirs

    Are they all there? If they are, go on to step nine. If they are not, or if some are missing, you will have to create them. Follow the steps below.

    • Right click on the right hand pane of the registry editor.
    • Select New and then select DWORD.
    • Rename it. You should rename the DWORD value you are creating for the value name that you are missing. Example, if you are missing CaseSensitive, rename the new DWORD value CaseSensitive. Repeat the process for each missing value name.
    • You may also rename the new DWORD value by right clicking on it and selecting Rename.
  8. Now that you have all the value names, you can now set the search parameters.
  9. Double click on CaseSensitive. A new box will come up.
  10. Enter 0 if you want it unselected. Enter 1 if you would like the value name to be the default parameter for searching.
  11. Do the same for all the value names in the list. Double click on each of the value names listed above and and enter your selection in the value data field.
  12. When you are finished entering your choice of value data for each value name, exit the registry and reboot.