clearing search assistant history

[Justin Thyme]

Can anyone tell me please how to clear stored entries in the Search for
Files and Folders boxes? Can the autocomplete function be turned off? I have
done this in IE6 and cleared history etc but it has no effect of course
outside IE.

Google suggests working within the registry. I don't feel confident doing
that and hope there is a simpler method that I have just overlooked. Many
thanks.

 

[Austin M. Horst]

You are correct. The list is stored in the registry.
Since you would rather not edit it directly, check out "Tweak UI" from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/powertoys/networking/nttweakui.asp
Installing Tweak UI adds an icon to your Control Panel.
There is a "Clear Find Files History" option.
It can be set to clear each time at logon or manually.


Austin M. Horst

 

[John John]

You can just make a small .reg file and merge it to the registry when
you want to clear the search. Jerold Shulman shows you how here:

JSI Tip # 3836
How do I remove the Windows 2000 Search history for files/folders?
http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBH/tip3800/rh3836.htm

If you want quick access to the clearing file just put the file in the
appropriate desktop folder or create a desktop shortcut to it and voila!
a simple and easy way to clear the search history.

John

 

[Justin Thyme]

You are correct. The list is stored in the registry.
Since you would rather not edit it directly, check out "Tweak UI" from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/powertoys/networking/nttweakui.asp
Installing Tweak UI adds an icon to your Control Panel.
There is a "Clear Find Files History" option.
It can be set to clear each time at logon or manually.

Thanks Austin

Installed Tweak UI. Looks very useful. However, "Clear Find Files History"
doesn't empty the autocompleted items either at log on or manually! Not even
after re-start. It clears other histories eg documents OK though. Do you
think this is normal? Maybe I'll have to venture into the registry after
all!

 

[Justin Thyme]

You can just make a small .reg file and merge it to the registry when
you want to clear the search. Jerold Shulman shows you how here:

JSI Tip # 3836
How do I remove the Windows 2000 Search history for files/folders?
http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBH/tip3800/rh3836.htm

If you want quick access to the clearing file just put the file in the
appropriate desktop folder or create a desktop shortcut to it and voila!
a simple and easy way to clear the search history.

Thanks John

Sorry to seem so poorly informed but what exactly what do I copy where? I
paste the 5 lines from the link in a search_history.reg file? and I paste
this where? Really grateful for your help but I'm afraid I'm a bit out of my
depth! I guess it will all become apparent when I gain hindsight!

 

[Austin M. Horst]

I see that it doesn't clear it if you check the box
"Clear Find Files history at logon"
and then click the [Clear Selected Items Now] button.

However, it does clear if you leave the box checked,
Logoff, and then Logon again.
A restart should do the same as a Logoff and Logon.
I don't know why it didn't clear yours.

This gives you a good excuse to use and learn the registry.
Do plenty of reading on the subject:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986
http://www.winguides.com/registry/
http://www.systweak.com/winreg/winreg.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/registry.htm
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/registry
When you understand how and why things work,
you will feel much more comfortable editing.


Austin M. Horst

 

[John John]

It's easy. Press the Windows Key+R. In the Open: box type "notepad"
(without the quotation marks) and click OK. Minimize notepad. Copy the
stuff BETWEEN the ===== lines and paste it to the that notepad file you
just minimized. (Hacked from JSI tip # 3836 at http://www.jsiinc.com/)

==============================================================================
REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\FilesNamedMRU]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\FilesNamedMRU]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\ContainingTextMRU]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\ContainingTextMRU]
=============================================================================

Now click on Notepad file menu and click "Save As..." and save it where
you want and as whatever name you want but save it with a .reg
extension. You could call it test.reg... or what ever you want, it
doesn't matter, so long as you know how to find it. Exit Notepad. Now,
where ever that file is you can just right click it an chose "merge" or
double click it and say yes. Then easy enough to put it on desktop.

John

 

[Justin Thyme]

It's easy. Press the Windows Key+R. In the Open: box type "notepad"
(without the quotation marks) and click OK. Minimize notepad. Copy the
stuff BETWEEN the ===== lines and paste it to the that notepad file you
just minimized. (Hacked from JSI tip # 3836 at http://www.jsiinc.com/)

============================================================================
==
REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\FilesNamedMRU]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\FilesNamedMRU]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\ContainingTextMRU]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer
Bars\{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}\ContainingTextMRU]
============================================================================
=

Now click on Notepad file menu and click "Save As..." and save it where
you want and as whatever name you want but save it with a .reg
extension. You could call it test.reg... or what ever you want, it
doesn't matter, so long as you know how to find it. Exit Notepad. Now,
where ever that file is you can just right click it an chose "merge" or
double click it and say yes. Then easy enough to put it on desktop.

Thanks John

Really easy to follow your excellent guidance. Saved file to desktop.
However still doesn't remove autofilled entries! Not a big problem but feel
all the more determined to get to the root of it.! Tried both double
clicking and merging but to no avail. Just asks if I want to add the
information to the registry and accepts it but with no apparent result!!!

 

[John John]

The file is twice as long as it could be and even then it could be
shortened by half.

==========================================================================
REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer Bars\]
==================================================================

It doesn't stop the search behaviour it just clears the search MRU.
Then the other lines just come back.

Run the clear.reg file, do a simple search then deny yourself security
permisions on the key:

KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer Bars

You have to use regedt32.exe.

John

Justin Thyme wrote:

 

[Justin Thyme]

Thanks Austin and John

Went into registry and deleted entries from:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer Bars\]

and everything cleared. Still retains autofilled entries using any new
searches I make, even after all purging methods tried throughout the thread!

However, I've learned something new today. Thanks.

 

[John John]

You're welcome. Did you try denying yourself security permissions on
the key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Explorer Bars\

It will stop the search behaviour in question as Search won't be able to
read and write to the key.

John