Help with XP Search Companion

[Andy Charnock]

I wondered if any one can help? Is there a way to only search specific hard
drives of folders? When I open up search companion the only option I get in
the "Look In" pull down menu are:

My Documents
My Pictures
My Music
My Video
Desktop
My Computer
Local Hard Drives (C:; D:; E:; F:; J:; K:; L

I would like to just be able to search C: drive or a specific folder on C
drive NOT the whole computer. Additionally there appears to be no option
for searching for a file on a CD or DVD, which are my G and H drives.

Any advice gratefully received. Thx

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

I wondered if any one can help? Is there a way to only search
specific hard drives of folders? When I open up search companion the
only option I get in the "Look In" pull down menu are:

My Documents
My Pictures
My Music
My Video
Desktop
My Computer
Local Hard Drives (C:; D:; E:; F:; J:; K:; L

I would like to just be able to search C: drive or a specific folder
on C drive NOT the whole computer. Additionally there appears to be
no option for searching for a file on a CD or DVD, which are my G and
H drives.
Any advice gratefully received. Thx

When you open Search, click the down arrow to the right of the Look In box.
At the bottom of the list, you will see a Browse option. Click Browse and
you can select any folder to search from there.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol
http://www.dts-l.org/

 

[Andy Charnock]

Thanks for the advice Ronnie, but unfortunately no such option exists. Any
other ideas welcome.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Nepatsfan]

You might try reinstalling the Search. Take a look at this web
site for more info:

http://www.tweakxp.com/article139788.aspx

 

[Andy Charnock]

Hi,

Again thanks for the advice. Re-installed search companion as suggested but
unfortunately I still only have the limited options in the "Look In" pull
down menu! Could this be a registry problem? Anything else I can try?

Cheers

Andy

 

[Nepatsfan]

What I've found is that I can't recreate your problem on any of
my machines. Without finding what causes the problem, I don't
have an easy solution. What you're getting is the top half of the
drop down menu. What you're missing is all the locations that are
shown when you open My Computer along with the browse option.
It's got to be a registry setting but I'll be damned if I can
find it.

Without a permanent solution, the only workaround that I can
think of is to open My Computer (or Windows Explorer) and right
click on the drive you want to search. Select Search from the
drop down menu. If you see the correct drive listed in the "Look
in" box, see if you can search for an item. If it works, at least
you've got one option.

The permanent solutions that I'd try are not without risk. If you
attempt either of these, make sure you back up any files and
folders that you cannot afford to lose.

If this problem started recently then I'd run System Restore and
use a restore point that was created before the problem appeared.
The downside of this is that any programs that were installed or
settings that were changed after that date would also be removed.

Here's some more info on System Restore:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084

http://tinyurl.com/253en

If this has been a problem for a long time, you're better of
trying a repair installation. This usually means having to
reapply Service Pack 2 and any recent updates.

Here are some resources for this procedure:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341

Personally, if you're able to run searches from within My
Computer or Windows Explorer, I'd learn to live with the minor
inconvenience. If your computer is running fine with this small
glitch, why run the risk of messing it up?

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

 

[Andy Charnock]

Many thanks for all you kind advice. This problem has been bugging me for
months but I do agree there is a work around solution. As it appears to be
my only problem (at the moment) I might holfd off doing a full XP
reinstall/repair. But thanks for pointing me in the right direction when I
am forced to or have plenty of time on my hands.

Funny, but I thought the "simple" problem would be a simple registry fix?
How wrong could I be!!


Cheers Andy