How do I stop Windows XP "Search" from looking in ".ZIP" files?

[Mark F]

How do I stop the "Search" command on
Windows XP (Professional with Service Pack 1, if it matters) from
looking inside of ".ZIP" files when I am seaching for a filename
match?

When I use the start > Search command do
What do you want to search for?
All files and folders
then
Search by any or all of the criteria below.
All or part of the file name:
{whatever}

I find that the operation looks inside of at least some of
the files are in the "Look in:" list.

When I investigated this with Explorer with "Details" I saw
that all of my ".ZIP" files display as Type
"Compressed (zipped) Folder"

I feel that this is not the proper way for things
to work. If I wanted a compressed folder I would
create a folder and use:
<right click> Properties
tab "General"
button "Advanced..."
Compress or Encrypt attributes
check "Compress contents to save disk space"

A ZIP file is an archive, not a compressed directory.

How do I tell Windows to not look inside of zip FILES?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

This behavior is normal, as Windows XP treats .zip (Compressed Folder) as folders.

From: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm

Tip: Stop Search from Scanning ZIP files: Un-register the zip and cab file dlls, then reregister them after that.

Before Search:
regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
regsvr32 /u cabview.dll

After Search:
regsvr32 cabview.dll
regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

If you're planning to use a third-party unzip tool such as WinZip, then the registration part is not required. On the other hand, if you want to have the Windows XP native Zip file support enabled, but don't want to unregister/register each time, then use the tool available here:

Prevent Windows XP from searching inside ZIP and CAB files, without breaking Windows XP's native ZIP / CAB support:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/nofindinsidezip.htm

Download the NoFindInsideZip utility (~11KB) and save to Desktop. Double-click the file to run it. Remove the checkmark near the Zip and Cab file options and then click Apply. Close the utility. This prevents Windows XP Search companion from looking inside Zip and Cab archives when performing a file search. Note that the file association settings are not modified in any way, and they remain intact. You do NOT need to use the utility each time when you perform a file search.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


How do I stop the "Search" command on
Windows XP (Professional with Service Pack 1, if it matters) from
looking inside of ".ZIP" files when I am seaching for a filename
match?

When I use the start > Search command do
What do you want to search for?
All files and folders
then
Search by any or all of the criteria below.
All or part of the file name:
{whatever}

I find that the operation looks inside of at least some of
the files are in the "Look in:" list.

When I investigated this with Explorer with "Details" I saw
that all of my ".ZIP" files display as Type
"Compressed (zipped) Folder"

I feel that this is not the proper way for things
to work. If I wanted a compressed folder I would
create a folder and use:
<right click> Properties
tab "General"
button "Advanced..."
Compress or Encrypt attributes
check "Compress contents to save disk space"

A ZIP file is an archive, not a compressed directory.

How do I tell Windows to not look inside of zip FILES?

 

[Mark F]

This behavior is normal, as Windows XP treats .zip (Compressed Folder) as folders.

From: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_w.htm

Tip: Stop Search from Scanning ZIP files: Un-register the zip and cab file dlls, then reregister
them after that.

Before Search:
regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
regsvr32 /u cabview.dll

After Search:
regsvr32 cabview.dll
regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

If you're planning to use a third-party unzip tool such as WinZip, then the registration part
is not required. On the other hand, if you want to have the Windows XP native Zip file
support enabled, but don't want to unregister/register each time, then use the tool
available here:

Prevent Windows XP from searching inside ZIP and CAB files, without breaking Windows XP's native
ZIP / CAB support:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/nofindinsidezip.htm

Download the NoFindInsideZip utility (~11KB) and save to Desktop. Double-click the file to run
it. Remove the checkmark near the Zip and Cab file options and then click Apply. Close the
utility. This prevents Windows XP Search companion from looking inside Zip and Cab archives
when performing a file search. Note that the file association settings are not modified in
any way, and they remain intact. You do NOT need to use the utility each time when you perform
a file search.

Thanks.

The NoFindInsideZip utility seemed to fix the problem.