Modify Windows explorer search so that it doesn't search in zip files

[Laurie Comerford]

Hi,

I want to modify Windows Explorer in Windows XP, so that it doesn't
search inside ZIP files.

I guess there is a registry entry, but my Windows Help file and Google
searching has not found any guidelines on how to approach this.


Regards

Laurie

 

[Alan Edwards]

Don't let XP search in ZIP files:
Unregister the zip and cab file dlls.
Re-register them to enable.


Disable:
regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll
regsvr32 /u cabview.dll
(You may need to restart)

Enable after search:
regsvr32 cabview.dll
regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

....Alan

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Laurie,

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.

 

[Alan Edwards]

Good call!
I knew I had seen something before that would make this easy but I
couldn't find it.

....Alan

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thanks, Alan.

On a side note, I need to test (and update if necessary) if the tool works
in Vista. It's a long overdue.

 

[Laurie Comerford]

Hi Ramesh,

Thank you also from me. For my immediate problem I was able to examine
some 1700 files instead of 4500. Much easier and quicker.

It seems that the search engine should be designed to include options for:

Search All files
Search Unzipped Files only
Search Zipped files only

Regards


Laurie Comerford

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome Laurie.