Search feature looks like from Windows 2000

[Industrial One]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on a VM, the way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using the same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently fails to find files that do exist on the drive, doesn't display progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file type. I want to restore functionality.

 

[Nil]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on
a VM, the way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using
the same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently
fails to find files that do exist on the drive, doesn't display
progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file
type. I want to restore functionality.

You turned off the Search Assistant on the left picture. I don't know
of any way to turn it back on with the standard Windows interface. It
needs a registry edit to bring it back. However, you can use the
Microsoft utility TweakUI to do it. The option is [Explorer | Use
Classic Search in Explorer].

Microsoft has it listed on their downloads site, but the link seems to
be dead or broken. It's still available here:

http://download.cnet.com/Tweak-UI/3000-2072_4-10002117.html


I think you're doing something wrong if Classic Search isn't finding
you files. It's at least as accurate as the Search Assistant. I use
other search tools these days because they are a lot faster, but I used
Classic Search for years with no particular problem. Be sure to take
advantage of the Advanced Search options. And it DOES indicate
progress, right down there in the Status Bar, and it DOES have a check
box for file type, as well as a Name text box where you can indicate a
file extension. The functionality is all there, and you don't have to
put up with that stupid dog.

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on a
VM, the way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using the
same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently fails
to find files that do exist on the drive, doesn't display
progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file type.
I want to restore functionality.

You may want to consider dumping Windows search and
installing "Search Everything". IMO, its much better.

 

[Industrial One]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on

a VM, the way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using

the same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently

fails to find files that do exist on the drive, doesn't display

progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file

type. I want to restore functionality.

You turned off the Search Assistant on the left picture. I don't know

of any way to turn it back on with the standard Windows interface. It

needs a registry edit to bring it back. However, you can use the

Microsoft utility TweakUI to do it. The option is [Explorer | Use

Classic Search in Explorer].



Microsoft has it listed on their downloads site, but the link seems to

be dead or broken. It's still available here:



http://download.cnet.com/Tweak-UI/3000-2072_4-10002117.html





I think you're doing something wrong if Classic Search isn't finding

you files. It's at least as accurate as the Search Assistant. I use

other search tools these days because they are a lot faster, but I used

Classic Search for years with no particular problem. Be sure to take

advantage of the Advanced Search options. And it DOES indicate

progress, right down there in the Status Bar, and it DOES have a check

box for file type, as well as a Name text box where you can indicate a

file extension. The functionality is all there, and you don't have to

put up with that stupid dog.

The classic search was already unchecked on TweakUI. I tried checking then unchecking and it changed nothing.

I can't select advanced search options because they give no option to search by file type and it does NOT show progress while it's searching. I never said my search was the classic search but that it looked like it. I haven'tused this installation for 4 years so I don't remember how this came to be.. I think it was always this way.

Paul, I already have an overflow of custom 3rd party programs for many things that Windows should do just as well if not better. I don't need yet another one. I don't use search that often anyway, and when I do it only takes a few seconds to get what I want.

 

[Paul]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on a VM, the way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using the same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently fails to find files that do exist on the drive, doesn't display progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file type. I want to restore functionality.

I used the picture you provided, snipped a piece out of it,
and uploaded the snippet to Google image search. The first
search gave garbage (even Olympic highlights). But there
was a dialog to add words as well, so I added "Windows Search",
and this is what popped up. This article has three registry
entries, and maybe something here will help.

http://www.networksteve.com/?p=2416

There's always a danger as well, of the Windows add-on search
packages getting bunged into the machine, which can give
some different results. But I don't know all the names of
those. I see references to "Windows Desktop Search" and
"Windows Search 4". So there may be other ways to change
the defaults (perhaps they make changes to the Registry
during installation).

Paul

 

[Unk]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2q9gw9l.png

Left one is my current drive, the right one is a fresh install on a VM, t
he way a Search should look like in Windows XP. Both using the same default theme.

How do I get my left one to look like the right? It frequently fails to find files that do exist
on the drive, doesn't display progress/where it's searching and doesn't let me search by file type. I want to restore functionality.

Old Style Search Engine On/Off (Line 49, Left Column)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Unk

 

[Industrial One]

I've tried both your suggestions and they failed. I didn't restart yet but it didn't say a restart was required so...

 

[Nil]

I can't select advanced search options because they give no option
to search by file type

What do you suppose that clearly-visible check box labled "File Type"
does?

and it does NOT show progress while it's searching.

Turn on the status bar.

Use the Advanced Options.

Wait until the entire drive is indexed.

 

[Industrial One]

What do you suppose that clearly-visible check box labled "File Type"

does?

Turn on the status bar.
Use the Advanced Options.
Wait until the entire drive is indexed.

Gotcha, it all works now. I still wish I could get the regular, modern interface back but meh.