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Disable Search Assistant

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Windows XP Search Assistant
Windows 2000-like search functionality

If you dislike the Windows XP Search Assistant as much as I do, you'll love this tip! Take control back, and restore Windows 2000-like search functionality:

  1. Start the Registry Editor
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CabinetState \
  3. Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > String Value
  4. Name the new value Use Search Asst
  5. Double-click this new value, and enter no as it's Value data
  6. Close the registry editor

You can do the same for Internet Explorer search:

Windows XP IE Search Assistant
Windows 2000-like search functionality
  1. Start the Registry Editor
  2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Main \
  3. Right-click an empty space in the right pane and select New > String Value
  4. Name the new value Use Search Asst
  5. Double-click this new value, and enter no as it's Value data
  6. Close the registry editor

To change back (?) to the Windows XP default, just delete the key you created, or change the Value Data from no to yes.

To see the change, be sure to close any open Windows Explorer / Internet Explorer windows.

This is one of the functions performed by:


Tweaking Toolbox XP