restore INDEX to original settings for searching

How do I restore the original settings for "Search"?

I have really, really, REALLY messed things up on my PC.

I want to be able to do this:

Start >> Search >> All Files and Folders >> Look in: Local Hard Drive C

Instead (because I messed around), my searches are limited to whatever I changed the Original parameters to. Meaning: My searches do not use "Local Hard Drive C " as a starting point.

I have tried several times to restore the Search parameters back to what they should be (via System Restore), but no matter how far back I go, the Search parameters will not reset.

I also went into Indexing Options, and the "box" shows this:
Included Locations:
Internet Explorer History
Microsoft Office Outlook
Microsoft Office Outlook Express

When I choose "Troubleshooting" ...

and go to the area that says "Restore your index to its original settings"
and click on "Restore Defaults"

nothing happens.

It looks like I have to get my system to index Drive C. But from what I've read, this cannot be done.

Can you help me?

 

Which OS are you using?

 

Windows XP, Home Version

 

I hope you get that straightened out - sach2 and others are very good at that.

The built in Windows Search does offer some good filter options such as by Date Range, File Type, Size, etc.

That said, I'd like to suggest an alternative that is very fast and easy to use:
Everything Search engine

Just give it a try.

P.S.
The Search dialog box has a drop down list under the heading Look in:.
Are you Not able to select anything there?

 

Everything Search engine, eh?

Sounds intriguing.

I'll give it a try after a few hours of sleep.

Thank you!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b216/lakemono/New_My%20Little%20Smileys/emot_SML_snoring_2_.gif

 

Greetings, Jen of CA.

There is a Microsoft Search Fix it - you might give that a shot.

Question: if you go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer, right-click on Windows Explorer, click Properties - in the Shortcut tab, what does your 'Start In' path point to?

 

It points to

%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

Is this helpful?

 

What exactly do you see in the search window when you go to Start>Search?

 

Hi Jen-

As a follow up to sach2's question, you didn't answer my previous question:

The shortcut to open Search is Windows+F.
Hold down the windows key, between the left Ctrl key and the Alt key, and press the letter F.

 

Sorry to be tardy in getting back to you all.


Here's what happens when I do Windows key + F on my PC:


The screen looks like this:

Windows Search Results

File ... Edit ... View ... Favorites ... Tools ... Help

Windows Search X

(below this is a toggle button which says) Desktop (if you click it, you get Web)


below the toggle button is:

Search filters for

Everything:
From:
Author:
Date:
Size:
File Name:
Folder:

Click here to use
Search Companion


To the right is a big white box with these words above it:

All Locations ... Everything ... Documents ... Other


Here are the choices under All Locations:

Files
C:\
C:\Program Files
C:\WINDOWS
My Documents


Here are the choices under Everything:

... no choices ... and does not respond when you click on it ....


Here are the choices under Documents:

... no choices ... all it does is change the word "Everything" to the word "Documents ...


Here are the choices under Other:

You get a drop down menu with a host of choices.

*************************************************************************************

I don't remember seeing these things before. I thought my PC matched our family's PC. That is, when you pressed Start, and then clicked on the magnifying glass labeled Search

You would get a window like this:

To the left is a "pane" with a "talking bubble" emanating from the Search Assistant.

The "talking bubble" has this in it:

What do you want to search for?

Pictures, music, or video
Documents (word processing, spreadsheet, etc.)
All files and folders
Computers or people
Information in Help and Support Center
You may also want to: ...
Search the Internet
Change Preferences

To the right is a big white box with these words in it:
To start your search, follow the instructions in the left pane.

*********************************************************************************

I would like my PC to look like my family's PC. I swear it (my PC) looked like my family's PC for months. That all changed when I tried to "tell" my PC to find all gif files inside a particular program. Before the changes I made, it took a long time to find all the gif files in that particular program because my PC would search through every file on my computer. Then, in an effort to shorten the length of time for searches to be done in that particular program, I screwed around with the search parameters to try to get my PC to look for gif files in that one program program only.

I can't remember exactly what I did, otherwise I would have simply retraced the steps I took.

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Has any of this information been helpful?

I sure hope so!

Jen of CA

P.S. Both PCs are Windows XP PCs.



































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