Windows xp search desktop

Your search should now pick up relevant file types and names. Go to Start then select Run Then type these in, hitting enter after each entry: regsvr32 wshom. This should fix your Windows XP search problems. Share with:. Other things you might find interesting:. Outlook and Gmail side-by-side: An email provider comparison. How to schedule your emails in Outlook.

Reduce push-notifications with saving clients as VIPs in Outlook. Comments G. Thank you for your comment! It will be published on the blog as soon as we've approved it. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Improving the read more While some of read more One of the best new features in Windows Vista is the improved search capability, called Instant Search.

By simply typing keywords in the search field on the Start menu, you can quickly find documents, e-mail messages, photos, and even programs. Instant Search is transforming the way users access files -- more and more of us are abandoning the time-honored method of navigating through the file system hierarchy and are going directly to what we want from the search bar which also appears in Windows Explorer and other windows in Vista. But what if you aren't quite ready yet to upgrade to Vista?

Maybe you have legacy applications that won't run on it or your hardware isn't compatible with the new OS. The good news is that you can get similar search capabilities in Windows XP, or even Windows , by installing Windows Desktop Search, which is a free download from Microsoft. In this article, we'll take a look at WDS and see how to get and install it and how to use it to find your files much more quickly than with XP's built-in search engine.

We'll also look at how it compares with Vista's Instant Search. The advent of huge hard disks available at low prices has made it possible for individuals to store hundreds of gigabytes of information on their local computers.

A home user today can easily have disk space equivalent to what an entire company or datacenter had two decades ago. When a user creates a file, he or she may not need it again for weeks or months. By that time, the user may not remember the filename or the directory where it was stored. Or a different user, who never knew the filename, may need to access the file.

Users need to be able to search for files using criteria other than filenames, such as key words within the file or the author's name. Users also need to be able to search different types of files, including e-mail messages and calendaring information. But they also need ways to filter and sort to narrow the search and make it quicker. It's no coincidence that some of the biggest companies to emerge with the growth of the Internet were those that made search engines, such as Google and Yahoo.

The Web is a vast collection of information that would be almost impossible to navigate and use without effective search tools. Until a few years ago, the issue of localized search or desktop search -- the ability to find information stored on a user's own hard drive -- took a back seat. But now, software companies are competing heavily for the desktop search market.

Along with the well-known "biggies. Like other desktop search applications, it indexed content on your hard disk. Unlike Google's Desktop product, it didn't index Web sites you visited, but it did index some types of files that Google didn't, such as photos, music, and Outlook e-mail attachments.

WDS 3. Microsoft Outlook includes built-in Instant Search for searching e-mail within Outlook. By default, WDS 3. PST or on an Exchange server. Administrators can use Group Policy to configure WDS to index specific folders on the hard disk and to index the contents of file shares. The index is updated when you make changes to the data on the PC and can be configured to wait until the computer is idle to avoid slowing down other programs.

The indexed data is stored in the WDS catalog, which contains the properties and content from the indexed items. More than properties are supported in the schema for WDS.

You can see a list of them here. The downloadable file for bit XP SP2 is 4. If you have a previous version of WDS installed, it will be removed during the installation process. I noticed that it took several minutes for the installation program to remove the old version of WDS.

You may get a dialog box advising you of the removal before the WDS installation completes, as shown in Figure B. After reading through this thread, I wonder if I would be better off doing a complete wipe and reinstall of XP. I am amazed how difficult you make to uninstall this program which sneaked into getting installed somehow on my laptop. I am not a specialist to go through a complex operation shown above to remove this program.

I may have to hire a specialist and pay to get rid of this nuissance unless someone can find a user friendly way for common people to get rid of this.

It is taking a big part of the bottom bar on my laptop and I will be happy to get rid of that long button Search Desktop atleast. I am frustrated to see this code. You'll then start to see the following errors popping up under event viewer:. Windows will configer components; click Finish and close all.

Ask a question. Quick access. Search related threads. Remove From My Forums. Answered by:. Archived Forums. Windows Desktop Search Development. Beal 3. Sign in to vote. Thursday, March 16, PM. Tuesday, March 21, PM. Batman - - , where is the instructions to remove this software that does not work.. Sunday, March 19, AM. Tuesday, March 21, AM.

To uninstall Windows Desktop Search, use the Uninstaller package from the following locations for the following versions: Version Location 2. Proposed as answer by kdouglas10 Monday, October 1, PM. Saturday, March 25, PM. Bill, I installed WDS. Tuesday, March 28, AM. Tuesday, March 28, PM. Wednesday, March 29, PM. Beal, I'm sorry to hear that you don't find WDS a useful tool. Proposed as answer by jerryallen7 Thursday, October 1, PM. Regards, Brent. Regards and many thanks, Brent.

Thursday, March 30, AM. Hello mr. Sunday, April 2, AM. Sunday, April 2, PM. Monday, May 1, AM. Thank you in advance for your help! Friday, July 7, PM. Saturday, July 29, PM. Thanks for the instructions. I needed to remove Windows Desktop Search and reinstall it. I was playing with one of the other seach engines and it seemed to have whacked the user interface for WDS. All is running correctly now. Thanks again,. Saturday, September 23, PM. I attempted to uninstall WDS because I like the old windows search method.

However, none of these file addresses exist on my computer. Version Location 2. Tuesday, October 31, PM. Friday, January 12, PM. Brandon , I believe the subject line here includes the word "Simple", I have yet to see a single post that appears simple. I repeatedly had to try to get the machine going again via reboot I decided that I had to uninstall so I went to the control panel, found the item in the uninstall utility, and selected remove.

Thursday, February 8, PM. I still don't understand how to uninstall WDS Is there no simple way to do it. I really slowed down and messed up my laptop. I clicked on the button in my Outlook and follow the instructions. Please help me get rid of this POS. Tuesday, February 13, PM. Here is how it goes: 1. Saturday, February 17, PM. It seems to be problem in XP SP2. Sunday, February 18, PM. I had the same trouble.

I am not very technically minded so none of the solutions in the forum were much use to me. However, I noticed that a couple of replies said that it always comes with the uninstall option. Not really true, although I'm sure it was intended to be included. I went to the Microsoft website again and downloaded the latest version of MDS.

Lo and behold! When I went to "Add and remove programs" there it was! I removed the program in the normal way without any problems - easy!

Now let's see if my computer speed gets back to normal. Wednesday, March 7, PM. Monday, March 12, PM. WDS includes an uninstaller that is fully tested and built using the standard Windows Update package technology.

WDS fully uninstalls everything that it can, however every uninstaller on Windows is unable to delete files or registry keys belonging to users other than the one who initiates the uninstall. That is part of the designed Windows security model, though it does have the unfortunate side effect of some completely benign, but no longer needed registry keys to be left in the registries of other user accounts who have run WDS.

Thanks again for the instructions. Wednesday, March 14, PM. Wednesday, March 21, PM. Tuesday, April 3, PM. I just want to comment on the attitudes displayed in this thread, because they are very telling. A large number of people have posted here with the problem that WDS will not uninstall. Interestingly, despite the evidence from these people, most of whom are probably normal intelligent PC users there has been a consistent lack of help from many of the MS certified respondents who really should be the ones helping out.

Here are the facts: 1: WDS does include an uninstall feature. Many, many sensible, intelligent an competent users cannot seem to get the uninstall feature to work. So far I have failed to do it. Wednesday, April 11, PM. KneeWax, I had to chuckle at your post.

Had to ask Thursday, April 12, AM. Which remains on the machine, and running. This is the problem that I have encountered and awful lot of people seem to be having.

Or perhaps in haste I didn't write it too well, in which case, my apologies. My mistake. For anyone still struggling with the WDS removal, Coyette's instructions in Post 3 are the only ones that worked for me. Finally, I have got rid of the thing, which was my main aim.

Thursday, April 12, PM. I had to ask It was a lb gorilla in the room Glad you got it handled! I'm with Jeff I would happy to pass this info along to the setup people. Wednesday, April 18, PM. Excellent work Coyette - worked a treat - finally I am rid of this malware - cheers.

Saturday, May 19, PM. I had the same issue recently. Hope this works for anybody out there getting this issue. Tuesday, June 5, PM. Same here. What is up with this? Thursday, June 21, PM. Re-installing didn't help make the uninstall program re-appear.

I didn't see the uninstall anywhere. Where did the uninstaller go? Are you SURE there is an uninstaller even when it gets "stealth installed" by pressing that button in Office ? That would seem to be a Bad Idea. I am very unhappy with WDS. Sheesh guys! It has cost me hours installing utilities, searching, trying to figure out how to be rid of this software.

Nothing personal, but it really slows me down, and I thought I had a fast machine! I finally broke down and I'm using the method described by coyette, above. I say again, sheesh! Shame on Microsoft for this one. This has cost me hours. Friday, June 22, AM. Is there a way to force the installation to create the install directory? A switch? Anyone any ideas? I believe this is why it is not creating the uninstall on some computers.

Thursday, July 12, PM. Wednesday, July 18, PM. No more WDS on the machine. Uninstalled on the other machine and no more WDS. Your Mileage May Vary. Tuesday, July 24, PM. Friday, July 27, AM. I tried to remove WDS using add and remove programs and after the widows XP wizard goes through its list I get an error message - The handle is invalid. Tuesday, July 31, PM. Hello, Same problem here. Or has someone found another way of getting rid of it?

Thursday, August 2, PM. Friday, August 3, PM. Wednesday, August 8, PM. Thursday, August 9, PM. I couldn't possibly agree with you more! I got annoyed with Office telling me how I had to have this program installed to get the full benefits of their suite..

I've removed virus's from computers that are times easier to get off. You owe me 3 hours of my life back. Tuesday, August 21, AM. Thanks for the link to the download! That worked. Kinda funny that this is a MS site but no moderator offered this up to any of us! Friday, August 24, AM. Please help Sue. Saturday, August 25, AM.

Thank you so much for posting that uninstall folder MRashed!! I finally got rid of wds. Saturday, August 25, PM. It did make a bit of difference to the speed but not a lot and I am still having trouble when opening items.

Please can you help Sue. Thanks for your link, MRashed! Friday, August 31, PM. Saturday, September 8, AM. Saturday, September 22, AM. I just wanted to download a gallery picture from MSN spaces and ended up with this unwanted wds hoggin my system. Thank you Microsoft, once again! Fortunately with the help of the people here of course not of the moderators I just got rid of it.

Monday, September 24, AM. Friday, October 19, AM. Sunday, October 21, AM. The guy two posts up uses lots and nothing, that's great.. Wednesday, October 24, AM. Then half of the applications I hade runnings shut down but nothing more happen, that by the way lost me some hours work!!

Next I restart the computre hoping that windows dekstop search would be removed and I would have the previous version where I can search in files and all in all like way better then this new uggly lacking search engine.

But nope! How do I get ridd of this annoying new search? And whey did it close down half of my applicatiosn?! Wednesday, October 24, PM. Thursday, October 25, AM. Thank you MS for making my IT life a little more like hell.

Only fing updates and patches. So how in the he11 did this search thing get installed?! Why can't they right click it and have an option to not show it.. Please kill yourself, Junk. Thursday, October 25, PM. Friday, October 26, AM. Thanks you so much Mohamed! You just made my day a lot nicer. I really hate the windows desktop search and had no idea that getting rid of it would be such a hassle.

Monday, October 29, PM. Tuesday, November 6, PM. This post was more useful than all the others before it, without exception. Worked very well. Plus the bonus of learning about the Unlocker! Wednesday, November 7, AM. Connors, I am a system builder and a Microsoft partner. DHaff, Systems Engineer. Wednesday, November 14, PM. I may be misinterpreting some of the posts. Where do I go from here? Friday, November 30, PM. Hopefully you can help. Thank you for share the information.

Monday, December 17, PM. The Item to remove is hot fix KB after you click chow all updates. Hope this helps. Wednesday, December 19, PM. Sunday, December 23, PM. This is not true. Monday, January 14, AM. It did install itself on my PC as well without asking! Wednesday, January 16, PM. Friday, February 1, PM. Hi, I tried all of those methods but I can't find any uninstallers anywhere at all.

Not in the add remove programs, in any of the updates folders and not in the application data folder.. Is there a way to disable it from being the default search tool?

Monday, February 4, PM. Bill - Microsoft should be ashamed of Windows Desktop Search. WDS is slower finding stuff than the old search assistant. WDS is slower finding stuff than Google Desktop. Monday, February 11, PM. I didn't learn to type 60 wpm in order to keep my hands on a mouse all day! Good luck! Tuesday, February 12, PM. Wednesday, February 13, AM. How about some instructions instead of a useless assertion? Wednesday, February 13, PM. I found the simplest way yet!

Thursday, February 14, PM. If you are still on board with Ms Nice freakin company line I just now have experienced this issue with WDS Saturday, February 23, AM. Sorry those instructions are utterly utterly useless!

I don't have any of the uninstall folders listed and there is no version number in the registry so can't use any of the other suggestions. As for the idea that it is not having an impact on my system that is just plain wrong, but I won't go into the gory details here.

I just want the horrid thing off my system! More ideas please. Monday, March 24, PM. Does the above listed procedure apply to removing Windows Desktop Search 3. Thursday, March 27, PM. Here's instructions on how to clean up your machine if Automatic Updates has put Windows Desktop Search on your machine.

Monday, April 28, PM. Tuesday, May 13, PM. Click uninstall 5. Tuesday, May 20, PM. Thanks Rob Wagner. Saturday, July 26, PM. Monday, July 28, PM. Go to Microsoft and reinstall whichever version you currently have. You do not need to spend any time messing with the registry. NOTE: Outlook will have a blank line where the utility is supposed to be. Simply ignore it. I dislike having to tell you this as I am fond of most Microsoft products but WDS is extremely buggy. It also created other problems with OE that were very annoying.

OE kept "beeping" at me when opened using the default Windows sound for Exclamation forcing me to constantly close and reopen the program. Once WDS was uninstalled I had no more problems. It would be a useful tool when the bugs are fixed. Friday, August 1, AM. Sunday, August 3, PM. Thursday, August 7, PM. Hi everybody. Have a great day Xtrem3. Tuesday, August 12, PM.

All I want is a running program that is NOT intrusive any idea how to get this???? Wednesday, August 13, AM. Thursday, August 14, PM. Sunday, August 24, PM. Wednesday, August 27, PM. You will need to reboot to finish the uninstall, and then this KB folder will no longer exist in the Windows directory. Thursday, August 28, AM. It seems there are several things going on here. Thursday, August 28, PM. Monday, September 1, PM.

Dave Wood. Tuesday, September 2, PM. I've never installed any betas that I know of. Friday, September 5, AM. Further issue: I only have a Default key value not set and a Version key I just want to get rid of this software! Ah this is better. Tuesday, September 16, AM. That was the version I saw in the Registry.

Worked for me. Friday, September 19, PM. This solution worked perfectly! Thanks much!!! Tuesday, September 23, AM. Friday, September 26, PM. Windows search, or Windows msn search. Sunday, September 28, PM.

Guys, I had a situation where I was stuck with 3. Wednesday, October 1, PM. Saturday, October 4, PM. I have 10 of these files spuninst. Sunday, October 26, AM.

Monday, November 3, PM. I have the same problem. I can not uninstal WDS!! Thank You in advance. Thursday, November 13, PM. Friday, November 14, AM. Works great.

Now why could microsoft provide this? Thanx for you help. Tuesday, November 18, AM. It gives me nothing positive in return. So: how do I remove this nonsense. Thursday, December 11, PM. He is how I remove wds You can get the missing uninstaller from here. And, please don't get me started about permissions! Ever wonder how much business MS never gets, because it never understands what part of its software is unintuitive, and therefore, for the home user, of no use?

But I digress. It has all the feel of a skunk works product, or an illegal drive-by killer program. It boggles the mind to think about all the possible things that MS decides are just impossible. Bad, if security updates come in automatically and knock out progams or processes you depend on, with no recourse, etc.

Can also be good, if a security update indeed prevents your computer from catching a really vile virus, trojan, rootkit, etc. This is another gamble, because you don't know for sure whether some program will do what it says it will do. At least this method gives you the opportunity to look at each update's info on the MS website and research whether it has a "known issue" or "incompatibility".

Sometimes you might find it affects only users of the " Version of Legoland versus Batman and Godzilla", and then you jump over your shadow and install it. At other times you find notices about how the update makes the internet disappear, and Excel might explode and Word withers into a woolly ball and dies. Then you might do well to wait for a new improved update. Another thing is that the WDS update did not mention that it would remove or destroy the "old Search facility that was part of Windows XP", which in itself was slow, clunky, but at least workable.

Not very likely, Note: This post contains no code sample. Monday, December 15, AM. Monday, December 15, PM. OR AN I. Wednesday, December 17, PM. I am a computer person and all of this confuses me. This desktop suddenly showed up on the computer and it should not have since i do not install anything from microsoft, unless i have to. Thursday, December 18, PM.