Changing IE Default Search Options

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G

Guest

I am trying to change the default Internet Search Option to Google. I can do
it for the current logged in user, but not any other subsequent or new user.
How do I make this change for all users who log in to the machine on XP
Professional? I want this setting to be in affect for any new users as well
as current users.
Thanks for any tips or ideas.
 
Hi Kevin,

You need to make the changes to the HKLM key for internet explorer. If you
install the Google toolbar on an administrator account you will get the
option to do this when you install it.

I have a tool also http://www.iecustomizer.com/iesearchdownload.htm
(download and install on an administrator account) that allows you to set
both the Current User and Local Machine IE search settings.

A more elagant solution if you are trying to deploy this on a network is to
alter your .adm scripts to make the registry changes on user logon.

Regards.
 
As I don't have multiple users on my machines, I can only make a
guess. Please take it as such and export the relevant keys before you
try this:

Get google.reg from this page:
http://www.google.com/options/defaults.html#default
Edit google.reg in Notepad and change the two HKCU keys to HKLM
i.e. it looks like:
--------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"

-------
Change it to
-------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Software\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"
 
This is what worked for me. I got it from Novell's support forums. I am
actually trying to make a Novell Zenapp out of it, so I posted it there.
This worked great! Just want to thank Phillip Thomas, from Novell forums for
this tip. Here is his response if anyone needs it:

"I've done something similar with DOS scripting and the REG.EXE command. The
problem with directly modifying HKEY_USER\.Default in the registry is that
you are only modifying a loaded copy of the NTUser.dat file, which is not
written out to disk again, so any changes there are lost after reboot. To
make a change stick, you have to load the file into memory, change it, and
write it out again.

First, create a text file named "gogl.reg" containing:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Temphive\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Temphive\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"


Then, create a text file named goglsrch.cmd containing:


copy gogl.reg "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User"
c:
cd "\Documents and Settings\Default User"
if errorlevel 1 goto End
reg load HKLM\Temphive NTUser.dat
if errorlevel 1 goto End
regedit /s gogl.reg
reg unload HKLM\Temphive
:End

Run the script, boot the PC to reload Default User\NTUser.dat into
HKEY_USERS\.Default, and log in as a new user. This will not change
existing user profiles."
 
This is what worked for me. I got it from Novell's support forums. I am
actually trying to make a Novell Zenapp out of it, so I posted it there.
This worked great! Just want to thank Phillip Thomas, from Novell forums for
this tip. Here is his response if anyone needs it:

"I've done something similar with DOS scripting and the REG.EXE command. The
problem with directly modifying HKEY_USER\.Default in the registry is that
you are only modifying a loaded copy of the NTUser.dat file, which is not
written out to disk again, so any changes there are lost after reboot. To
make a change stick, you have to load the file into memory, change it, and
write it out again.

First, create a text file named "gogl.reg" containing:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Temphive\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Temphive\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie"


Then, create a text file named goglsrch.cmd containing:


copy gogl.reg "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User"
c:
cd "\Documents and Settings\Default User"
if errorlevel 1 goto End
reg load HKLM\Temphive NTUser.dat
if errorlevel 1 goto End
regedit /s gogl.reg
reg unload HKLM\Temphive
:End

Run the script, boot the PC to reload Default User\NTUser.dat into
HKEY_USERS\.Default, and log in as a new user. This will not change
existing user profiles."
 
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