The venerable search function

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lee Bowman
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Lee Bowman

The search functions of XP are quite a bit more comprehensive than
twas with '98, but I do have some questions.

When you do a search, the default location for the search is 'Start
Menu', unless you use the pull down to change it. I can't imagine why
anyone would search that folder, but it *is* the default, and I can't
see where you change it. (I believe it's the same in '98 as well). It
would seem that the C drive might be a better default value.

Also, I'm confused regarding the 'Tools' options (Map Drive,
Disconnect Network Drive, Sunchronize). I was thinking that 'Map
Drive' might be the way to creat an index for faster searching. If
so, would having a dynamic index slow any other operations down (like
booting)? I'm reminded of the 'Find Fast' index in Office, that
slowed down other disk intensive operations in '98.

Thanks for any input.

Lee Bowman
 
The default search location is either the location on which Explorer opens
or on whatever is selected at the time you click search. In my case, I use
the following path in my Explorer shortcut to have it open on a fully
expanded C drive:
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /e

Drive mapping is for networked systems. It allows you to treat a drive on a
system networked with your machine as though it were a drive on your own
hard drive as long as the connected system is booted. It then appears in
Explorer without having to expand My Network Places in Explorer in order to
access a drive on a computer networked with your system.
 
The default search location is either the location on which Explorer opens
or on whatever is selected at the time you click search. In my case, I use
the following path in my Explorer shortcut to have it open on a fully
expanded C drive:
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /e
Click to expand...

I hadn't thought of creating a shortcut, and that works great. After
you open, you then click on 'search', then 'files...' and it's already
set to C: (or hit F3, then click 'files...')

I'm still lookin for a way to open explorer directly to the search
box. I tried 'explorer /s' but that didn't do it. If there are other
parameter flags I don't know what they are. I found
'SearchHistory.ini', but I don't know if there's a parameter in there
that would help.

The only other thing. I wonder if it's possible to put a batch file
or java script into a shortcut to 1) open explorer, and 2) set it to
the 'search for files' function?

I guess it's because I'm spoiled by '<ctl> F' initiating a quick
search in many other programs, and I'm looking for a one stroke
command here.

Thanks for the reply,
Lee Bowman
 
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