Set search default to C:?

99% of the time I search my C:\ but XP Home's search engine offers as the default C:\D:\ E:\ etc. making me have to change to C:\ only each time.

Is there away to set the default drive to search to C:\?

Thanks,

Kerry

 

In the properties for Windows Explorer, set the Target as:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/n, C:\

 

Hi Kevin:

I assume you mean my XP Home's Internet Explorer? I don't see anything in the Program Files named Windows Explorer. I don't use MSN Explorer although I'm willing to configure it if it will do the trick.

I did try to enter your string in IE, Properties, Target, and then closed and restarted IE but it didn't work. Still get C,D,E, etc

Thank, Kerry

 

Not Internet Explorer. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer. Right-click Windows Explorer and go to Properties.

 

Sorry. I totally misread your origninal post. I don't know how to change that behavior. Wish I did.

 

Thanks anyway Kevin.

Maybe someone who knows how will read about our attempts.

Kerry

 

If by search you mean the find feature, open find and choose c:, then go to the file menu and choose "save search ". This will create a shortcut that when you run it, the find will open and be set to c:. Move the shortcut into your start menu for quick access to it if you'd like. The above directions are for win98 but I would guess that it's pretty much the same for XP.

 

I mean the Search icon at the top of Windows or from Start, which when clicked brings up the option "All files and folders. "

Kerry

 

Have you tried the following;

Start, Search, For File or Folders, Change Preferences, Change File & Folders Search Behavior, select Advanced, click on OK.

A new window opens with C: listed in LOOK IN:

 

Nope. "Look in:" still defaults to Local Hard Drives(C:; D:; etc.)

 

I get a "nope" also.

Someone at MS might come up with a fix.

Kerry

 

After rereading your orginal post I think I might understand better what you are trying to do. If I understand correctly you have a hard-drive with more than one partition, or you have multiple hard-drives installed. In either case what you are trying to accomplish is to limit your use of the search function to the C:\ drive only.

When you start a search you will notice that the words "Local Hard Drives" is in the LOOK IN block. Given the fact that Microsoft used the word "Drives ", and not Drive, it would seem that it was their intention that this function would search in all assigned hard drives.

Also, I was wondering if you tried the suggestion that Zander posted concerning saving a search and then adding it to your Start Menu? Though this isn't a total solution to your problem it might accomplish, at least to some degree, what you are trying to do.

I was unable to test if this suggeston works on a system with a partitioned drive, or one with more then one hard-drive as I only have one partition, though I did try Zander's suggestion using the A: drive as the default search drive. I saved the search and then copied the file to my start menu. By using this file, in place of the search command, I am able to limit my searchs just to the files on my A: drive. When using this shortcut I simply have to overtype the saved searched parimeters, which I set as *.tmp.

To save a search, click on File, Save Search.

 

Hi all:

Great idea, saving the search. I entered a non existant file name so that the search ends quickly therefore not requiring me to press "Stop." I dropped the Shortcut in Quick Launch. So cool now.


Thanks from a happy camper


Kerry

PS. Am I correct in thinking by having it in Quick Launch it won't add to the start time? I still don't grasp this stuff yet. But it does seem as though my System Tray is getting pretty full.

 

Glad this helped out. I kind of got the impression from one of your earlier posts that maybe you hadn't quite understood what Zander was trying to suggest.

To address your question in your last post; Adding items to your Quick Launch toolbar should not add any appreciable time to your your startup. I currently have 12 icons listed in my Quick Launch toolbar, and even when I unselect the toolbar I see no difference in startup time.

Also there is a difference between the Quick Launch Toolbar and your System Tray.

The Quick Launch Toolbar is located near the Start button and is a place where you can put shortcut icons that aren't running any program, but rather are just sitting there waiting for you to activate them.

The System Tray on the other hand, is the area near the clock and contains icons for programs that are currently running on your system. If you have too many programs running in your System Tray you will see an increase in start time, as well as a overall drop in system performance. I always suggest that a person should keep the number of programs running in their System Tray to those that they really need running in the background, such as Virus Software, etc. A lot of programs will try to install into the System Tray that really don't need to be running constantly in the background. Whenever I install a new piece of software the first place I look to see if changes were made is in the System Tray. If the program has placed an icon there I open the program and find the option that allows me to stop it from starting up automatically.

 

Thanks Rod.

Nice clear explanation.

Kerry

 

Your Welcome, glad to be of help.