Troubleshooting Search-Related Windows Problems through Registry Fixes

There are several search related Windows problems, which might be easily corrected by smart registry fixes. In this post, we will review two of them.

1. Windows XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all. The cause is the lack of a PersistentHandler value in the Registry for this type of file.

You can correct this by clicking Start, Run and entering REGEDIT. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and locate the entry for the file type in question. For example, .txt, .doc, etc.  Expand the branch for that file type, and if the PersistentHandler subkey does not exist, create it. Do this by clicking on the file extension key and going to Edit, New, Key. Name the Key, PersistentHandler. Click on the PersistentHandler sub-key. In Regedit's right pane, double click on the Default value and enter the following (copy and paste may be your best bet):

    {5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

If the PersistentHandler sub-key does exist, do not change the default value. This could have very undesired consequences. Close Regedit and reboot the computer. This file type will now be searched for "A word or phrase in the file" type searches.

An alternative is to download a small VB Script utility here. Save the file you just downloaded to your hard disk. Locate the file you just saved and double click it. Enter the file extension you wish to modify. If the PersistentHandler sub-key exists, no changes will be made. If it does not exist for the file type in question, the Registry will be updated accordingly. Reboot when you're finished with the file types you wish to change.

2. Another problem is reported on the SEARCH icon in folders does nothing & "Search" is missing from Start menu items. 

Go to REGEDIT and locate the following string:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoFind

If "NoFind" has the value "01 00 00 00" change it to "00 00 00 00" and it will probably solve your problem. You will need to restart ("log off & log in" will probably suffice). 

5 Tips and Tricks on Changing Properties of Recycle Bin

Everybody used to the regular operations with Recycle Bin. You delete the file normal way, and it appears in Recycle Bin up to the moment you empty it. However, there are several opportunities to alter the main functionality of the Recycle Bin according to the user special needs, which are no so straightforward.

1. Automatically Empty Recycle Bin

As we already mentioned, when we delete a file, that file will move into Recycle Bin by default. There, we have options whether to restore it or just empty the Recycle Bin. When you open the Recycle Bin properties with right click, while you highlight it, you can change the settings to remove files as soon as they are deleted. You can also choose to use the Shift+Delete option on your keyword to remove the file or folder permanently.

2. Increasing Recycle Bin Size

You can increase and decrease the size of the Recycle Bin. There are some size limitations with Recycle Bin size, its default size is equivalent to 10 percent of the drive size. But if you delete a larger size file accidentally, it might be too big to fin in the default size of the Recycle Bin. Therefore, if disk space permits, you can increase the reserved space so you can retrieve the big file from Recycle Bin if needed.

• First Right click on the Recycle Bin icon on the Desktop of your computer then go to Properties.
• Adjust the slider bar in the center of the screen from 10% to maximum size as you want.
• Then click OK button to save your new sitting and exit the Recycle Bin Properties Window.
• After change reboot your computer to have Windows fully initiate the necessary changes to your system.

3. Renaming Recycle Bin

I did not find for myself a valid reason to rename Recycle Bin desktop icon, but you might find one with ease.

• Enter Windows built-in Registry Editor: Start >> Run >> regedit
• Then Go To: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/CLSID/{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
• Change the Name "Recycle Bin" to whatever you want without typing any quotes.

This video tutorial offers slightly different approach, but the result will be the same.

How to Rename Recycle Bin Desktop Icon?

4. Removing Recycle Bin from Desktop

If you do not use the Recycle Bin to store deleted files as a safety buffer, you can get rid of its desktop icon completely.

• Enter Windows built-in Registry Editor: Start >> Run >> regedit
• Then Go To: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/explorer/Desktop/NameSpace.
• Click on the "Recycle Bin" String in the Right Hand pane. Hit Delete, and click OK.

5. More Recycle Bin Editing Options

Here even more extensive list of the Recycle Bin Hacks:

• Add rename to the menu:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT’CLSID’ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}’ ShellFolder
  "Attributes"=hex:50,01,00,20
• Add delete to the menu:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT’CLSID’ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}’ ShellFolder
  "Attributes"=hex:60,01,00,20
• Add rename and delete to the menu:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT’CLSID’ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} ’ShellFolder
  "Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20
• Restore the recycle bin to Windows defaults including un-deleting the icon after deletion:
  Restore the icon.
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE’SOFTWARE’ Microsoft’ Windows ’CurrentVersion’ explorer’
  Desktop’NameSpace’{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
  @="Recycle Bin"
• Reset Windows defaults.
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT’CLSID’ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E} ’ShellFolder
  "Attributes"=hex:40,01,00,20
• Other edits to the recycle bin icon:
  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT’CLSID’ {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}’ ShellFolder
  "Attributes"=hex:40,01,01,20 ... standard shortcut arrow
  "Attributes"=hex:40,01,02,20 ... a different shortcut arrow
  "Attributes"=hex:40,01,04,20 ... and still another shortcut arrow
  "Attributes"=hex:40,01,08,20 ... make it look disabled (like it’s been cut)