Vista Tutorial - Search Context Menu Item - Restore After Vista SP1

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

How to Restore the Search Context Menu Item after Installing the Vista SP1

Information

When you install the Vista SP1, it removes Search from the Context (right click) menu of the Start menu button and Folders. This will show you how to restore the Search context menu item with the Vista SP1 still installed. For more information on what the SP1 changes, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB941946 and Windows Vista Blog: Experiencing Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Beta

NOTE

The Search button on the right dark side in the Start menu has also been removed by the Vista SP1. This will show you how to restore it: How to Restore the Start Menu Button after Installing the Vista SP1

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Start Button Context Menu with SP1 and Restored

EXAMPLE: Folder Context Menu with SP1 and Restored

EXAMPLE: Drive Context Menu with SP1 and Restored

OPTION ONE:
Through a Download

1. To Remove the Search Context Menu Item -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Remove_ContextMenu_Search.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore the Search Context Menu Item -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Restore_ContextMenu_Search.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. You may need to Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

OPTION TWO:
The Manual Way

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.

4. For the File and Folder Context Menu -
A) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\find

B) Go to step 7 or 8.

5. For the Drive Context Menu -
A) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\find

B) Go to step 7 or 8.

6. For the Compressed (ZIP) Folders -
A) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CompressedFolder\shell\find

B) Go to step 7 or 8.

7. To Restore the Search Context Menu Item -
A) In the right pane, right click on LegacyDisable and click Delete. (See screenshots below steps 4, 5, or 6)
B) Click Yes to confirm deletion.
C) The registry will now look like similar to this. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This example is from step 4. Just substitute either step 4, 5, or 6 for the one you selected instead.

D) Go to step 9.

8. To Remove the Search Context Menu Item -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New and String Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type LegacyDisable and press Enter. (See screenshots below steps 4, 5, or 6)

9. Close regedit.
10. You may need to Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

That's it,
Shawn

Bob-C · 05-22-2008

Shawn,

If I right click on a drive, I still don't see the Search item. Only on subfolders. For example, I want to do a Search on everything on an SD card E: by it is not there on a right click. I have to go down to a subfolder. Know of any way to do this as well?

**Brink** · 05-22-2008

Hi Bob-C,

This will not add Search to the context menu for a drive, only the Start menu button and folders.

You can use Advanced Search to do what you want. Just select the E:\ drive in the Location drop down menu to search from. This tutorial will show you how to if needed.

Advanced Search

Update:
Search is now included for the Drive context menu in this tutorial.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Karl Snooks** · 06-14-2008

Shawn,
Many thanks. I find the context menu search item to be a real time saver and didn't know that this aid could be restored.
karl

**Brink** · 06-14-2008

Your welcome Karl.

Shawn

twf498 · 09-20-2008

I've been trying to find info about...how can I add "Search" in Right Click-Context Menu, from a web page? I have it on my XP computer.

**Brink** · 09-20-2008

Hi TWF,

There is not a Search context menu item in Internet Explorer for Vista, but I'm not sure what would be different than what the Internet Explorer Search box would offer. If you mean to search inside the current webpage, then the Find window might be what you are wanting.

Find

If the above is not what you mean or want, then please let me know with more details on what you want to search for. Maybe there will be an alternative method available.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

twf498 · 09-21-2008

Hi, Shawn.
No, I don't mean the "Find" feature. I'd like to be able to highlight a specific word(s). Then, right-click that word, which that menu would have "Search". It would save time, by not having to copy/paste into "Search" box & having to click to "Search". I hope this helps explain, because it was something that could be done on WinXP, by adding the "Search" w/a RegEdit file...downloaded from a WinXP Tips/Tweaks site.
Thx.

**Brink** · 09-21-2008

IE7 in Vista does not have that feature anymore, but I believe it was added to the IE8 beta. You might give it a try to see how you like it.

Download and Information: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 Now Available

IE8 beta Search details: Internet Explorer 8: Faster and easier

Hope this helps,
Shawn

twf498 · 09-22-2008

Great

That just plain sucks! After reading/watching the IE8 Beta info, I'm not too sure it'll be what I'd be interested in. However, I do appreciate your assistance.
Oh, hey, do you think that RegEdit file I did on my WinXP IE7 will work?