Vista - Deleting Vista Search Folders

I am hoping to find an automated method for deleting the Vista Search Folders. I tried command line scripts to remove the folder (RMDIR or DELTREE), but I'm not having any luck with the search folders. I am able to delete other folders with a script (like this one): Del C:\Myfolder\*.*.* RMDir C:\Myfolder But I cannot delete a Vista Search Folders like this folder; C:\Users\myname\Searches\Everywhere I can delete them manually, but not with a script. Any suggestions?

Whoops, here's the same post with line/paragraph spacing:

I am hoping to find an automated method for deleting the Vista Search Folders. I tried command line scripts to remove the folder (RMDIR or DELTREE), but I'm not having any luck with the search folders.

I am able to delete other folders with a script (like this one):
Del C:\Myfolder\*.*.*
RMDir C:\Myfolder

But I cannot delete a Vista Search Folders like this folder; C:\Users\myname\Searches\Everywhere

I can delete them manually, but not with a script. Any suggestions?

Hi, pvc.

That's because the Search Folders don't actually exist. They are only
"virtual folders". In Help and Support's search window, type "search
folder" (with the quotes) for more information. Check out item 3.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@xxxxxx
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"pvc" <pvc.35pnv1@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newsvc.35pnv1@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

Thanks RC;
Though now that I understand that these are virtual folders, I am more lost than ever.
Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to automate the task of deleting a Vista search (virtual folder)?

You do realize they're just 1K files, right? So if you goal is to reclaim
drive space this ain't gonna do it

Also, though I can't swear to it, I think I read that all searches are based
on the 'Everywhere' or 'Indexed Locations' searches. I'm not sure if Search
will still work if you delete these.

That being said, searches are files with a .search-ms extension. The only
catch is that 'Everywhere' and 'Indexed Locations' have their hidden &
read-only attributes set. So the following two commands will do the trick:

del *.search-ms (most of the searches)
del /ahr *.search-ms ('Everywhere' and 'Indexed Locations')

Extra Credit: Using a shortcut to Notepad in your Send To folder, open a
saved search in Notepad to view the underlying XML


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



"pvc" <pvc.35pnv1@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newsvc.35pnv1@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

That works great! Thanks Keith.

I am deleting these for privacy purposes and not to reclaim disk space.

My (Everywhere) search still works with these folders deleted. I use the slow search (which is fine for my purposes) because I also changed my indexing properties (for privacy purposes) to index nothing (no disk, no folders). Thanks again for your help.

PVC

Also, something else to consider when working with the Search virtual
folders. You can delete the search folder OK, without any issues, but If you
delete a file or multiple files from that folder, the actual original file
will also be deleted.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience


"pvc" <pvc.35pu44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newsvc.35pu44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

"pvc" <pvc.35pu44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newsvc.35pu44@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...You're welcome. Just curious: Hi-level technology secrets or salacious chat
logs/e-mail? ;-)


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]

Hi Keith;
No, nothing top secret, lol. I have always disagreed with the way ms likes to squirrel away my files into a very-very-very long chain of folder names.

I have always disagreed with the way ms reveals personal information (for those savvy enough to know where to look) about what I have been doing for the last decade.

When I build a new system I always make these type of changes in order to make it my Personal Computer. I know the location of each and every one of my files. Therefore I don't need a lightning-fast search to tell me where my files are.

I especially don't need a search to tell me where to find windows tools/features because if I rely on search for this then I will forget how to find my tools myself.

My automated cleanup script is working well, thanks to your help. Perhaps you can help me with automating the task of deleting the contents of this folder (C:\Users\myname\Recent). I can deleted the contents manually, but I am having trouble finding an automated solution.
Dan

Antec P182 || GA-P35C-DS3R || QX9650 3.0GHz /w Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme w/Scythe KAMA PWM Fan || 2x2GB Mushkin 4-4-4-12 DDR2-800 || ECS 8800GT w/ARCTIC COOLING Accelero S1 + Turbo Fans || WD180GB + WD500GB Sata 3.0Gb/s || SeaSonic M12 SS-500HM psu || Vista 64-Bit Home Premium || Lite-On 20X DVD

I found out how to add a shortcut to Notepad into the list of Send To items. Though, you can also view the underlying XML with right-click Open With and then choose Notepad;
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<persistedQuery version="1.0"><viewInfo viewMode="details" iconSize="16" stackIconSize="0" displayName="Search Results in Everywhere" autoListFlags="0"><visibleColumns><column viewField="System.ItemNameDisplay"/><column viewField="System.DateModified"/><column viewField="System.ItemType"/><column viewField="System.ItemFolderPathDisplayNarrow"/><column viewField="System.Author"/><column viewField="System.Keywords"/></visibleColumns><sortList><sort viewField="System.DateModified" direction="descending"/></sortList></viewInfo><query><conditions><condition type="orCondition"><attributes/><condition type="leafCondition" property="System.Generic.Integer" propertyType="int64" operator="eq" value="10" valuetype="System.StructuredQueryType.Integer"><attributes/></condition><condition type="leafCondition" property="System.Generic.String" propertyType="string" operator="wordmatch" value="010" valuetype="System.StructuredQueryType.String"><attributes/></condition></condition></conditions><kindList><kind name="item"/></kindList><providers><provider clsid="{88CF4A86-5D7A-48EB-B53E-EA388A390096}"/></providers><subQueries><subQuery path="C:\Users\Dan\Searches\Everywhere.search-ms"/></subQueries></query><properties><author Type="string">Dan</author></properties></persistedQuery>