How to clear search history?

How can I clear the contents of Search folders (i.e. the folders in \Users\[myName]\Search)? I find if I delete an entry in any one of these folders, not only do I delete the shortcut, but I also delete the file that the shortcut points to (if the drive with the file is still attached to my computer). A truly unpleasant surprise!

What are those Search folders doing there anyway? Is there some good use you can make of them?

"chaikenj" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:8879097bfe8555a33d6d9ec84406568c@xxxxxx-gateway.com...
They are basically virtual folders, containing files that fit the
parameters, wherever they are on the system. During the beta stages,
virtual folders were a much more prominent part of the new explorer
interface. I think they chose to not use them so much as it would confuse a
lot of users.

ss.

Hi chaikenj,

There’s a good use to the Search folder.

A Search folder automatically updates its contents. This is useful if the
user wants help to save time and help organize folders and files that are
continuously updated but scattered in the Users’ folders and need to be found
on a regular basis.

For example if two users were working on the same project, a Search folder
can be created called something like, “Big Project.� At the end of the week,
if one or both of them wanted to put all of the project files into one big
folder or onto a CD, then one of the users just goes to Big Project Search
folder to have access to all the files and folders that were created or
edited that week for the big project.


The downside: as you’ve discovered, deleting the contents of the Search
folders deletes the actual folder or file. Search folders can’t be edited but
one can delete the Search folder and create a new Search folder using the
Advanced Search and the Save Search features.

--
oscar

....Right click is your very good friend...


"chaikenj" wrote:

Now I see that the search-folders are not actually folders but files. If I delete one of these, will the files that had shortcuts in the search-folder still remain on my computer? Will the system re-create an empty search-folder with the same name?

The search-folders "Everywhere" and "Indexed Locations" have attributes "read-only" and "hidden". Will I run into troubles if I change the attributes and delete these?

On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:32:21 -0500, chaikenj <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote:
chaikenj,

To create a new saved search, you must first run a query. Then click the Save Search
button in Explorer.
I think that you misunderstand what saved searches are. They are XML files that when
activated return results based on a stored query. The results themselves are not
stored.

Deleting the default saved searches does absolutely nothing to protect you from nosy
tech people. Someone familiar with WDS search syntax can recreate those results
within seconds by simply typing or pasting in the right query.

Doug M. in NJ

Hmm. The search folders I am concerned about are long lists of filenames and folder names that I have recently looked at; they are not XML queries. By right-clicking any file in this list and choosing Open, you are looking at the file itself, you are not looking at query syntax.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:25:41 -0500, chaikenj <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote:
The lists are not the queries, the "folders" themselves are the queries! Each query
is saved in an XML file with a hidden file extension. They look like folders but are
really text files. Right-click on any saved search folder and choose Send To and
then Notepad to see the XML.

The results of the query are the files that you see under the "folder". The results
list is recreated whenever the folder is clicked. The list itself is not stored,
only the saved query. That's why deleting the queries as a security measure is
pointless -- they can be recreated in a flash by anyone who is familiar with WDS.

Perhaps the easiest way to understand this is to create a simple saved query
yourself. Open Explorer and click on your user folder. Then paste this into the
search window:

modified:thisweek

Now click the Save Search button and name the search or accept the default. Once
saved, it will appear in the Searches folder along with the supplied queries.

Doug M. in NJ

This is just fascinating. I never would have believed it. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me.

On Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:49:19 -0500, chaikenj <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote: You are quite welcome! WDS is a cool feature but the fine points of using it are
larrgely missing from Vista help.

Doug M. in NJ