Vista - HELP! need help on removing "recent __" in the "searches" folder

Look at the contents of your 'Searches' folder via a 'dir' command from a
Command Prompt window. You'll see that they are files, not folders.

They are merely saved search parameters, the search is executed when you
open one.

You can open one in notepad & see the XML that defines the search.

So you can delete the 'Recent e-mail' search, so it's not just a click away,
but it can be recreated via an advanced search with the proper parameters.

The way to privacy is via folder permissions, possibly encryption, but most
importantly, no letting anyone else access the computer via your username.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
news:ePdTtzKeHHA.928@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> OK. I think I'm getting a handle on the "Searches" folder now. I haven't
> used Desktop Search apps in the past, so aspects of it are new to me. If
> I'm not mistaken, the simple (and only) answer to the "privacy" question,
> in this regard, is to either turn off Search (in "Customize Start
> Menu")completely, or to at least turn off the areas that one doesn't want
> searched (and thus indexed). Doing so, will correspondingly reduce the
> contents of the "Searches" folder. Correct? But anything (virtual) deleted
> from the "Searches" folder will still cause the (actual) file(s) to be
> deleted from wherever they reside . . .
>
> Sorry for thinking out loud here, but it's the result of asking questions
> and getting no better answers than "That because it is a search. like
> Google," which didn't help my understanding much at all.
>
> Daze
> --------
>
> Daze N. Knights wrote:
>> With further poking around in the "Everywhere" folder, it appears
>> (AFAICT) that it does not, in fact, contain anything from the "Program
>> Files" folder and (probably) no system files, either. So deleting the
>> contents of the "Everywhere" folder *might* not result in trashing my OS,
>> but it certainly *does* appear that it would result in sending all of my
>> personal documents and files (from all drive partitions) to the recycle
>> bin.
>>
>> What bothers me here is the fact that (at least, apparently) one cannot
>> delete search *results* (for the sake of privacy) without also deleting
>> the actual files themselves. Or am I missing something here?
>>
>> Daze
>> ----------
>>
>>
>>
>> Daze N. Knights wrote:
>>> .
>>>
>>> Well, thanks a *lot* for providing the requested "comprehensive
>>> explanation" of the Searches folder. Now, I understand *perfectly* why
>>> deleting the contents of C:\Users\System User\Searches\Everywhere will
>>> apparently delete every file on my C, D, E, and F drives without even
>>> throwing up a single UAC message requiring me to at least click
>>> "Continue." What kind of security is this?
>>>
>>> Daze
>>> -----------------------
>>>
>>> . wrote:
>>>> That because it is a search. like Google.
>>>> "Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
>>>> news:OPZmoKIeHHA.4964@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> I, for one, would definitely like a more comprehensive explanation
>>>>> from someone as to the how & why of the contents of this "Searches"
>>>>> folder, because it has me concerned, as well. As the OP said, if one
>>>>> deletes any file found in this folder, the original file (located
>>>>> elsewhere) is deleted. In fact, I have an "Everywhere" folder within
>>>>> my "Searches" folder that appears to contain every file on all
>>>>> partitions of my hard drive (sorted into alphabetized folders), and
>>>>> deleting this folder would apparently be tantamount to deleting
>>>>> everything off my hard drive . . .
>>>>>
>>>>> Daze
>>>>>
>>>>> --------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> Victor wrote:
>>>>>> I wasnt aware of these but Im glad you pointed them out. We are
>>>>>> getting ready to roll out Vista to our law firm and they are very
>>>>>> privacy concious. The search is based off your index locations if
>>>>>> you remove those folders you want hidden from the index, then they
>>>>>> shouldnt show up on the instant search results.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Outside of that, Im sure there is a reg key you can edit some place.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "SNOWBOMB7" wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> There is a fold named "searches" under the users (me) drop down menu
>>>>>>> in windows explorer that keeps log of everything from recent emails
>>>>>>> to recent pictures uploaded and more! How do i stop this folder from
>>>>>>> showing all of my activity on the computer? I have tried deleting
>>>>>>> the subjects in question but it ends up permanently deleting them! I
>>>>>>> do not wish to delete them. Please help!!! There must be a way to
>>>>>>> turn this spying feature off!
>>>>

Stevo:

Thank you for that information. I had missed noting the options on the
explorer bar due to the fact that I was exploring (my pun intended, too)
this matter in an alternative file manager (xplorer2), which seems to
have no such animal.

Daze
--------

Stevo wrote:
> Opening the Everywhere file simply returns the results of a search for
> 'everything' that has been indexed on your computer. If you took the
> time to explore the explorer bar (pun intended) you would see that there
> are the options 'save search', and 'search tools'.
>
> The same idea holds true for each 'folder' in the Searches folder.
> Each one simply starts a search and displays the results as the contents
> of itself.
>
>
>
> Stevo
>
> http://www.howtofixcomputers.com

Inline:

Keith Miller MVP wrote:
> Look at the contents of your 'Searches' folder via a 'dir' command from
> a Command Prompt window. You'll see that they are files, not folders.
>
> They are merely saved search parameters, the search is executed when you
> open one.
>
> You can open one in notepad & see the XML that defines the search.

Files!? That's interesting. I had no idea. Thanks for pointing that out!

>
> So you can delete the 'Recent e-mail' search, so it's not just a click
> away, but it can be recreated via an advanced search with the proper
> parameters.

But deleting an individual item in the "Recent e-mail" search will
delete the actual email, won't it? (My "Recent e-mail" is empty, so I
can't test. But I have tested deleting individual items from the
"Everything" and the "Recently Changed" searches, and I know that doing
so does, indeed, delete the actual file located elsewhere.) So, wouldn't
deleting one of these "searches" result in a loss of all the actual
files listed in the given search?

>
> The way to privacy is via folder permissions, possibly encryption, but
> most importantly, no letting anyone else access the computer via your
> username.
>

Yes, of course. You are right.
What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)

Daze
---------------

Are you a complete moron. Saved Search Queries been a feature of Windows
since 1995.
"Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
news:urMvtwJeHHA.4696@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> .
>
> Well, thanks a *lot* for providing the requested "comprehensive
> explanation" of the Searches folder. Now, I understand *perfectly* why
> deleting the contents of C:\Users\System User\Searches\Everywhere will
> apparently delete every file on my C, D, E, and F drives without even
> throwing up a single UAC message requiring me to at least click
> "Continue." What kind of security is this?
>
> Daze
> -----------------------
>
> . wrote:
>> That because it is a search. like Google.
>> "Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
>> news:OPZmoKIeHHA.4964@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> I, for one, would definitely like a more comprehensive explanation from
>>> someone as to the how & why of the contents of this "Searches" folder,
>>> because it has me concerned, as well. As the OP said, if one deletes any
>>> file found in this folder, the original file (located elsewhere) is
>>> deleted. In fact, I have an "Everywhere" folder within my "Searches"
>>> folder that appears to contain every file on all partitions of my hard
>>> drive (sorted into alphabetized folders), and deleting this folder would
>>> apparently be tantamount to deleting everything off my hard drive . . .
>>>
>>> Daze
>>>
>>> --------------------
>>>
>>> Victor wrote:
>>>> I wasnt aware of these but Im glad you pointed them out. We are
>>>> getting ready to roll out Vista to our law firm and they are very
>>>> privacy concious. The search is based off your index locations if you
>>>> remove those folders you want hidden from the index, then they shouldnt
>>>> show up on the instant search results.
>>>>
>>>> Outside of that, Im sure there is a reg key you can edit some place.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "SNOWBOMB7" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> There is a fold named "searches" under the users (me) drop down menu
>>>>> in windows explorer that keeps log of everything from recent emails to
>>>>> recent pictures uploaded and more! How do i stop this folder from
>>>>> showing all of my activity on the computer? I have tried deleting the
>>>>> subjects in question but it ends up permanently deleting them! I do
>>>>> not wish to delete them. Please help!!! There must be a way to turn
>>>>> this spying feature off!
>>

..

No, not a "complete" moron. Thank you for taking the time to share so
much of your Windows expertise with me again. Your wisdom and kind words
really make my day.

Daze
-----------

.. wrote:
> Are you a complete moron. Saved Search Queries been a feature of Windows
> since 1995.
> "Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
> news:urMvtwJeHHA.4696@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> .
>>
>> Well, thanks a *lot* for providing the requested "comprehensive
>> explanation" of the Searches folder. Now, I understand *perfectly* why
>> deleting the contents of C:\Users\System User\Searches\Everywhere will
>> apparently delete every file on my C, D, E, and F drives without even
>> throwing up a single UAC message requiring me to at least click
>> "Continue." What kind of security is this?
>>
>> Daze
>> -----------------------
>>
>> . wrote:
>>> That because it is a search. like Google.
>>> "Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
>>> news:OPZmoKIeHHA.4964@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> I, for one, would definitely like a more comprehensive explanation
>>>> from someone as to the how & why of the contents of this "Searches"
>>>> folder, because it has me concerned, as well. As the OP said, if one
>>>> deletes any file found in this folder, the original file (located
>>>> elsewhere) is deleted. In fact, I have an "Everywhere" folder within
>>>> my "Searches" folder that appears to contain every file on all
>>>> partitions of my hard drive (sorted into alphabetized folders), and
>>>> deleting this folder would apparently be tantamount to deleting
>>>> everything off my hard drive . . .
>>>>
>>>> Daze
>>>>
>>>> --------------------
>>>>
>>>> Victor wrote:
>>>>> I wasnt aware of these but Im glad you pointed them out. We are
>>>>> getting ready to roll out Vista to our law firm and they are very
>>>>> privacy concious. The search is based off your index locations if
>>>>> you remove those folders you want hidden from the index, then they
>>>>> shouldnt show up on the instant search results.
>>>>>
>>>>> Outside of that, Im sure there is a reg key you can edit some place.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "SNOWBOMB7" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> There is a fold named "searches" under the users (me) drop down
>>>>>> menu in windows explorer that keeps log of everything from recent
>>>>>> emails to recent pictures uploaded and more! How do i stop this
>>>>>> folder from showing all of my activity on the computer? I have
>>>>>> tried deleting the subjects in question but it ends up permanently
>>>>>> deleting them! I do not wish to delete them. Please help!!! There
>>>>>> must be a way to turn this spying feature off!
>>>
>

Inline:

"Daze N. Knights" <Daze@Microdot.dot> wrote in message
news:O%235DOqLeHHA.2316@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Inline:
>
> Keith Miller MVP wrote:
>> Look at the contents of your 'Searches' folder via a 'dir' command from a
>> Command Prompt window. You'll see that they are files, not folders.
>>
>> They are merely saved search parameters, the search is executed when you
>> open one.
>>
>> You can open one in notepad & see the XML that defines the search.
>
> Files!? That's interesting. I had no idea. Thanks for pointing that out!
>

You're welcome.

>>
>> So you can delete the 'Recent e-mail' search, so it's not just a click
>> away, but it can be recreated via an advanced search with the proper
>> parameters.
>
> But deleting an individual item in the "Recent e-mail" search will delete
> the actual email, won't it?

Yes it will.

> So, wouldn't deleting one of these "searches" result in a loss of all the
> actual files listed in the given search?

Not if you delete the search as opposed to the results of the search. You
can delete it in its icon form in the search folder -- you can even delete
it from the folder pane in the search results folder. But you DON'T delete
it by selecting all of the results & deleting those.

>
>>
>> The way to privacy is via folder permissions, possibly encryption, but
>> most importantly, no letting anyone else access the computer via your
>> username.
>>
>
> Yes, of course. You are right.
> What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)

Mine is empty as well. If you look at the properties dialog for a file
folder, you'll see a 'Sharing' tab. As I understand it, you share a folder
to make it accessible to other users/computers on a network. I assume if
you had set up a folder to be shared, it would show in this search.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
news:uKEeq3MeHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)
>
> Mine is empty as well. If you look at the properties dialog for a file
> folder, you'll see a 'Sharing' tab. As I understand it, you share a
> folder to make it accessible to other users/computers on a network. I
> assume if you had set up a folder to be shared, it would show in this
> search.

That is what I thought too. I've been looking in that folder for a few
months and it remains blank. There are at least a half dozen shared
folders(the default public folder and other shared folders on the system and
other drives/partitions). Even going so far including the shared folders in
the search index. It remains empty.
The only link I've seen is within the Network and Sharing Center...if one
clicks on the option to 'Show me all the files and folders I am sharing' the
search 'Shared by Me' folder will be displayed(it remains blank). Clicking
on the other option 'Show me all the shared network folders on this
computer' does show all the folders on the network.

I

Hmm...interesting. Here are the query parameters of the 'Shared by Me'
search:

<query>
<conditions>
<condition type="andCondition">
<condition type="leafCondition" property="System.IsShared"
operator="eq" value="true"/>
<condition type="leafCondition" property="System.FileOwner"
operator="eq" value="[Me]"/>
</condition>
</conditions>
<kindList>
<kind name="item"/>
</kindList>
<scope>
<include knownFolder="{5E6C858F-0E22-4760-9AFE-EA3317B67173}"/>
<include knownFolder="{DFDF76A2-C82A-4D63-906A-5644AC457385}"/>
</scope>
</query>

So the first thing I would check is if you are the owner of any of the
shared folders:

Properties -> 'Security' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'Owner' tab


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"...winston" <merlin@druid9#.com> wrote in message
news:e%23yYWuneHHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:uKEeq3MeHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)
>>
>> Mine is empty as well. If you look at the properties dialog for a file
>> folder, you'll see a 'Sharing' tab. As I understand it, you share a
>> folder to make it accessible to other users/computers on a network. I
>> assume if you had set up a folder to be shared, it would show in this
>> search.
>
> That is what I thought too. I've been looking in that folder for a few
> months and it remains blank. There are at least a half dozen shared
> folders(the default public folder and other shared folders on the system
> and
> other drives/partitions). Even going so far including the shared folders
> in
> the search index. It remains empty.
> The only link I've seen is within the Network and Sharing Center...if one
> clicks on the option to 'Show me all the files and folders I am sharing'
> the
> search 'Shared by Me' folder will be displayed(it remains blank). Clicking
> on the other option 'Show me all the shared network folders on this
> computer' does show all the folders on the network.
>
> I
>
>
>

Thanks for responding Keith..
I checked all shared folders on the system and other
drives(partitions/logical drives) created by this logged on user account.
All folders when viewing the Advanced Security/Owner 'tab' show this logged
on user account as the respective folder owner.

This one is really perplexing me<g>

...winston

"Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
news:evdmTMweHHA.4560@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hmm...interesting. Here are the query parameters of the 'Shared by Me'
> search:
>
> <query>
> <conditions>
> <condition type="andCondition">
> <condition type="leafCondition" property="System.IsShared"
> operator="eq" value="true"/>
> <condition type="leafCondition" property="System.FileOwner"
> operator="eq" value="[Me]"/>
> </condition>
> </conditions>
> <kindList>
> <kind name="item"/>
> </kindList>
> <scope>
> <include knownFolder="{5E6C858F-0E22-4760-9AFE-EA3317B67173}"/>
> <include knownFolder="{DFDF76A2-C82A-4D63-906A-5644AC457385}"/>
> </scope>
> </query>
>
> So the first thing I would check is if you are the owner of any of the
> shared folders:
>
> Properties -> 'Security' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'Owner' tab
>
>
> --
> Good Luck,
>
> Keith
> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>
> "...winston" <merlin@druid9#.com> wrote in message
> news:e%23yYWuneHHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:uKEeq3MeHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)
>>>
>>> Mine is empty as well. If you look at the properties dialog for a file
>>> folder, you'll see a 'Sharing' tab. As I understand it, you share a
>>> folder to make it accessible to other users/computers on a network. I
>>> assume if you had set up a folder to be shared, it would show in this
>>> search.
>>
>> That is what I thought too. I've been looking in that folder for a few
>> months and it remains blank. There are at least a half dozen shared
>> folders(the default public folder and other shared folders on the system
>> and
>> other drives/partitions). Even going so far including the shared folders
>> in
>> the search index. It remains empty.
>> The only link I've seen is within the Network and Sharing Center...if one
>> clicks on the option to 'Show me all the files and folders I am sharing'
>> the
>> search 'Shared by Me' folder will be displayed(it remains blank).
>> Clicking
>> on the other option 'Show me all the shared network folders on this
>> computer' does show all the folders on the network.
>>
>> I
>>
>>
>>
>

Thanks for responding Keith..
I checked all shared folders on the system and other
drives(partitions/logical drives) created by this logged on user account.
All folders when viewing the Advanced Security/Owner 'tab' show this logged
on user account as the respective folder owner.

Additional info...as a test..I navigated to the C:\Users\{my logged on Vista
profile} and shared the Pictures folder.
The Pictures folder now appears in the 'Show me all the files and folders I
am sharing. The others, none of which reside under my logged on profile or
in the User folder, as previously mentioned do not.

...winston

"Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
news:evdmTMweHHA.4560@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Hmm...interesting. Here are the query parameters of the 'Shared by Me'
> search:
>
> <query>
> <conditions>
> <condition type="andCondition">
> <condition type="leafCondition" property="System.IsShared"
> operator="eq" value="true"/>
> <condition type="leafCondition" property="System.FileOwner"
> operator="eq" value="[Me]"/>
> </condition>
> </conditions>
> <kindList>
> <kind name="item"/>
> </kindList>
> <scope>
> <include knownFolder="{5E6C858F-0E22-4760-9AFE-EA3317B67173}"/>
> <include knownFolder="{DFDF76A2-C82A-4D63-906A-5644AC457385}"/>
> </scope>
> </query>
>
> So the first thing I would check is if you are the owner of any of the
> shared folders:
>
> Properties -> 'Security' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'Owner' tab
>
>
> --
> Good Luck,
>
> Keith
> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>
> "...winston" <merlin@druid9#.com> wrote in message
> news:e%23yYWuneHHA.3884@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Keith Miller MVP" <k.miller79@no.spam.verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:uKEeq3MeHHA.1220@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> What is this "Shared By Me" search, BTW? (Again, mine is empty.)
>>>
>>> Mine is empty as well. If you look at the properties dialog for a file
>>> folder, you'll see a 'Sharing' tab. As I understand it, you share a
>>> folder to make it accessible to other users/computers on a network. I
>>> assume if you had set up a folder to be shared, it would show in this
>>> search.
>>
>> That is what I thought too. I've been looking in that folder for a few
>> months and it remains blank. There are at least a half dozen shared
>> folders(the default public folder and other shared folders on the system
>> and
>> other drives/partitions). Even going so far including the shared folders
>> in
>> the search index. It remains empty.
>> The only link I've seen is within the Network and Sharing Center...if one
>> clicks on the option to 'Show me all the files and folders I am sharing'
>> the
>> search 'Shared by Me' folder will be displayed(it remains blank).
>> Clicking
>> on the other option 'Show me all the shared network folders on this
>> computer' does show all the folders on the network.
>>
>> I
>>
>>
>>
>