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Get Find/Search to Look Where You Want

Intended For
Windows XP
Windows 2000
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 95
The Find feature included with Windows is quite handy for finding files on your hard disk or network. The problem is that when accessing it from the Start Menu, it always defaults to looking just on your Windows drive. There is no way to set the default search location for the Find command in the Start, although these other solutions might be helpful:


Solution #1:

  • Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
  • Open HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ Directory\ shell\ find\ ddeexec.
  • Double-click on (Default), and replace the value with "[FindFolder("C:\", C:\)]" (or whatever directory you wish).


Solution #2:

  • Right-click on the My Computer icon, and select Find...


Solution #3:

  • Open the folder in which you want to search, such as My Computer.
  • Press F3 to search that folder and all folders beneath it.
  • If using Explorer, you can select Find from the Tools menu.


Solution #4:

  • Open the Find window in any of the usual ways, and choose the desired find location.
  • Choose Save Search from the File menu. This will put a .fnd file on the desktop.
  • Store the .fnd file someplace safe, such as your Windows directory, and create a shortcut to it on the desktop (drag the file onto the desktop with the right mouse button, and choose Create Shortcut).
  • Rename the shortcut to something more informative, such as "Find"


Written by: Annoyances.org
Last updated: Friday, August 10, 2001

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