How to disable Windows Search in Windows explorer

Question

Someone installed Windows Search on my computer and I hate it. I refuse to spend time setting up the indexer. I just want it gone!

How can I remove it and its indexer from my computer, or at least get Windows Explorer to default to using the Search Companion like it used to?

Solution 1

You should be able to head over to Add/Remove programs and remove it that way. As Diago mentions below, you may have to show the hidden updates to see it.

Solution 2

It's located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS

not HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS
as another answer suggested.

Solution 3

In RegEdit, go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS 

and set ShowStartSearchBand to 0, and you'll get the default search behavior back.

Solution 4

You can Disable the service.

• Go To Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services
• Go down to Indexing Service and change the Startup Type to "Disable"

View more solutions

Comments

[Sun]

I found this to be pretty good after I removed Windows Search. I use mythicsoft.com/filelocatorlite

[Vadzim]

See also Can I configure windows search service only for Outlook, but NOT SearchIndexer?

[Jeff Leonard]

I don't see it in Add/Remove programs

[The How-To Geek]

I assume you are using Windows XP? It would be "Windows Desktop Search 4.0" or something like that.

[Jeff Leonard]

I've already done that, but I want to also figure to how to make the old window search panel show up in Windows Explorer when clicking the search button.

[BinaryMisfit]

In Add/Remove you need to check the box to show updates. It is part of Windows Updates now