Improve Windows XP Search Function

Nowadays, it is very easy to find an operating system to be installed for new computer such as Windows XP, the most commonly demanded. It is very easy to find but it always gives headache for normal computer users when it comes to validation issue. The uploaders will always claim that their Windows XP is totally, 100%, absolutely genuine, 101% working and so on. Then when Microsoft updates their validation databases, there will be a huge list of "This copy of Windows is not genuine. You may be the victim of software counterfeiting". Yea the texts, boxes and the way it nags are so vivid in my mind because I always meet this complain several times in a month.


However, we are not discussing on how to get a legit key for Windows XP. This post focuses on the issue of Windows XP versions. There have been many versions of XP such as Windows XP ICE, Windows XP Extreme etc. These versions of OS have been modified and will be signed as their result of work and later on, they will promote their homepages or sites duh.. The search function is also, sometimes, modified and therefore sometimes you have problem in finding files using these modified operating systems.


I am not really sure that Windows XP (untouched) has this registry value by default. But I can find this value in my laptop without creating it. Here is how your regedit should have to get optimum result of your search function:

1. From the Start Menu > Run. Type: regedit

2. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and your file types. For example .txt, then it goes: My Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt
You can do this by expanding the arrow beside the text: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

3. Expand the .txt and find the sub-key or folder: PersistentHandler
3a. If you have this key, then you should not make any changes in it
3b. Else, left click on the .txt. Edit, New, Key and name the key as PersistentHandler. Click once on the PersistentHandler sub-key you have just created an from the right pane, double click on the Default value and enter the following


{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

4. If you have done the sub-key PersistentHandler, you need to close the regedit and reboot to have the effect.

I have found this sub-key to be missing in some versions of XP. It is worth to spend a few minutes to check whether your XP has this value in your registry. But please do the registry modification carefully. It is always recommended to backup your registry.