Member Avatar for samaru

Hey everyone! (It's been a long time since I posted!)

I've just upgraded from WindowsXP to Windows 7. One thing I hate is how how when I have an Explorer window open, and I start typing to move the focus to a file/directory name in that directory, it instantly assumes I want to do a Windows File Search recursively in that directory. Is there a way to turn it off? WindowsXP does it and so does Windows 2008 Server.

I still want the Windows Indexing service to run, I just want to turn this annoying feature off. Thanks!

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Dani AI

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Good find by — this turned out not to be an indexing problem but an Explorer preference: Windows 7 added a persistent Search box to Explorer, so typing can either drive that box or perform the classic “type-to-select” in the file list. Changing the Explorer preference restores the XP-style behavior while leaving the Indexing Service alone, so you can keep indexing enabled without triggering recursive searches when you just want to jump to a file.

Practical tips you can use immediately: click once in the file list (or press Tab until the list has focus) before typing to force selection instead of search; press F3 or Ctrl+F to jump to the Search box when you want to look recursively; and use a single click in a blank area of the folder pane if keystrokes still go to the search field.

If the preference change doesn’t stick or only affects some folders, try these troubleshooting steps:

  1. Reset folder views to defaults and reapply the same folder template to problem folders so behavior is consistent.
  2. Test in a new user account to see if the issue is per-user.
  3. Boot with a clean startup (no shell extensions) to rule out third‑party shell extensions stealing keystrokes.
  4. As a last resort, run a system file check or create a restore point and roll back Explorer settings.

Note: ’s “not possible” was incorrect here, and ’s reply isn’t relevant. The change is intentional UI behavior in Windows 7, but it’s configurable and safe to change without disabling indexing.

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Member Avatar for Crash~Override

i dont think its possible

Member Avatar for mattmark

Hello friends

* Rest your fingers.
Need to do a big search on a tiny keyboard? Suggestions come in real-time, so typing [ great w ] and clicking 'great wall of china' is faster and easier than typing it out.
* Catch a mistake.
Did you mean: Melbourne Australia? Start searching for [ melborn ], say, and Google Suggest will offer more common spellings for what you might be trying to find.
* Skip a page; save some time.
If Google detects that a specific site is relevant to the search you're typing, we'll provide a link straight to it, so you don't have to wait for the search results page. If a link is to a site in our adversiter network, it'll appear in a colored box labeled 'Sponsored Link.'
* Repeat a favorite search.
If you're signed in to your Google Account and have Web History enabled, we may show some suggestions based on searches you've done in the past. You can tell a suggestion is from your history if it has a Remove link next to it.


Thanks for all friends...............

Member Avatar for samaru

I figured it out. It was a setting that I turned on accidentally.

Explorer Window -> Organize -> Folder Options -> View Tab -> When typing into list view -> Select the typed item in the view

That wasn't checked. I suppose I did it instinctively without thinking. In WindowsXP, the area is used to trigger Advanced File Sharing, and I guess I didn't realize this in Windows7. Also, I don't think in XP this is an option you can control because it just works.

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