How to Clear the Search History in Windows XP

Clearing the Search History in Windows XP only takes a few steps.

Windows XP includes a Search Companion that is designed to expedite the location and retrieval of lost or misplaced documents on the computer's hard drive. Windows keeps a history of all the searches conducted and stores it in the computer's registry files. To clear these search history files, simply remove them from the registry.

Instructions

Windows XP Search Companion

1. Click the "Start" menu button, and then click on "Run." Type "regedit" into the box labeled "Open" and click the "OK" button to run the Registry Editor program.

2. Click the "+" button next to the folder labeled "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" to expand it and view the folders inside. Then click the "+" button on the folder labeled "SOFTWARE."

3. Click to expand the "Microsoft" folder, then the "Search Assistant" folder. Click to expand "ACMru," and then click on the "5603" folder to select it.

4. Go to the right-hand side of the screen and select all of the search files there. Right-click on one of the files and select "Delete" to remove the search files.

Windows Classic Search

1. Click the "Start" menu button, then click "Run" and type "regedit." Click the "OK" button to run the Registry Editor.

2. Double-click on "HKEY_CURRENT_USER," and then "Software," "Microsoft," "Internet Explorer," "Explorer Bars" "{C4EE31F3-4768-11D2-BE5C-00A0C9A83DA1}" and finally select the folder labeled "FilesNamedMRU."

3. Go to the right-hand side of the Registry Editor screen and select all the search files. Right-click on one of the files and click "Delete" to remove the search files.

References

• WinXP Tutor: Clear the "Search for Files and Folders" History in Windows XP